A Stakeholder-Centric Corporate Social Responsibility Communication Framework: A Responsible Leadership Perspective
David Walsh 
& Janette Hanekom
Issue: Vol.6 No.10 Article 3 pp.2259 – 2271
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256103 | Published online 17th September, 2025
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
This study argues that corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication should incorporate responsible leadership (RL) principles to improve stakeholder-centrism and address societal expectations about sustainability, ethics, and organisational accountability. While existing research acknowledges CSR communication, few studies apply an RL lens to promote stakeholder-centric approaches. This conceptual study critically reflected on, holistically conceptualises, and synthesised literature and theories to generate a new perspective on CSR communication. The paper bridges this gap by proposing a conceptual Stakeholder-Centric Corporate Social Responsibility communication (SCCSRC) framework that integrates RL and stakeholder-focused perspectives into CSR communication. The research expands current understanding by redefining CSR communication through RL principles using a systematic and integrative literature review, offering a more engaged and ethical approach to organisation-stakeholder dialogue.
Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Communication, Responsible Leadership (RL), Stakeholder-Centrism, Stakeholder Communication, Stakeholder Engagement
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David Walsh holds a Master of Communication Science degree from the University of South Africa and is an accomplished management consultant with pro bono board experience. With a proven track record in Fintech, he excels at leading organisations through innovation. His expertise spans technology, leadership, policy review, governance, strategy, risk management, and organisational culture. David is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society.
Dr. Janette Hanekom holds a DLitt et Phil degree in Communication Science from the University of South Africa. She is a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication Science at the University of South Africa, where she teaches and supervises honours, master’s and doctoral students in the organisational communication discipline. She has published in accredited international journals on topics such as consumer behaviour, consumer co-creation, information and knowledge sharing, consumer knowledge management, consumer-organisation relationships, and digital marketing communication.
Walsh, David, and Janette Hanekom. “A Stakeholder-Centric Corporate Social Responsibility Communication Framework: A Responsible Leadership Perspective,” E-Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences 6, no. 10 (2025): 2259 – 2271, https://doi.org/10.38159/ehass.20256103
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
