There has been a shift in managerial attitudes toward, and consideration for, social and environmental issues in recent decades (Parnell, Scott, & Angelopoulos, 2013). While mangers have traditionally been obligated to work for the good of the shareholder, widespread adoption of the stakeholder theory demands that managers seriously consider the impacts of the firm’s decisions on all affected outside parties, or stakeholders (Boatright, 1994; Parnell et al., 2013). However, purchasing and supply chain management (PSCM) in practice seems to remain oriented toward profit maximization, though interest in social responsibility is growing (Ferrell, Rogers, Ferrell, & Sawayda, 2013). The managerial shift toward stakeholder relationship management has been evident, yet the extent to which PSCM departments have embraced stakeholder theory is less obvious.
This is problematic because PSCM is a developing discipline (Spina, Caniato, Luzzini, & Ronchi, 2013). Knowledge of actual policies and practices is important, as future research cannot address real world problems based on assumptions. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree to which stakeholder theory has been incorporated into companies’ PSCM policies. This exploratory research will fill a gap in the PSCM literature, informing future research by providing scholars with a clearer understanding of the degree to which stakeholder theory has been adopted in PSCM.
Literature Review
Traditional and Stakeholder
Kroger’s CSR efforts regarding environmental efforts are more robust than employee stakeholder support. Even with this, Kroger is considered a laggard with environmental CSR standards when compared to Walmart and Target (van der Ven, 2014). A main reason for this could be due to Kroger’s relatively light involvement with CSR focused organizations. Their leadership may simply not be exposed to CSR ideas as much as their peers (van der Ven, 2014). Expanding CSR knowledge, and leadership widening their network on CSR possibilities will give Kroger’s leaders access to industry leaders best practice knowledge.
These expectations relate with Hungry Jack’s main stakeholders. Theory indicates that businesses affect stakeholder groups that also influence business performance in return. As such, it is essential for Hungry Jack’s to maintain and improve its corporate social responsibility strategies for the purpose of optimizing its relations with major stakeholders. By integrating the interests of these stakeholder groups in strategic formulation, Hungry Jacks can expect optimised business opportunities for long-term growth and
When an organization partakes in “proactive behavior…for the benefit of society,” it is deemed as socially responsible (P. 155). However, prior to labeling a organization as socially responsible, it is important that we first identify what specific elements of proactive behavior constitute a socially responsible business. To begin, for an organization to be considered socially responsible on the highest level, it must take a proactive approach to doing business. This is defined as “[taking a] approach to social responsibility in which an organization goes beyond industry norms to solve and prevent problems” (P.155). In addition, it is standard for a socially responsible organization to incorporate a larger scope of stakeholders, to include external stakeholders, in their business decisions to create positive externalities, and mitigate negative ones, to benefit society as a whole.
A stakeholder is someone who someone who benefits or is burdened by a corporation, or someone who the corporation benefits or is burdened by. (Steiner). Stakeholders are represented by two main groups; primary and secondary
It is said that “The only social responsibility that there is, is to obey laws and pay taxes,” but according to Milton Friedman, “social responsibility is to increase profits.” This kind of responsibility also a form of giving back. Many people believe that the future of Wal-Mart is sustainability. Wal-Mart Stakeholders are the associates, otherwise known as employees, the suppliers, and the investors of this company. I believe that Wal-Mart is doing enough to become more sustainable both locally and globally by the resources, its key stakeholders.
Nowadays, we are facing a major experiment in privatization. For example, private companies have entered the business of managing public schools, or religious schools. Also, they even run in prison industry. Among them is Private Prison Corporation of America, which is growing fast in prison industry in the United States. Especially, immigration detention business has brought up massive profit for Private Prison of America. Therefore, corporation is planning to join other private prison corporations by making campaign donation and retaining lobbyist to draft and seek the passage of two laws about anti-illegal immigrant and the Intensive Probation Act that will increase opportunities to do
The expectation that businesses behave responsibly and positively contribute to society all while pursuing their economic goals is one that holds firm through all generations. Stakeholders, both market and nonmarket, expect businesses to be socially responsible. Many companies have responded to this by including this growing expectation as part of their overall business operations. There are companies in existence today whose sole purpose is to socially benefit society alongside businesses who simply combine social benefits with their economic goals as their company mission. These changes in societal expectations and thus company purpose we’ve seen in the business community over time often blurs the line of what it means to be socially
Because corporations are established to profit and shareholders invest money with expectations of a greater return, managers cannot be given a directive to be “socially responsible” without providing specific criteria of checks and balances to which needs to adhere. Therefore, it is imperative to the success of a corporation for managers to not act solely but rather to act within the policies of the shareholders.
A stake holder, in general is defined as an individual or organization likely affected by the performance of an organization. In “The stakeholder theory of the corporation: Concepts, evidence, and implications” by Thomas Donaldson , he quotes Stanford research institution and calls stake holders “those groups without whose support the organization would cease to exist.”
To produce a set of recommendations in a written document about how McDonalds PLC, can reduce its carbon footprint through the management of key stakeholder relationships.
Stakeholder analysis is an integral part of what determines a business’ success. Within every business, there are various stakeholder groups that have individual specific needs. Each stakeholder group has to be consistently considered by the company when it makes decisions. Over the course of five weeks, students made decisions to help guide K-Tai, Inc. with its stakeholder analysis and corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts. Several conflicting decisions were considered and a thorough analysis helped the CREO office come up with the best possible solutions to the company’s problems. The CSR simulation was an excellent tool to help students understand the importance of ethics in business and how to address the common issues that businesses face in today’s society.
Interorganisational management of environmental and social aspects in the supply chain Case studies from the textile sector
The realm of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is to increase business profitability and opportunities by making improvements in terms of operational effectiveness throughout the value chain (Rangan, Chase & Karim, 2012). This increasingly popular CSR among corporate and academic leaders is synonymous to the “shared value” framework, whereby organizations seek to co-create economic and social value. According to Ridurnolu, Prhalad and Rangaswami (2009), corporations from the United States recognize the business value of revolutionizing new manufacturing and technology that cut operating costs while minimizing impacts on the environment. This CSR domain focuses on operational efficiency and also building revenue, with the initiative to be determined by the ability to improve the corporate bottom line while at the same time returning social value. To achieve that, the strategy is to reengineer a corporation’s entire value chain, which stems from natural resource extraction and sourcing to manufacturing, shipping and product delivering.
The stakeholder theory made popular by Ed Freeman (1984) does seem to represent a major advance over the classical view (Freeman, 1984). It might seem inappropriate to refer to the stakeholder position as neoclassical. Bowie (1991: 56-66) has defined stakeholders as a group whose existence was necessary for the survival of the firm--stockholders, employees, customers, suppliers, the local community, and managers themselves.
Supply Chain Responsibility is or at least should be part of a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy. CSR is a strategy that managers use to monitor, maintain, and often times improve the environmental and social impacts of their companies as well as how they interact with all of their stakeholders not just the shareholders for which their operations effect. Managers should use their CSR plains to balance the expectations of their often competing stakeholders with their environmental, social, and economic goals. Some fundamental CSR concerns are stakeholder engagement, environmental impact, responsible sourcing of raw materials, standards and working condition of the labor force, social and gender equity as well as good governance and anti-corruption control. CSR approaches focus on what is called a Triple Bottom Line for measurable results. The three measures are profit which is the economic value that a company creates, social which is the how the company treats its labor force and the communities for which it operates in and environmental which is how the company is engaged in the creation and application of sustainable practices that produce reductions or eliminates environmental impacts.