HAKOOLA, Asha2025-09-292025https://research.unilus.ac.zm/handle/123456789/612Master of Science in Human Resource Management - DissertationThis study explored the challenges surrounding the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in private organizations within Lusaka, Zambia, utilizing a mixed methods approach. Informed by three objectives of determining CSR hindrances, testing organizational determinants of adoption, and defining practices to drive CSR the study collected quantitative data from 120 top management staff using structured questionnaires, and qualitative data from 25 semi-structured interviews. The results indicated financial constraints (75%) and ambiguous internal policy (70%) as significant deterrents to CSR adoption, with severe economic conditions (90%) spurring the hindrances. Organizational influence was also more dominant, with inadequate support from the top management (quoted by 40%) to restrict CSR as a priority and get incorporated into business strategy (30%). Facilitating factors listed are government incentives (80%), growing awareness of benefits of CSR (75%), and policy guidelines available clearly (70%). Regression statistical analysis revealed a highly significant association between CSR training activity and clarity of policy (r = 0.55, p < 0.001), and chi-square analysis revealed industry differences in CSR expenditure (χ² = 18.50, p = 0.018), with CSR activity led by the financial and service industries. These were also supported by the qualitative data and echoed sentiments of financial constraints, uncertainty of policy, lack of leadership commitment, and critical need for government and stakeholder support funding. On the basis of these findings, the study suggests the deepening of government sponsored incentives, formalization of official CSR policies, investment in leadership training programs, and inducement of industry benchmarking practices to promote wider CSR adoption. Despite the weakness of an urban bias and cross-sectional nature, it generates contextualized knowledge that is relevant to CSR studies in sub-Saharan Africa. The policy implications of the findings are useful to policymakers, private businesses, and industry associations wishing to build more accountable and sustainable corporate behavior in Zambia.enThesis