Resumen: The aim of this study is to analyze if there is a direct causal relationship between small firms’ orientation toward corporate social responsibility and their competitive success, mediated by innovation and performance. A structural equation model has been applied to a sample of 758 small Spanish firms. The results indicate that, in times of economic crisis, socially responsible strategies are a determining factor in firms’ competitiveness. Pragmatic advice for practitioners derives from research results, considering that social responsibility represents an opportunity for small firms in the complex and turbulent time. The findings encourage small firms to manage operations responsibly as a guarantee of market success. Idioma: Inglés DOI: 10.1111/jsbm.12450 Año: 2018 Publicado en: JOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 57, Iss-sup.2 (2018), 172 - 199 ISSN: 0047-2778 Factor impacto JCR: 3.12 (2018) Categ. JCR: MANAGEMENT rank: 66 / 217 = 0.304 (2018) - Q2 - T1 Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 1.84 - Business, Management and Accounting (miscellaneous) (Q1) - Strategy and Management (Q1) - Management of Technology and Innovation (Q1)