Csr and Consumer

Based on my interpretation of CSR, I see it as a voluntary obligation that companies have promised to their stakeholders to fulfill by improving, or at least not harm, the environmental and social wellbeing. When companies engage in CSR, they voluntarily promise to, for example, carry the responsibility to protect the environment and take actions against bribe or other corruptive activities related to their business. It certainly has some positive influences to specific areas based on my knowledge gained from other classes; nevertheless, when judge CSR in the context of total impacts on our society and environment, it is obvious that CSR has failed its mission to lessen the negative impacts of business based on the evidences that provided by the author. Also, since there is a strong positive relationship between CSR behaviors and consumers’ reactions to a firm’s products and services, it seems to me, now, that CSR for the most companies is just a fancy cover that helps them to create or promote a good image and reputation. The recent case that shows the failure of CSR of Volkswagen even make me believe that CSR programs may be just a marketing or public relation exercise for many

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is something that affects all companies and should be an active factor in the company’s decision making. It is something all corporations need to care about. CSR is when business’ or corporations take part in an initiative or campaign for a cause that will benefit society and/or in some way make the world a better place (Taylor, 2015). Initially, Corporate Social Responsibility started to take shape around the 1950’s, but some say that it dates all the way back to the 1800s, the idea of CSR was seen (Carroll, 2007). One may think that because it is dated so long ago, it doesn’t have an important impact today nevertheless, it is proven that Corporate Social Responsibility is a pathway for entities to self benefit as they are in the process of benefitting society.

In this article, “The Truth About CSR,” authors Rangan, Chase and Karim stress the importance in aligning a company’s social and environmental activities with its business purpose and values (Rangan, Chase, & Karim, 2015, 41). Outcomes of CSR programs should be a “spillover” and not a primary focus of a business, expressing concern towards social responsibility and corporations failing to contribute to society accordingly (Rangan, Chase, Karim, 2015, 42). There is a great deal of importance in companies refocusing their CSR activities on a primary goal and in providing an organized process for bringing consistency and discipline to CSR strategies (42). Rangan, Chase and Karim want corporations to understand why it is important for them to evaluate their CSR activities and refocus them towards the goal of reinforcing the firm’s societal and environmental actions, while also ensuring their actions add to the overall purpose and values of the corporation. According to the authors, even though

Even though customers are a major key to success of any business, limiting CSR practices to an external group of stakeholder is insufficient. From the customers’ side, the focus is “on the corporate brand and its societal relationships with external constituencies.” (Lacey, Hensel 316). It is undeniable that implementation of CSR can attract the customers and lead them to be a significant are source of a financial gain. That is because CSR changes the way consumers behave in the market and alter their beliefs toward the company standards.” (Lacey, Hensel 316). Nevertheless, extensive focus on the social gains may cause the business to suffer financially. If that happened, the case is considered to be a failure of executing CSR. Again, this is a result of shifting all the business gears to benefit a sole group the stakeholders.

This recent reality, combined with globalization, is forcing companies to forge new kinds of relationships with buyers and countries. The financial valuation of companies are taking ever greater account of intangible elements, such as brands, patents and the company’s general image, with companies being bound to take account of these things in an effort to satisfy their shareholders. Environmental protection has become a highly motivating factor, and companies are being pressed to identify stakeholders with whom to team up. With brand value and reputation increasingly being seen as one of a company’s most valuable assets, CSR is now seen as building loyalty and trust amongst shareholders, employees and customers ( Tssa, (n.d.)).

Through globalization the gap between the rich and poor has increased, while the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. This can be one of the many reasons why companies choose to be more social responsible as CSR aims to reduce conflicts between stakeholders. Although, individuals are aware that more companies are producing social responsible goods, companies can benefit from CSR practices in different ways. When companies decide to be socially and environmentally active, not only will the society and the environment benefit from the companies ethical practices, but they can also differentiate themselves in today's competitive market.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the pledge a business makes where it promises to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of workforce and their family as well as the local community (Pride, Hughes, Kapoor 42). This practice helps to form or improve the positive image of the company. Businesses that follow the socially responsible model consider the impact of the company’s actions on society. This also includes promoting and supporting local, national and global causes, which is a part of CSR called corporate philanthropy, where businesses donate some of their profits or resources to charities (Taylor). Companies that show social responsibility this way must be devoted to doing so on a regular basis, because if don’t follow through with it, your organization may be viewed by the public as dishonest. Many critics of CSR believe that this model reduces the main goal of business, restricts the free market goal of maximizing profit, and also limits the ability to compete in a global marketplace (Pride, Hughes, Kapoor 47). Though critics may believe they are right, CSR gives companies a chance to address social issues caused by business’ and other factors and allows them to be a part

CSR AS A WAY TO CREATE BETTER BRAND IMAGE AND GAIN POSITIVE ATTITUDES REGARDing BRANDs (Ghosh,ghosh,das,2013)

Dr P Chitramani and Ms Deepa S., in 2013, presented a case study of Employer Branding of IT companies in India. The case study method was adopted to study various initiatives taken by selected IT companies of India to build strong Employer Brand among the people. Only three companies TCS, Infosys, and Wipro was taken under study and it was found that for last five years the trend of CSR activities has increased to build the Brand and to stand out from other competitors in the

Lou and Bhattacharya (2009) maintain that CSR creates a level of ‘Moral Capital’, which then translates into ‘Relational wealth’ with different stakeholders. This is based on brand faith and credibility with costumers, affective commitment among employees and regulators, trust among suppliers and higher attractiveness for investors in general. Consequently it is important for organizations, to understand that CSR initiatives need to be communicated and transmitted to its group of interest. As Blomqvist and Posner (2004 cited in Comfort et al. 2007, pp.584) propose:

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a form of self regulation integrated into the business model of organizations. Organizations have responsibility for the impact of their activities on the society, environment, employees and members of the public sphere which cannot be denied. The progress of the concept of CSR is elevating to the highest pedestal of importance in all aspects of production and business both private and public.CSR is a much known concept in present world and many corporate giants are conversant with it as it provides better synergy returns to the business. Moreover CSR is becoming a very important activity to organizations nationally as well as internationally. The increase in globalization has given birth to large corporations which serve as global providers and have recognised the importance and benefits of providing CSR programs hence CSR activities are now being undertaken throughout the globe. The rationale for CSR is stated in number of ways its core is about building sustainable businesses with healthy communities, markets and economies which again necessitates carrying out CSR activities. The government has declared it compulsory for organizations to be socially responsible (chakraborty 2010).Non government organizations (NGO) are

As businesses have evolved over time, there is no denying that consumers have grown to expect certain behaviors from the variety of companies that they have the option to endorse. A business can spend millions of dollars on advertising, researching, sampling and surveying customers all of which can be undone by a mistake that ruins their reputation. Corporate social responsibility is a term that has its origins in the 1950s. It refers to “situations where the firm goes beyond compliance and engages in actions that appear to further some social good, beyond the interests of the firm and that which is required by law” (McWilliams, Siegel & Wright, 2006, p. 1). It was in the 1990s that corporate social responsibility truly became a trend that led to the development of other terms such as ‘business ethics’ (Carroll 2008). In the twenty first century, especially in the North American and European communities, the concept of corporate social responsibility became so widespread, that nowadays, consumers expect business to care and show that they participate in CSR initiatives (Van Der Smissen 2012). Advertising CSR initiatives became an important tool in gaining consumer trust in the company.

Companies are used to utilising such approach in the form of voluntary CSR to communicate some features and characteristics to their stakeholders such as society and the market in connection with their social responsibility. Under such responsibility, companies demonstrate publicly a clear representation of their philanthropic performances in the society and create a positive subjective image (McWilliams et al., 2006) to make their customers satisfied of the company

Abstract: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is now a burning topic in India, which became prominent and most amplified in 2013 when companies were obligated to spend two percent of profit after tax in CSR activities set by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. Although, the concept of CSR is not new in India and has evolved and developed very well from hundreds of years in the form of philanthropy by the big Indian companies through donations into temples and opening schools, colleges and hospitals .In spite of this, there is a lot of confusion between the various terminologies related CSR. Some say it as corporate conscience, corporate citizenship or responsible business[1]. CSR signify different idea in different scenario, regions and time to different people. This paper provides an overview of the CSR concept and two major definitions which are so interlinked and used interchangeably over the time called as Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Sustainability .These are two concepts prevalent in Indian Industry which are confounding to managers. Hence, some companies produce only CSR report or a Sustainability report while both of them are supposed to be made separately for the societal benefit. After analyzing the case of Aditya Birla Group, it can be concluded that both are different from each other and CSR is a way to

Therefore, corporate’ activities have strong influences to the stakeholders. Hildebrand,D,et,al (2011) argued that under a specific but identifiable situation, a company’s CSR actions are able to satisfy stakeholders’ higher-order and self-related demand, meanwhile enabling the stakeholders to identify with the company. On the other hand, Piercy, N. and Lane, N.(2009) indicated that CSR seems to be the most efficient way for the corporate marketing efforts of most firms. It may enable the stakeholders to be loyal even life-long customers of the companies.