Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Motivations behind CSR 2 2.1 Self-Interest 2 2.2 Ethics 2 3. Arguments for CSR 3 3.1 Innovation 3 3.2 Cost-Saving 3 3.3 Brand Differentiation 3 3.4 Long-Term Thinking 3 3.5 Customer Engagement and Employee Engagement 3 4. Arguments against CSR 3 4.1 Misdirections 4 4.2 Controversial Industries 4 5. Conclusion 4 6. References 4
Is Corporate Social Responsibility a way to cover exorbitant charges?
1. Introduction
Various authors have different definitions of what Corporate Social Responsibility. According to Lorde Holmes and Richard Watts, 1998 in their publication ‘Making Good Business Sense,’ they define CSR as “the continuing commitment by businesses to behave ethically and contribute to
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2.2 Ethics
Under the altruistic/ethical reason for CSR, firms believe that it’s paramount to do social good no matter the impact such actions would have on the financial position of the business. This principle depicts the business just as any other person with ethical responsibilities.
While it is likely that enterprises are likely to engage in CSR as a result of self-interest, it’s quite unlikely that business will undertake CSR as an altruistic reason. This is because altruistic reasons go against business principles of profit maximization. For publicly held companies, such an action as pursuing CSR for altruistic reasons will go against shareholder interests creating a conflict between them and managers. Milton Fredman, 1970 was against altruistic reasons for CSR. He wrote in the New York Magazine that “the social responsibility of a business is to increase profits. In most cases, it's only a privately owned enterprises that will be able to undertake CSR for ethical purposes depending on the interest of the owner(s).
3. Arguments for CSR
Further, we need to look at the arguments for CSR. According to James Epstein, 2012 in an article in the Forbes Magazine, “Six Reasons Companies Should Embrace CSR” he gives the following six reasons to urge businesses to adopt CSR: Innovation, Cost-Saving, Brand differentiation, Long-term Thinking, Customer Engagement and Employee Engagement.
3.1 Innovation
Under Innovation, Epstein, 2012
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a broad term used to describe a company's efforts to improve society in some way. These efforts can range from donating money to non-profits to implementing environmentally-friendly policies in the workplace. CSR is important for companies, non-profits, and employees alike.
Businesses, specifically larger corporations, play a major role in what occurs in society therefore, they are responsible to their stakeholders not only to pursue economic goals but the greater social good as well. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) means that a corporation should act in a way that enhances society and its inhabitants and be held accountable for any of its actions that affect people, their communities, and their environment. (Lawrence, 2010). Social responsibility is becoming the norm so much so that some businesses have incorporated it into their business model. There are three components of the bottom line of social
The purpose of this essay is to research the notion of CSR and uncover its true framework and outline what social responsibility truly means to corporate organisations, and whether it should be seriously considered to be a legitimate addition to the corporate framework of an organisation.
In business, Anne Lawrence and James Weber (2014) identify enlightened self-interest as a corporation’s recognition that using corporate resource to serve others, including customers, employees, and the community as a whole, is in the best interest of the company. This social responsibility enhances the company’s image within the community, which increases both customer loyalty and satisfaction of employees. Some of the ways that businesses serve others is through philanthropy and backing environmental sustainability. Within his lecture on ethics and corporate responsibility, Dr. Kahlib Fischer (n.d.) encourages the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in that it provides mutual benefit to both the organization and the community.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. CSR policy functions as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism that has business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. CSR is a process with the aim to embrace responsibility for the company's actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere who may also be considered stakeholders. CSR is titled to aid an organization's mission as well as a guide to what the company stands for and will uphold to its consumers. Development business ethics is one of the forms of applied ethics that examines
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to business practices involving initiatives that benefit society (2). CSR may also be referred to as "corporate citizenship" and can involve incurring short-term cost that do not provide an immediate financial benefit to the company, but instead promote positive social and environmental change(1).
Once the company have agree on the idea of CSR program, the company should do it in way that make connection between what a company can do for society, and how it will affect its business. When a company like Coca-Cola, for example, contributes $88 million annually in different CSR programs or when Microsoft donates almost $300 million annually to nongovernmental organizations around the world there have to be some good explanation on why they do this and how it help the company image and position in the world. Nike in the other had they realize after getting burned by bad publicity because of attack of negative press and large-scale protests from those who claimed its contract employees were paid low wages and working in dangerous conditions in overseas factories. They have to invest time and energy into their CSR programs to reduce the negative environmental impact.
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.
The benefit to business of good Corporate Social Responsibility is difficult to quantify as it varies depending on the nature of the enterprise. Some scholars believe that there is a business justification for CSR. That is, what is good for the environment and society will be good for company profitability. And studies have shown a slightly positive correlation between CSR and financial gain (Steiner and Steiner, 2006). However, as Freidmanism claims, the first responsibility of business is to make enough profit to cover the costs for the future. If this social responsibility is not met, no other responsibilities can be (Hargreaves, 2006). Therefore it is critical that CSR activities are included in strategy formulation and that the level of resources devoted to CSR is determined like any other strategy through cost/benefit analysis. Corporations will not throw money away they need to see it
CSR lacks universal methods. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) mentions that it is important to draw a distinction between CSR as part of strategic business management concept and charity, sponsorships or philanthropy. The latter applications make valuable social impacts that enhance the reputations of the companies, however, CSR is a continual effort instead of an instance. A few features that CSR should focus on are: eco-efficiency, employee and community relations, environmental management, gender balance, responsible souring, anti-corruption, stakeholder engagement and human rights. Utilizing some of these key features a company can bring competitive advantages into the market place. Increased sales and profits from operational cost savings as well as improved reputation and brand image and customer loyalty can result from a well-defined CSR strategy.
Proponents of CSR would suggest a number of reasons why self interested corporations, seeking to solely to maximize profits are unable to advance the interests of society as a whole:
Furthermore, there are several reasons why CSR is critical to modern business such as attracting and retaining employees, attracting socially responsible companies and reducing business costs. To start with attracting and retaining employees, it stimulates workers to increase commitments and productivities. Employees would feel meaningful by working for ethical company. In the second place, it helps to attract socially
Snider, Hill and Martin. (2003) stated that “ CSR may be defined in general terms as "the obligation of the firm to use its resources in ways to benefit society, through committed participation as a member of society, taking into account the society at large and improving welfare of society at large independent of direct gains of the company" (as cited in Kok et al., 2001, p. 288). Since the growth of the corporations depend on the societal factors, corporations should be responsible for the society for the corporation’s own benefit in the long run. “The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) construct describes the relationship between business and the larger society” (Snider et al., 2003). According to The Wall Street Journal (2013),
The commitment to ethical behaviour of the business is usually in the corporate social responsibility policy of the business (CSR). Businesses are no longer judged on their ability to produce goods and services but also on how they deliver and the impact they have in the society and the environment.
First important arguments against CSR come from Friedman (2007). He argues that CSR is not in the shareholders’ interest and the idea that companies have a responsibility to act in the public interest and will profit from doing so is fundamentally flawed.. He argues that moral responsibility of the company is also to maximize the benefits for its shareholder. And spending