The effect of continuous improvement capacity on the relationship between of corporate social performance and business performance in maritime transport in Singapore

•Continuous improvement capacity augments the corporate social and business performance link.•Employing a gradual pace to improve corporate social performance maximises business performance.•Adopting a regular pace to improve corporate social performance maximises business performance. Drawing on organisational learning theory, this study argues that shipping firms with high continuous improvement capacities have better success in transforming corporate social performance (CSP) into business performance. Survey data were collected from 223 shipping firms in Singapore and analysed using multi-sampling analysis, hierarchical regression modelling, and simple slope analysis. The results support the study’s argument and show that business performance is maximised when continuous improvement programmes targeted at CSP are carried out at a gradual pace and at regular intervals. This implies that shipping firms should adopt a dynamic, value-driven approach to improving CSP.