conclusion for corporate social responsibility essay

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) represents a business model where companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions with stakeholders. Essays on CSR could explore its evolution from philanthropic initiatives to a core strategic component of business operations, reflecting broader societal expectations of corporate ethics and sustainability. Discussions might delve into various CSR models and frameworks, and how they are implemented across different industries and cultural contexts. The discourse could extend to the examination of notable CSR initiatives, their impact on communities, and the balance between profit-making and social responsibility. Moreover, essays might explore the challenges and opportunities of CSR, such as greenwashing, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of sustainable practices. The implications of CSR on corporate governance, ethical leadership, and the broader societal shift towards sustainability and ethical consumerism could also be captivating areas of exploration. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Corporate Social Responsibility you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethical Behavior in Corporations

This research paper will compare and contrast the differences between corporate social responsibility and ethical behavior in corporations by considering the ethics that impact business decisions. In order for a clear contrast of the two there first must be a clear understanding of ethics and business ethics. Ethics comes from the Greek word ethos, which means moral character. When we think of ethics in terms of behavior we understand it to be an aspect concerning good and bad, the right […]

Corporate Social Responsibility against Cancer

Abstract As an assistant manager at Kenta Law Firm, based in Monroe, I intend to collaborate with the Susan B. Komen Foundation a non-organization corporation that is interested in reducing issues of breast cancer among women. Kenta law firm has noted that a significant populace of Monroe’s youth especially women and young children specifically those who are homeless are suffering from breast cancer. In this CSR partnership, our law firm will collaborate with the Susan B. Komen Foundation in addressing […]

Walmart’s Use of Databases

Introduction Walmart takes their data collection very seriously. They realize how useful data can be to them in a number of fashions. But what kind of data does Walmart collect, and how do they use this data? Does Walmart's data collection expose their paying customers to risks? Walmart uses statistics of flow of customers, purchase records, personal contact information, and internal and external market research (among others) to comprise their data to help them make better business decisions. Walmart uses […]

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Different Perspectives on the Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility

When it comes to Corporate Social Responsibility, an organization should choose wisely what it stands for. Friedman and Carroll have different perspectives on the concept of CSR. Friedman argues that social responsibility in a company is all about the economic value and how much profit is being made. He believes that any money used for charitable activities that benefit the society is an inappropriate use of shareholders' money as it does not generate any revenue directly. He emphasizes following the […]

Milton Friedman and Social Responsibility

Friedman do not affirm that the executives can act in any way as are used in accordance with the law and follow the ethical custom. But he closed the charity activity since they do not contribute straight to the victory. An upright overview of organization activities in the views of Friedman's agreement is simply not that carry out happenings simply since they are ethical, but since they are economically feasible. One of the main reasons for Friedman to the exclusion […]

Case Study – Lancaster Caramel Company

Introduction Hershey’s is one of the largest chocolate manufacturers that aims to continue expanding worldwide. The beginning of Hershey’s company was when Milton S. Hershey found Lancaster Caramel Company in the 19th century in Pennsylvania. He made his wealth by producing caramel pieces as the first product before turning into chocolate production. The idea of making chocolate came after he started covering the caramel pieces with chocolate, many people were impressed and attracted to the taste of the chocolate coat. […]

Business Ethics and TechFite

TechFite is a U.K-based company that has done well, even though their operations within a new multicultural environment, the United States, have been challenging. With their community and employee-focused organizational structure, the company has successfully empowered their members by including leadership development and facilitating strong coworker relationships. TechFite also maintains high standards by properly compensating employees for their contributions to the company as a whole. In addition, their highly respected environmental ethos is a major plus for the future direction […]

Review on Businesses Without Values and Ethics

This review will study the impact of ethical leadership, of employees, performance in an organization. The progress of an organization's achievements is based on the employees. The employees are considered an important resource to achieve competitive advantages. An ethical leader who shares its authority with employees will improve their performance. So, if leaders set the precedence for upholding high ethical values then the employee will follow suit. On the other hand, if leaders do not have an ethical value and […]

Ethics and the Business Professional

Evaluate your own performance as a morally responsible group member. Which behaviors do you demonstrate? Which do you need to develop? What specific steps might you take to improve? The concept of moral responsibility implies that a person can be evaluated with praise or blame for actions based on a moral code. Moral responsibility suggests that the person is in control of her actions and no other element in the decision-making process interferes with the person's control of the situation. […]

Milton Friedmen and CSR

Social responsibility can be viewed as a vital aspect of people's lives across the globe. Lately, it has also become one of the major increasing concerns in the business world. As a result, interactions between businesses, society, and government have greatly developed. In addition, the standard view of a business's social responsibility holds that it should involve actions that maximize its profit according to Milton Friedman. Contrasting to this view is the socioeconomic outlook of social responsibility which believes that […]

My Research on Starbucks

According to Management principles learned in business, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is valued not just by a business but also by the consumer. Despite some businesses recording massive successes in practicing CSR, other entities or organizations are conflicted about its benefits. I decided to pick and explore Starbucks because of its enormous social standpoint. CSR plays a significant role in the success of Starbucks. The company uses CSR as a long-term strategy, leading to the sustainability of its magnificent brand […]

Implementation of the Environmental Disclosure Requirement in Australian Service Industry

The issue of environmental conservation has been a primary subject in many countries across the world. Concerns raised in respect to the subject often stem from the negative effects environmental pollution has demonstrated worldwide. Over the previous decades, a wealth of literature has surfaced from the social accounting sector, indicating a continuous growth in the extent of social disclosure appearing in corporate annual reports. Specifically, the level of environmental disclosures has consistently increased compared to past decades. In Australia, for […]

Managing Sustainability Development

Executive summary Sustainable development practices for any organization have to be informed by the goals of the company. For Vodafone Company in New Zealand, the goals of the company are to produce quality cell phones, conserve the environment and encourage young people to work hard and be responsible citizens. The project will be undertaken to evaluate how the company can improve efficiency in operations and at the same time maintain the profit margin as it stands. The company is thus […]

What is Sustainability in Business?

The first aspect business looks when thinking about sustainability is the operational aspect and saving cost as it is easy to measure.Most of the resource we are using are non-renewable resources,from our energy need to the consumption of oil.But all these resources are bound to get over in the future.There is a term called peak oil,after which production of oil reduces due to reduce reserves.There is already an alert for helium gas which is used in many areas like filling […]

Sustainability Community Engagement and Diversity Inclusion Review BA

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Kenneth Lay: a Study in Corporate Misconduct and its Impact

Kenneth Lay, the former CEO of Enron Corporation, remains an emblematic figure in the annals of corporate fraud and mismanagement. His story serves as a crucial lesson in ethics, leadership, and the consequences of corporate malfeasance. In understanding Lay's role in the Enron scandal, we delve into a narrative that intertwines personal ambition with a catastrophic lapse in corporate governance, leading to one of the most infamous collapses in American business history. Kenneth Lay, born in 1942 in Missouri, rose […]

Value-transmission in Multinational Corporations

The case study is a good exercise for contemplating value-transmission in multinational corporations and shows the difficulty of staying committed to development in the countries of operation. IKEA Case Study IKEA’s global sourcing challenge with Indian rugs and child labor exhibits the challenges and complexities of conducting international business. This case is particularly interesting because it shines light on a company’s response to new issues in corporate social responsibility brought about by globalization. The events take place at a time […]

Social Problems of the Company

Introduction There are many stories published regarding Nike’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts in the last 20 years. Starting with Phil Knight, Nike’s visionary, the company through its CSR journey has overhauled the company from a period of time it was known for “slave wages, forced overtime, and arbitrary abuse” to a world class leader in the utilization of both social and environmental strategies to foster innovation, growth and sustainability, currently Nike is viewed among global CSR leaders. From the […]

The Corporate Gentrification

I chose to watch Michael John Warren’s production of Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway filmed on September 7th, 2008. This was the first time I watched this rock musical; I found the acting, directing, and production quality to be at a very professional level. The play was originally directed for the stage by Michael Greif. He is an American stage director who has won three Obie awards and received four Tony Award nominations, including one for Rent. The play’s plot […]

Managerial Ethics & Social Responsibility

Ethics and ethical behavior are difficult to touch upon, especially in current times when institutions are riddled with corruption, and driven by desire for money and power. We live in an environment where acting ethically for the sake of dignity can cost a person their job, family, and in extreme cases, their life. You may have heard about the tweet that cost Elon Musk billions of dollars. Musk tweeted, “Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.” This message […]

A Personal Education and the Ethical Dilemma and the Hypothetical Scenario

Here's a hypothetical scenario: I am a manager at LHEM (Large Heavy Equipment Manufacturing), a company that outsources the manufacturing of a specialized piece of equipment to a firm located in another country. We'll refer to this company as FF (Foreign Firm). Outsourcing this piece of equipment has saved LHEM a considerable amount of money, increasing profits by 15%. However, a recent newspaper article revealed that FF pays their employees only a few dollars a day and imposes extensive working […]

Was J.P. Morgan a Captain of Industry or Robber Baron?

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Ethics, Sustainability and CSR

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Corporate Social Responsibility

Business ownership – a view from stakeholders perspective, only a few corporations take the csr seriously, economic hard time and core business focus, role and responsibility conflict, environmental management and corporations’ profitability.

Long periods of time have seen businesses sustain success in the visibly competitive world of trade. This success is linked to good governance from the board of management, with support from the shareholders. Similarly, businesses that have performed poorly in the past are connected to the weaknesses of the boards of governors, who in one way or another failed to address specific issues that confront their business venture. The management of corporations is in most cases under the leadership of a chief executive officer (CEO), who is given the opportunity to manage the corporation by the shareholders (Mallin, 2007). The CEO reports directly to the board of directors. While the board plays a critical role in ensuring that the management and the CEO of the organization get everything right, the board is normally answerable to the shareholders (Monks & Minow, 2007, p.126).

It is noted that the test of any effective governance and management is reflected in the degree to which an organization achieves its purpose and set goals (Jensen, 1976, p.4). However, another phenomenon has emerged in the world of business where the roles of business entities have been billed to go beyond shareholder satisfaction. This is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which has been linked with the responsibility of caring for stakeholders in a wider perspective of the global or regional community (Carroll, 1999). Others refer to it as corporate citizenship, with the common belief that it influences all the aspects of the business on a global or regional scale. This belief is pinned on the notion that businesses matter since they create a lot of wealth, which they are required to share with the community under the banner of “stakeholders” (Atkinson, Waterhouse & Wells, 1997, p.25). In other words, the concept of the CRS is a state in which an organization decides where it fits in social fabrics, by addressing the ethics of business, corporate governance, environmental issues, and any other issue within the social context of the society (Bushman & Smith, 2003). But is CSR necessary for the success of a corporation? Or is CSR an obligation of the Corporations? This paper critically analyzes whether the corporations have the role of Corporate Social Responsibility as part of their duty in the wider aspect of their roles.

According to some business pundits, business is principally owned by stakeholders, and that any money spent on Corporate Social Responsibility is a waste of corporation’s resources and ‘polite robbery’ from the rightful owners of the business (Bushman & Smith, 2003, p.14). The case against CSR can be traced back to a statement by scholar and business leader, Laisser-Fair. Supporting his position are people like Elaine Sternberg, who argues that practicing CRS is basically going against human rights; the right of owners to enjoy the right to reap from their efforts, hence they are denied the right to property ownership (Werther & Chandler, 2006). Stating that the objectives of every contemporary view are ridiculous, she argues that the right to own a property is earned fairly in a business environment and thus should be respected at all costs (Werther & Chandler, 2006, p.39). However, a view that “ordinary decency, honesty, and fairness” should be at the forefront of every corporation is also paramount in many ways (Jensen, 1996).

It is also argued that corporate social responsibility undermines the very base of a free society (Grossman & Hart, 1982). This is because of the acceptance of the corporate leaders that they have a social responsibility to satisfy the needs of those who have not contributed directly to the success of the corporation. It thus means that the responsibility to make more profit to the shareholders is jeopardized.

The past surveys of the most respected companies in the globe show that corporations that have not concentrated much on the topic do better than the ones which have concentrated much on CSR activities (Freeman, 1994). The survey revealed that the position of “The Most Respected Business Leaders” has been occupied by those executives or business leaders who do not play nice in the market, hence creating a belief that being good to the stakeholders at large is not

the way to go for success in business (Freeman, 1994). For instance, business leaders like Bill Gates are known to have not played the business game fairly, but still emerge with honors on their achievements (Monks & Minow, 2007). In fact, Microsoft is associated with some of the highest-profile cases of playing ‘big brother’ in the business environment hence jeopardizing the success of other firms in the same line of business (Monks & Minow, 2007, p.172). In fact, Bill Gates has used his huge financial achievements in the market to give away huge sums of money to the needy, at the expense of the competing firms.

Another notable case is that of Jack Welch of General Electric. He played nasty in the business world by a memorable and anti-social downsizing in his corporation and cases of environmental pollution that led to a lot of criticism from the society members, including the fellow business leaders (Monks & Minow, 2007, p.173). However, Alchian & Desmetz (2002) argues that Welch played his part in a manner that would be considered social responsibility activity, especially through his restructuring of the employee status through empowerment. Welch is in records as to have said that making a profit and paying taxes should not be the sole agenda that occupies the minds of the corporation leaders (Alchian & Desmetz, 2002).

In the dimension of core business and the need to focus on it, especially during this period of economic hardship, many scholars have argued that one should not lose focus of core business in the name of spending money unnecessarily. Colley (2003, p.213) states that “you cannot go round spending extravagantly” on unimportant issues while you are retrenching workers and the reputation of the company is headed downhill. From this argument, it is easy to argue that the reputation of the company may not be easily redeemed when the very society that is supposed to respond positively towards their activities are skeptical about everything they do in the name of CSR.

Fombrun (1996) on the other hand argues that the process of managing CSR depends on the aspect of managing a business. In this dimension, one can handle it poorly or well depending on whether the managers keep a firm focus on the business goals and objectives. It is, therefore, possible to reason out that time and again it is the corporation’s responsibility to keep off those activities that would attract the attention of pressure groups, especially the environmentalists or to avoid carrying out activities that may lead to prosecution and paying of regulatory charges (Fombrun, 1996). He states that through such an initiative, there would be no need for splashing out money for CSR activities. After all, many observe that CSR can lead to withdrawal of attention towards the improvement of quality, as the corporation will be spending a lot of time and money on building the image through CSR at the expense of improving product quality (Freeman 1994).

Historically, businesses have moved beyond morality and public policy, hence the need to do what is needed; create an environment for sustainable profit and growth (Millstein, 1998). By doing this, the government is benefiting through taxation, hence the need to create a favorable framework for the proper and fair game in society. Millstein (1998) argues that it is not logical to insist that smoking remain legal and adding a huge tax on it at the expense of consumers, and still act in the name of CSR. In fact many have argued that such activities or actions are purely not in the interest of the wider stakeholders, hence the call for the wholesome illegalization of tobacco.

It is indeed becoming extremely challenging as it is getting extremely hard to sustain the impact of such negative perceptions. In fact, taking an example of the tobacco industry still, they are actually global players, a big corporation that does continuously grow in its global networks at the expense of other locally based corporations. This makes it possible to take a global look at the scenario thus assuming the roles played by the locally based corporations. In essence, this may be the point behind many organizations hiding in the blanket of “small impact group” of corporations (Alchian & Desmetz, 2002).

Several studies have indicated that almost every business idea or a business venture that one may think of has the ability to “shift 1% of its overall turnover straight into its bottom line”, only if proper environmental management is undertaken in a way that would minimize wastes (Bushman & Smith, 2003). However, a lot of business leaders do not positively conceive the idea of spending money on environmental conservation or minimizing waste through specific environmental initiatives (Bushman & Smith, 2003). According to Bushman & Smith, business leaders do not like the idea of preventing the on-coming problem, but like acting after the disaster so that they can rebuild their name through CSR activities. In principle, the solution to the problems only comes after the need to solve an already existing problem rather than acting to clear the looming one.

There is considerable evidence that good governance cannot be replaced by activities of CSR. It must also be noted that the governance of corporations relies on the internal means through which their performances are accomplished (Colley, 2003). There is also little debate that good corporate governance will definitely impact the overall performance of the corporation. Again, while governance of a corporation is comprised of the internal relationships amongst shareholders, boards of directors, and managers, it must be acknowledged that such relationships are a result of respective roles of the government and private sector. This is seen in the way governments manage the laid down regulations, the general perception of the public as well as voluntary private initiatives. It is therefore important to note that CSR is basically an image-building initiative that in most cases can be avoided at the initial stages of company development. Again it should therefore be acknowledged that the primary role of corporate governance is to ensure the shareholders get their rightful control and benefit of the corporation rather than venturing into the image-building exercise through CSR.

Alchian, A., & Desmetz H. (1972) Production, Information Costs and Economic Organization. American Economic Review , 62, pp. 777-795.

Atkinson, A., & Waterhouse J., & Wells R. (1997) A stakeholder approach to strategic performance measurement. Sloan Management Review , Spring [38(3)]: 25-36.

Bushman, R., & Smith J. (2003) Trasparency, Financial Accounting Information and the Corporate Governance. FRBNY, Economic Policy Review , April.

Carroll, A. B. (1999) Corporate social responsibility: Evolution of a definitional construct. Business and Society 38(3), 268-295.

Colley, J.L. (2003) Corporate Governance . London. McGraw-Hill Professional.

Fombrun, C., J. (1996). Reputation: Realizing Value from the Corporate Image . Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

Freeman E. R. (1984) Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach . Chicago. Pittman Books Limited.

Grossman, S., & Hart O. (1982) Corporate Financial Structure and Managerial Incentives. The Economics of Information and Uncertainty . Chicago. University of Chicago press.

Jensen, M. C. (1976) Theory of Firm: Managerial Behavior, Agency Costs and Ownership Structure. Working Paper , No 3 (1).

Mallin, C.A. 2007 Corporate Governance , 2 nd Edition. Oxford. Oxford University Press.

Millstein, I.M. (1998) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development : Business Sector Advisory Group on Corporate Governance . London. OECD Publishing.

Monks, R. G. & Minow, N. (2007) Corporate Governance , 4 th Edition. New York. Wiley Blackwell.

Werther, B.W., & Chandler, D. (2006) Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Stakeholders in a Global Environment . Miami. University of Miami Publishing Press.

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Essay on Corporate Social Responsibility

This report provides information on whether the benefits of CSR outweigh the drawbacks. The report shows that the benefits of CSR are more than the drawbacks and managers should consider implementing the strategy. The research utilizes the use of secondary resources to conclude. Most of the authors used in this report show that CSR has more advantages such as consumer satisfaction, financial performance, productivity, and promotes relationships among the companies, the stakeholders, and society. This research informs the managers on the benefits of executing CSR in their companies. More so, it provides information on few drawbacks that the managers should be prepared to experience. The study adds new information concerning the comparison of advantages and disadvantages of CSR which makes it easier to determine if the strategy should be implemented in companies.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Introduction

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a self-controlling model of business that helps business organizations to be socially accountable to the public, stakeholders, and self. Through CSR, companies have conscious of how that affects society environmentally, socially, and economically as they do their businesses (Basuony et al., 2014). Engaging in CSR means that companies are operating in ways that improve society and its environment. As much as CSR influences companies to translate the principles into practical activities, some of the researchers show that CSR may harm companies, stakeholders, and consumers.

Research Questions

Do the positive impacts outweigh the negative effects of CSR among the companies?

Despite some of the researchers revealing the negative impacts of CSR, there are many positive influences that companies, stakeholders, and consumers experience. Companies should ensure that they are responsible for themselves, society, stakeholders, and consumers. This promotes the positive impact of business in society without other people suffering the implications of unethical business activities. However, it is linked to few drawbacks such as costs, conflicts in the profit motive, and “green washing” of customers.

Methodology

This report will utilize secondary sources for review to come up with conclusions. Articles that are less than 10 years old will be used to develop conclusions on whether CSR is effective among companies and if the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Literature Review

Based on a substantiation from Mena country, Basuony et al. (2014) state that CSR promotes the performance of business organizations. The stakeholder theory suggests that organizations have to manage relationships with other groups and stakeholders which influences the effectiveness of business decisions. Despite making entrepreneurship progress, businesses that pay attention to the needs of society are successful. For example, branding is effective when a business organization protects the environment and takes part in social activities such as the construction of schools. Most of the researches in this article show that CSR influences business performance through market orientation and consumer satisfaction and financial performance. In research done by Newman et al. (2018), shows that CSR has an independent positive influence on the level of firms efficacy- increased productivity influenced by high effective business engagement. Increased company involvement in community initiatives is a great influence for success in business due to customers’ and stakeholders’ trust.

The concept of the future of CSR presented by Archie Caroll shows that as companies continue to apply CSR, benefits such as stakeholders engagement, increased productivity due to employees being the driving force of business and the enhancement of power among ethically sensitive customers and the client will be experienced (Agudelo et al., 2019). The concept influences effective governance criteria, environmental responsibility, corporate citizenship, the establishment of shared business values, and social performance. However, CSR is linked to various negative impacts. Mahmood et al. (2020) suggest that CSR influences negativity through abusive supervision while valuing employees’ conducts. As much as CSR influences minimization of negative employees’ behavior, it also influences negative conduct when there is abusive supervision. More so, the implementation of CSR needs money. Especially for small businesses, CSR is not affordable to be allocated in the budget. The conflict of the profit motive is also established in CSR as the focus on societal benefits may influence losses to companies. Greenwashing of consumers is linked to CSR. For example, labeling products to be organic to attract consumers.

Implications

This exploration has implications for both bodies of knowledge and management. The research used in this report shows that as much as CSR may have various drawbacks, the benefits outweighs the disadvantages. It contributes to the existing body of knowledge by showing that CSR has more benefits and companies should consider its application in business. The limitations of the current study are the use of secondary sources and few articles to provide more evidence. More so, the articles used in this report do not include cultural factors such as religion which are significant in understanding CSR and the involved activities in the society. The discussion concerning the link between CSR and corporate governance is not provided. Therefore, further research should be done to evaluate this link and its impact on the performance of the company and the experiences of the stakeholders and customers. More so, the research provides a key takeaway for managers which is mainly the benefits of executing CSR in companies to influence performance. The managers should know that despite the presence of drawbacks linked to CSR, there are many advantages such as consumer satisfaction, effective branding, establishing trust, and financial performance.

Based on the previous research used in this report, it is evident that CSR has many advantages. These pros include consumer satisfaction, productivity, good relationships with society and stakeholders, financial performance, and effective branding. These advantages overpower the drawbacks which include costs, conflicts in the profit motive, and “green washing” of customers. However, the limitations of the research include the inclusion of fewer articles and a lack of cultural factors in the research. Therefore, this study concludes that the benefits of CSR outweigh the disadvantages. The implication of the literature is informing managers to execute CSR which promotes productivity and financial performance.

Agudelo, M. A. L., Jóhannsdóttir, L., & Davídsdóttir, B. (2019). A literature review of the history and evolution of corporate social responsibility.  International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility ,  4 (1), 1-23.

Basuony, M. A., Elseidi, R. I., & Mohamed, E. K. (2014). The impact of corporate social responsibility on firm performance: Evidence from a MENA country.  Corporate Ownership & Control ,  12 (1-9), 761-774.

Mahmood, F., Qadeer, F., Abbas, Z., Hussain, I., Saleem, M., Hussain, A., & Aman, J. (2020). Corporate social responsibility and employees’ negative behaviors under abusive supervision: A multilevel insight.  Sustainability ,  12 (7), 2647.

Newman, C., Rand, J., Tarp, F., & Trifkovic, N. (2020). Corporate social responsibility in a competitive business environment.  The Journal of Development Studies ,  56 (8), 1455-1472.

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5 Examples of Corporate Social Responsibility That Were Successful

• 06 Jun 2019

Business is about more than just making a profit. Climate change, economic inequality, and other global challenges that impact communities worldwide have compelled companies to be purpose-driven and contribute to the greater good .

In a recent study by Deloitte , 93 percent of business leaders said they believe companies aren't just employers, but stewards of society. In addition, 95 percent reported they’re planning to take a stronger stance on large-scale issues in the coming years and devote significant resources to socially responsible initiatives. With more CEOs turning their focus to the long term, it’s important to consider what you can do in your career to make an impact .

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What Is Corporate Social Responsibility?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a business model in which for-profit companies seek ways to create social and environmental benefits while pursuing organizational goals, like revenue growth and maximizing shareholder value .

Today’s organizations are implementing extensive corporate social responsibility programs, with many companies dedicating C-level executive roles and entire departments to social and environmental initiatives. These executives are commonly referred to as a chief officer of corporate social responsibility or chief sustainability officer (CSO).

There are many types of corporate social responsibility and CSR might look different for each organization, but the end goal is always the same: Do well by doing good . Companies that embrace corporate social responsibility aim to maintain profitability while supporting a larger purpose.

Rather than simply focusing on generating profit, or the bottom line, socially responsible companies are concerned with the triple bottom line , which considers the impact that business decisions have on profit, people, and the planet.

It’s no coincidence that some of today’s most profitable organizations are also socially responsible. Here are five examples of successful corporate social responsibility you can use to drive social change at your organization.

5 Corporate Social Responsibility Examples

1. lego’s commitment to sustainability.

As one of the most reputable companies in the world, Lego aims to not only help children develop through creative play, but foster a healthy planet.

Lego is the first, and only, toy company to be named a World Wildlife Fund Climate Savers Partner , marking its pledge to reduce its carbon impact. And its commitment to sustainability extends beyond its partnerships.

By 2030, the toymaker plans to use environmentally friendly materials to produce all of its core products and packaging—and it’s already taken key steps to achieve that goal.

Over the course of 2013 and 2014, Lego shrunk its box sizes by 14 percent , saving approximately 7,000 tons of cardboard. Then, in 2018, the company introduced 150 botanical pieces made from sustainably sourced sugarcane —a break from the petroleum-based plastic typically used to produce the company’s signature building blocks. The company has also recently committed to removing all single-use plastic packaging from its materials by 2025, among other initiatives .

Along with these changes, the toymaker has committed to investing $164 million into its Sustainable Materials Center , where researchers are experimenting with bio-based materials that can be implemented into the production process.

Through all of these initiatives, Lego is well on its way to tackling pressing environmental challenges and furthering its mission to help build a more sustainable future.

Related : What Does "Sustainability" Mean in Business?

2. Salesforce’s 1-1-1 Philanthropic Model

Beyond being a leader in the technology space, cloud-based software giant Salesforce is a trailblazer in the realm of corporate philanthropy.

Since its outset, the company has championed its 1-1-1 philanthropic model , which involves giving one percent of product, one percent of equity, and one percent of employees’ time to communities and the nonprofit sector.

To date, Salesforce employees have logged more than 5 million volunteer hours . Not only that, but the company has awarded upwards of $406 million in grants and donated to more than 40,000 nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.

In addition, through its work with San Francisco Unified and Oakland Unified School Districts, Salesforce has helped reduce algebra repeat rates and contributed to a high percentage of students receiving A’s or B’s in computer science classes.

As the company’s revenue continues to grow, Salesforce stands as a prime example of the idea that profit-making and social impact initiatives don’t have to be at odds with one another.

3. Ben & Jerry’s Social Mission

At Ben & Jerry’s, positively impacting society is just as important as producing premium ice cream.

In 2012, the company became a certified B Corporation , a business that balances purpose and profit by meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability.

As part of its overarching commitment to leading with progressive values, the ice cream maker established the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 1985, an organization dedicated to supporting grassroots movements that drive social change.

Each year, the foundation awards approximately $2.5 million in grants to organizations in Vermont and across the United States. Grant recipients have included the United Workers Association, a human rights group striving to end poverty, and the Clean Air Coalition, an environmental health and justice organization based in New York.

The foundation’s work earned it a National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy Award in 2014, and it continues to sponsor efforts to find solutions to systemic problems at both local and national levels.

Related : How to Create Social Change: 4 Business Strategies

4. Levi Strauss’s Social Impact

In addition to being one of the most successful fashion brands in history, Levi’s is also one of the first to push for a more ethical and sustainable supply chain.

In 1991, the brand created its Terms of Engagement , which established its global code of conduct regarding its supply chain and set standards for workers’ rights, a safe work environment, and an environmentally-friendly production process.

To maintain its commitment in a changing world, Levi’s regularly updates its Terms of Engagement. In 2011, on the 20th anniversary of its code of conduct, Levi’s announced its Worker Well-being initiative to implement further programs focused on the health and well-being of supply chain workers.

Since 2011, the Worker Well-being initiative has been expanded to 12 countries and more than 100,000 workers have benefited from it. In 2016, the brand scaled up the initiative, vowing to expand the program to more than 300,000 workers and produce more than 80 percent of its product in Worker Well-being factories by 2025.

For its continued efforts to maintain the well-being of its people and the environment, Levi’s was named one of Engage for Good’s 2020 Golden Halo Award winners, which is the highest honor reserved for socially responsible companies.

5. Starbucks’s Commitment to Ethical Sourcing

Starbucks launched its first corporate social responsibility report in 2002 with the goal of becoming as well-known for its CSR initiatives as for its products. One of the ways the brand has fulfilled this goal is through ethical sourcing.

In 2015, Starbucks verified that 99 percent of its coffee supply chain is ethically sourced , and it seeks to boost that figure to 100 percent through continued efforts and partnerships with local coffee farmers and organizations.

The brand bases its approach on Coffee and Farmer Equity (CAFE) Practices , one of the coffee industry’s first set of ethical sourcing standards created in collaboration with Conservation International . CAFE assesses coffee farms against specific economic, social, and environmental standards, ensuring Starbucks can source its product while maintaining a positive social impact.

For its work, Starbucks was named one of the world’s most ethical companies in 2021 by Ethisphere.

The Value of Being Socially Responsible

As these firms demonstrate , a deep and abiding commitment to corporate social responsibility can pay dividends. By learning from these initiatives and taking a values-driven approach to business, you can help your organization thrive and grow, even as it confronts global challenges.

Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of the broader social and political landscape in which your organization operates? Explore our three-week Sustainable Business Strategy course and other online courses regarding business in society to learn more about how business can be a catalyst for system-level change.

This post was updated on April 15, 2022. It was originally published on June 6, 2019.

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THREE ESSAYS ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

REN, XINGZI (2023) THREE ESSAYS ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Doctoral thesis, Durham University.

This thesis encompasses three empirical chapters, each focusing on a distinct aspect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and examining both its drivers and outcomes at organizational and individual levels. The first empirical chapter investigates the role of gender diversity in top management teams and its relationship with firms’ CSR engagement. Drawing on resource dependence theory, the primary findings indicate that female directors significantly enhance firm's CSR performance by contributing to board diversity. Furthermore, the results reveal that social trust bolsters the effectiveness of female directors. The second empirical chapter explores the environmental issues and their driving factor, specifically institutional investors. The analysis demonstrates that institutional investors contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions among Chinese listed firms. The mechanism operates through the investors’ use of their voice in shareholder proposals. The final empirical chapter delves into external experiences that influence CEOs' attitudes towards their firms' CSR profiles. The findings suggest that CEOs, motivated by a desire to enhance their reputation, tend to engage more in CSR activities following the receipt of an award. Concurrently, the easing of financial constraints facilitates these decisions. Ultimately, the results support the notion that CSR agency problems can lead to decisions made by awarded CEOs that adversely impact firm value.

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28 Conclusion

Andrew Crane is the George R. Gardiner Professor of Business Ethics in the Schulich School of Business at York University. He has a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Nottingham, and was previously Chair in Business Ethics and Director of the UK's first MBA in CSR in the International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility at Nottingham University Business School.

Abagail McWilliams, Associate Dean and Professor in the College of Business, University of Illinois at Chicago

Dirk Matten holds the Hewlett-Packard Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility at the Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto. He holds a doctoral degree and the habilitation from Heinrich-Heine-University Dusseldorf, Germany. He is interested in CSR, business ethics and comparative management. He has published widely, including in Academy of Management Review, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Studies, and Business Ethics Quarterly.

Jeremy Moon is Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility and Director of the International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility at Nottingham University Business School.

Donald S. Siegel, Foundation Professor of Public Policy and Management and Director, School of Public Affairs, Arizona State University

• Published: 02 September 2009
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As a field of inquiry, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is still in an embryonic stage. The study of CSR has been hampered by a lack of consensus on the definition of the phenomenon, unifying theory, measures, and unsophisticated empirical methods. Globalization has also added to the complexity of CSR issues to be addressed. Despite these concerns, there is still some excellent research on this topic, which has been gathered in this volume. Specifically, this volume contains findings from numerous experts in a wide variety of social science disciplines and fields in business administration, who have summarized the body of CSR literature and also outlined an agenda for additional research. It is important to note that CSR practices and product features are not always totally transparent and observable to the consumer and other stakeholders. This makes it difficult for consumers and other stakeholders to evaluate the firm's social performance.

Introduction

As a field of inquiry, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is still in an embryonic stage. The study of CSR has been hampered by a lack of consensus on the definition of the phenomenon, unifying theory, measures, and unsophisticated empirical methods. Globalization has also added to the complexity of CSR issues to be addressed.

Despite these concerns, there is still some excellent research on this topic, which we have gathered in this volume. Specifically, the volume contains findings from numerous experts in a wide variety of social science disciplines and fields in business administration, who have summarized the body of CSR literature and also outlined an agenda for additional research.

Given that we have included many perspectives on CSR, readers with a specific ideological or disciplinary orientation will encounter chapters that correspond with their view of CSR. At the same time, they will also be exposed to new perspectives on CSR.

We suspect that most business schools academics who teach courses in CSR or who conduct research on this topic will find the conclusion that firms can ‘do well by doing good’ quite appealing. Neoclassical economists will also accept this argument, especially if it can be framed in such a way as to justify the existence of a rational, economic justification for ‘doing good’ (McWilliams and Siegel, 2001) . Conversely, such academics will dislike the call for broader involvement in social responsibility, such as corporate citizenship implies.

On the other hand, those academics who advocate government intervention in the realm of CSR may ‘dislike’ the positive relationship between doing good and doing well, because it obviates the need for additional regulation vis‐à‐vis CSR. Conversely, they will support the notion, which was discussed in several chapters, for additional discretionary spending on CSR by business.

We hope this heterogeneity in perspectives and paradigms results in rich discussion and additional interdisciplinary research on this topic. From a practitioner standpoint, there may be very different reactions from US businesses (which emphasize stockholder rights) and non‐US businesses (which may emphasize a balance of stakeholder rights). Some mutual understanding may lead to more consistency of CSR actions globally.

The authors in this volume provide insights on many concepts and descriptions of the state of knowledge and practice of social responsibility over a wide range of countries and regions. With that in mind, we review some of the important contributions of this volume.

Defining Corporate Social Responsibility and Related Concepts

In addition to having no consensus definition of CSR, there are multiple related concepts and terms that are sometimes used interchangeably with CSR. CSR is typically used to consider and or evaluate the effects of business on society, beyond the traditional role of seeking to maximize profits. These may include such effects as support of charitable and educational organizations, hiring and training of hard‐core unemployed, non‐discrimination in employment, improved workplace safety, development of green technologies, use of non‐animal testing processes, increased consumer protection, and transparency in reporting. Definitions of CSR can be found in this volume in the chapters by Carroll; Dunfee; Frederick; Mackey, Mackey, and Barney; Orlitzky; and Salazar and Husted.

The definition of CSR often depends on motivation, that is, whether an effect such as the development of a green technology was motivated by a concern for the environment or simply as a means to reduce the cost of environment compliance (deceasing costs and increasing profits). Motivation is inherently unobservable, therefore a related concept, corporate social performance (CSP), which is defined in terms of observed CSR policies, processes, and outcomes, was developed. This concept has several weaknesses, not least of which is its reliance on the concept of the ill‐defined CSR. However, many researchers have used this concept, rooted in sociology, to test the relationship between firms doing good (CSP) and doing well (corporate financial performance or CFP). Definitions of CSP are found in chapters by Melé and Orlitzky, while definitions of CFP are found in chapters by Carroll and Orlitzky.

While also sometimes used interchangeably with CSR, corporate citizenship (CC), which has its roots in political science, is a broader concept than CSR. It considers the role of corporations as social institutions and their ability to respond to non‐market pressures, especially in a global context. In this volume, discussions of CC are found in the chapters by Frederick, Melé, Orlitzky, and Windsor.

Another related, but not synonymous concept, is that of socially responsible investing (SRI), which has roots in religion, ethics, economics, and political science. SRI differs from the other concepts addressed in this volume, because it is a way for stakeholders to control the socially responsible behavior of managers by determining the incentives for such behavior. A definition of SRI is found in the chapter by Kurtz.

Reviewing and Expanding Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility

A dominant perspective in CSR research and practice is the business case, which has its roots in economics, especially the theory of the firm. The business case is that firms ‘do well’ (financially) by ‘doing good’ (acting responsibly). The mechanism by which ‘doing good’ is translated into ‘doing well’ has been open to discussion, both from a theoretical perspective and based on a critique of the empirical evidence. Kurucz, Colbert, and Wheeler address the means by which firms benefit by ‘doing good’ and argue for ‘building a better case’, which ‘would extend beyond the economic’ in their chapter.

Another economic concept, agency theory, has been used to argue against managers engaging in CSR. This perspective, advanced by Friedman (1970) , asserts that managers who engage in CSR are acting in their own self‐interest, rather than in the interest of shareholders (the owners of the firm). Therefore, CSR is not good business practice. Salazar and Husted extend this analysis by outlining an agency theory model, where the pursuit of CSR can be an appropriate business practice.

An alternative theory is that of stakeholder management, which has its roots in ethics (rights and justice). Stakeholder theory posits that many stakeholders, not just shareholders, are affected by the actions of firms, and therefore also have rights. The chapters by Melé and Carroll constitute an in‐depth analysis of stakeholder theory.

A more extensive and inclusive theory of CSR (sometimes referred to as CC) has its roots in political science and argues that business firms are citizens, with both rights and responsibilities. The responsibilities of firms include both the economic and social welfare of other citizens. This concept extends the responsibilities of firms beyond those of stakeholders to all citizens. This conceptualization is especially important in developing countries where the governments might not offer protection of human rights and there may be insufficient regulation of environmental, employment, and consumer impacts. A discussion of these issues is found in the chapters by Frederick, Levy and Kaplan, Melé, Millington, Scherer and Palazzo, and Visser.

Levels of Analysis

One of the most challenging aspects of developing a unified theory of CSR is that studies of this phenomenon have been conducted at numerous levels of aggregation: individual actor (manager or employee), organization, industry, nation, region, and global. Each of these levels of analysis is represented in this volume.

Individual actors are at the center of the controversy surrounding CSR. While firms may be legal entities and may be thought of as having identities and citizenship rights, it is individual managers who make decisions about firms' actions, including allocating resources to CSR. Several motives for engaging in CSR have been recognized, including personal preference, career enhancement, stakeholder coercion, moral leadership, reputation building and profit enhancement. Mackey, Mackey, and Barney examine the correlation between managers' commitment to socially responsible causes and the activities of the firm, while Salazar and Husted propose a model for creating incentives for managers to engage in CSR. Windsor's chapter is devoted to examining how responsible management is taught.

Most CSR studies have been based on the firm as the unit of observation. This is entirely appropriate, since most CSR‐related decisions are made at the corporate level. Furthermore, while there is substantial turnover among senior managers, large firms continue to operate and affect our lives. It is also easier to identify actions with the firm rather than with individual decision‐makers. Carroll presents a comprehensive history of firm‐level CSR. In examining the business case for CSR, Kurucz, Colbert, and Wheeler analyze the creation of firm value through CSR. Kurtz examines the foundations of SRI and how shareholders can affect the behavior of the firms they own, that is, the role of shareholder activism in promoting CSR by the firm.

In recent years, differences in the provision of CSR across countries have been of interest to both researchers and managers. Donaldson examines differences in corporate governance between American firms (where shareholder interests dominate) and European firms (where other groups' interests are also considered). Moon and Vogel examine differences in the business and government interface between the United States and Western European countries and how these differences affect the provision of CSR in these countries. Visser offers an analysis of CSR in developing countries and draws several conclusions regarding how CSR provision differs in developed and developing countries.

The incidence and nature of CSR in a global context is also a fruitful area of research and discourse because technology improvements have opened up markets throughout the world to Western‐style business with its attendant benefits and costs. Because many countries do not provide sufficient government and legal protection for consumers, employees, and the environment, businesses or firms that operate globally are expected to recognize and respond to greater responsibilities than they may have to in their (developed) home country. Scherer and Palazzo explain these expectations. Millington explains how the recent phenomenon of the global supply chain has created pressure on large multinational firms to set the standards for CSR behavior by their suppliers that often operate in developing countries—what he terms ethical supply chain management (ESCM).

Drivers of CSR

One of the issues central to CSR, but often left unexamined, is what ‘drives’ CSR? That is, where does the idea of responsibility originate? Several of the chapters in this volume address this issue in some detail.

One relatively well‐recognized driver of CSR is the consumer. Smith examines how consumers can drive CSR behavior through both positive ethical consumerism (support for products that are produced by responsible firms) and negative ethical consumerism (boycotting firms that act irresponsibly). Steger is more reserved in his support for consumers as drivers, pointing out that consumers are still generally reluctant to support CSR and may punish laggards, but not reward pioneers in CSR. Williams and Aguilera compares consumer attitudes towards CSR across cultures, postulating that there are significant differences.

Another well‐recognized driver of CSR is the manager. The manager as agent for the stockholders (principals) of the firm has control over the resources and can determine how those resources are allocated. Therefore, managers, and especially CEOs, can strongly influence CSR behavior (Waldman et al. , 2006) . This is at the heart of most of the controversy surrounding CSR. Proponents of CSR assert that managers should exercise moral leadership, as proposed in Swanson's chapter. Opponents believe that there is an agency problem when managers engage in CSR or more generally, that ‘investment’ in CSR constitutes an inefficient use of corporate resources. Salazar and Husted examine this tension. Williams and Aguilera discuss differences in CSR attitudes and behaviors across different cultures. Pruzan discusses a spiritual‐based perspective of CSR which implies that managers are—and should be—the drivers of CSR.

The lack of government regulation and legal protections in much of the world is another recognized driver of CSR. In developing countries and regions, firms must take over many of the social functions of government so that there is a stable economy, a viable workforce, and a globally sustainable environment in which to conduct commerce. This driver is discussed in several chapters, but most explicitly analyzed in the Visser chapter. Hanlon argues that unmet social needs create a means for firms to develop relationships with stakeholders that benefit the firm (building reliance on firms rather than governments).

In developed countries, government may be a driver of CSR. Moon and Vogel discuss ways in which governments can actively encourage firms to engage in CSR, for example, through the establishment of non‐binding codes and standards. Alternatively, firms might choose CSR as a way to escape formal regulation. Whether through the stick or the carrot, governments may be effective in encouraging CSR.

Social Auditing and Reporting

One area where proponents of CSR have prevailed is in auditing and reporting. The premise behind the support for reporting is that managers will be encouraged to perform more responsibly if they must report on results, and shareholder activists can use the information in reports to invest responsibly. Owen and O'Dwyer discuss the growth and development of corporate social and environmental reporting. Kuhn and Deetz outline the critical theorists' critique of social audits and reports. Buchholtz, Brown, and Shabana discuss the role of legislation in establishing standards for auditing and reporting and the need for global guidelines.

Information Asymmetry and the Strategic Use of CSR

These chapters underscore the importance of information relating to CSR practices. More generally, we believe that the role of information asymmetry in CSR is a fruitful area of research ( see Baron, 2001 , and Fedderson and Gilligan, 2001 , for theoretical analyses and Siegel and Vitaliano, 2007 , for empirical evidence). It is important to note that CSR practices and product features are not always totally transparent and observable to the consumer and other stakeholders. This makes it difficult for consumers and other stakeholders to evaluate the firm's social performance.

As noted in Fedderson and Gilligan (2001) , the degree of asymmetric information regarding internal operations can be mitigated by the company or by ‘activists’ and/or/‘non‐governmental organizations’ (NGOs). It is interesting to note that McDonalds, Motorola, and Nike now publish ‘annual CSR reports’. One can view this activity as a form of advertising, especially for more general types of CSR. However, stakeholders may perceive this information as biased, since it is presented by incumbent managers and not an independent source. Therefore, NGOs may emerge to fill this gap. Additional evidence is needed on how consumers and other stakeholders respond to these efforts.

More generally, the field would greatly benefit from more research on precisely how firms matrix decisions regarding CSR into their business and corporate‐level strategies. There is now mounting empirical evidence ( Russo and Fouts, 1997 ; Reinhardt, 1998 ; Siegel and Vitaliano, 2007 ) that it is consistent with strategic theories of CSR and rational, profit‐seeking management decision‐making. However, others may view this evidence quite differently. They may perceive this stylized fact as indicative of the notion that CSR is a ‘fraud’ or a ‘smokescreen’, used to disguise other irresponsible behavior. In this regard, it is interesting to note that firms such as Enron and Philip Morris were actively involved in social responsibility.

An interesting recent paper by Strike, Gao, and Bansal (2006) examines this tension between responsibility and irresponsibility. The authors assert that firms can simultaneously be socially responsible and socially irresponsible (e.g. Philip Morris). Based on a strategic/resource‐based‐view framework, they examine whether international diversification influences the propensity of firms to be socially responsible and socially irresponsible. More specifically, the authors demonstrate that firms diversifying internationally create value by acting responsibly and destroy value by acting irresponsibly.

The field of CSR remains wide open and we hope that these authors have expanded your horizons. Hope springs eternal.

Baron, D.   2001 . ‘ Private Politics, Corporate Social Responsibility and Integrated Strategy ’. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy , 10: 7–45. 10.1162/105864001300122548

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McWilliams, A. , and Siegel, D.   2001 . ‘ Corporate Social Responsibility: A Theory of the Firm Perspective ’. Academy of Management Review , 26(1): 117–27. 10.2307/259398

Reinhardt, F.   1998 . ‘ Environmental Product Differentiation ’. California Management Review , 40, summer: 43–73.

Russo, M. V. , and Fouts, P. A.   1997 . ‘ A Resource‐Based Perspective on Corporate Environmental Performance and Profitability ’. Academy of Management Journal , 40: 534–59. 10.2307/257052

Siegel, D. S. , and Vitaliano, D.   2007 . ‘ An Empirical Analysis of the Strategic Use of Corporate Social Responsibility ’. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy , 17(3): 773–92.

Strike, V. M. , Gao, J. , and Bansal, T.   2006 . ‘ Being Good while Being Bad: Social Responsibility and the International Diversification of U.S. Firms ’. Journal of International Business Studies , 37(6): 850–62. 10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400226

Waldman, D. , Siegel, D. S. , and Javidan, M.   2006 . ‘ Components of CEO Transformational Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility. ’ Journal of Management Studies , 43(8): 1703–25. 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2006.00642.x

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Home — Essay Samples — Business — Corporate Social Responsibility

Essays on Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an integral part of modern business practices. It involves companies taking responsibility for the impacts of their activities on society and the environment. As such, CSR has gained increasing attention from businesses, consumers, and policymakers. Writing an essay on CSR provides an opportunity to explore various aspects of this important topic and its implications for business and society. In this article, we will provide a long list of CSR essay topics and discuss the importance of the topic, as well as offer advice on choosing a topic for your essay.

The Importance of the Topic

The concept of CSR has gained significant importance in recent years due to the increasing awareness of environmental and social issues. As a result, businesses are under pressure to operate in a more sustainable and socially responsible manner. This involves considering the impact of their operations on the environment, as well as their employees, customers, and local communities. CSR has also become a key factor in shaping a company's reputation and brand image, as consumers are increasingly looking to support companies that demonstrate a commitment to social and environmental responsibility.

Furthermore, CSR can have a positive impact on a company's bottom line. Research has shown that companies that prioritize CSR tend to have better financial performance and are more attractive to investors. Additionally, CSR initiatives can help improve employee morale, attract top talent, and enhance customer loyalty.

Advice on Choosing a Topic

When choosing a topic for your CSR essay, it's important to consider your interests and the specific aspects of CSR that you are passionate about. You may want to focus on a particular industry, such as the fashion industry or the technology sector, and explore the CSR practices and challenges within that industry. Alternatively, you may want to examine the role of government policies and regulations in promoting CSR, or the impact of CSR on consumer behavior and purchasing decisions. You could also explore the ethical implications of CSR, corporate governance, or the role of stakeholders in shaping CSR strategies.

In addition, you may want to consider current events and trends related to CSR, such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CSR practices, or the role of businesses in addressing climate change and environmental sustainability. Ultimately, the goal is to choose a topic that is both relevant and meaningful to you, and that allows you to explore and analyze the complexities of CSR in a thoughtful and insightful manner.

Writing an essay on Corporate Social Responsibility provides an opportunity to delve into a wide range of important and timely topics. CSR is an increasingly important aspect of modern business practices, with implications for the environment, society, and the economy. By choosing a topic that is relevant and meaningful to you, you can explore the complexities of CSR and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on how businesses can operate in a more sustainable and socially responsible manner. Hopefully, the list of CSR essay topics provided in this article will inspire you to choose a topic that sparks your interest and allows you to make a valuable contribution to the discussion on CSR.

List of CSR Essay Topics

• CSR practices in the fashion industry
• The impact of government policies on CSR
• Consumer behavior and CSR
• Ethical implications of CSR
• Corporate governance and CSR
• Stakeholder roles in shaping CSR strategies
• The impact of COVID-19 on CSR practices
• Businesses' role in addressing climate change
• Environmental sustainability and CSR

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Essays on Social Responsibility

The importance of sociological theories.

Social responsibility is a modern philosophy that states that all individuals and organizations are obligated to help the community at large. This is typically an active effort involving acting against a social issue or prevention of committing harmful acts to the environment. Many companies and individuals engage in social responsibility because of its benefits on their immediate community as well as their business and profitability. It is an ongoing topic in society with many questions available for discussion.

Argumentative Essay

Social responsibility is an ideal topic for debate; there have been mixed results for companies and individuals who have pursued social responsibility. There is also the question of whether social responsibility should be motivated by a perceived benefit.This type of essay is based on philosophical theories on the necessity of social responsibility backed up with facts about previous social responsibility efforts. For example, an essay could be about how giving support to disaster victims can significantly boost an entity's professional image.

Analytical Essay

Social responsibility is a broad field of study; there are numerous factors to analyze in determining which mix of factors will have the highest chance of a successful social responsibility effort. For example, an author can look into the different types of philanthropy that address a social injustice, including: giving monetary gifts, hosting social awareness events and starting a sub-organization which addresses the issue at hand. Each type of social effort may have varying levels of effectiveness depending on the people’s acceptance and the complexity of the issue itself.

There are an abundant number of social responsibility campaigns enacted by different companies and individuals. Authors choose a particular entity and write a case study about that entity’s social responsibility efforts. This includes researching the motivation behind the effort, analyzing the program execution and judging the overall social impact of the campaign. Moreover, the essay can also highlight how the social responsibility effort directly affected the entity itself. Some common methods include doing a profitability comparison before and after the social responsibility campaign and conducting a qualitative study of how the campaign improves the entity’s image and reputation.

Future Application

Social responsibility is a highly evolving topic. Given the reported indirect benefits of social responsibility, there is a growing argument of how it should become a new form of business. Based on the original philosophy of social responsibility, this type of essay discusses the outlook on the integration of social responsibility in the work force. Some topics include the feasibility of a pure social responsibility company, ways for a single company to efficiently help macro audiences such as third world countries, or the possibility of legally enforcing social responsibility efforts from all companies.

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Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies Essay

Introduction, list of references.

Globalized and local entities have held the concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in order to achieve varied business objectives that match the current dynamic markets. This paper focuses on the different strategies used by organizations that chose to work with local communities, and their effectiveness in conducting themselves as corporate and global entities.

According to IISD (2011), CSR is the internal enactment of regulating policies, which ensures that the involved organization conforms to the legal, social, environmental, and ethical concerns of the society. Numerous organizations have realized the importance of practicing CSR in enhancing their market share and the overall public perception.

CSR involves the utilization of set standards within the company to ensure that the company acts responsibly and meets the aforementioned requirements.

Quality is one of the ways through which an organization can express its commitments to CSR (Calabrese 2004). It means that the involved organization care for its clients hence endeavours to serve them with the best. CSR is an in-built drive governed and steered with appropriate policies through viable business models.

Focusing on the different strategies used by organizations working with local communities, and their effectiveness to conduct themselves as corporate and global citizens

Viable CSR starts with mutual cooperation with communities to enhance equality, impartiality, and nurturing of the unique potentials presented by different individuals. Creating regulations that enhance adherence to ethical and human rights concerns is critical within organizations. CSR endures to achieve both internal and external compliances to the moral demands of the society.

This is achievable through stringent observation of the self-regulative policies and ratification of competitive business models within the organization. CSR strives to capture the community with ethical products and by-products that do not disfavour the community (Bidgoli 2006). It relates to the aspects of sustainable development where the industrial activities of today do not compromise the survival of tomorrow’s generation. Most organizations have formulated a unique approach to CSR as indicated in a while.

Such companies have long-term strategies to ensure their compliance with the legal, ethical, social, and environmental demands of the concerned societies. For example, GM Motors strives to provide the society with due comfort as one drives with a guaranteed safety on the roads (Schwartz 2011).

As a strategy, policies and business models that ensure the achievement of these provisions constitute the ethical and legal aspects of CSR. In this context, the organizations have developed safety mechanisms to guarantee this provision.

To improve the safety skills of a community, most organizations have organized education on issues affecting proper living. This aspect indicates the significance of CSR and its contribution to the corporate schemes (ETATS-UNIS 2007).

Providing the society with quality products is one of the ethical concerns of CSR. It is the mandate of the concerned organization to achieve value for money. Additionally, it is ethical to produce quality products that will eventually impress clients. Most organizations are in the forefront in quality provision.

Additionally, most organizations understand the benefits of quality products not only to the clients but also to the company’s growth (Stoian & Zaharia 2012). The strategies used by organizations working with local communities to embrace quality have been lucrative to the concerned entities.

The aspects of quality contribute vividly in the attainment of CSR objectives as mentioned earlier. Organizations focus on the product quality, excellence, and management quality (IISD 2011). These efforts eventually influence the company’s growth with successful results.

As another strategy, most organizations enhance the success of the society through ample impacts of CSR. The sustainable and profitable expansion of the company indicates economic sensitivity to the society. Nissan’s conformity to the international legal requirements, ethical issues within the industry, and environmental concerns form the substantial aspects in the realms of embracing CSR.

This provision contributes to the company’s CSR achievement. Most organizations trust the concerns of the public and endeavor in their capacity to ensure that the public attains their ethical rights for a sustainable development (Hunter & Piltzecker 2003). Recognizing the significance of every stakeholder in the operational context is a crucial phenomenon in most companies.

Thus, the company strives to attain beneficial management practices as it endures to conform to the demands of the CSR and dynamic world markets. It is evident that the integration of the CSR principles into the company operation enhances the aspects of compliance demanded.

Precisely, CSR endures to manage the viable business processes in order to inflict a remarkable impact on society. Another example is that Coca Cola Company has strived to achieve its objective through integration of CSR within their systems as a major regulatory factor.

The concepts of CSR demand socially sensitive regulations that hardly hinder projects meant to favor the well-being of the society. The efforts to provide striking products to customers with elegant services are major objectives of most organizations.

Nissan Motors; nonetheless, this does not compromise its goodwill for the society. Instead, the aspect has increased the humanitarian support to ensure that the company grows together with the society (Dahlsrud 2008). As a strategy, most organizations have focused on the humanitarian aids, educational support, and the environmental fortification.

For instance, as a policy of the company, Starbucks Company liaises with humanitarian organizations in order to reach varied masses globally. Its contributions to the society on charitable grounds are remarkable.

Additionally, the company emphasizes on the education of the current children for a sustainable future development (PROBST 2010). It is a business law to integrate such CSR principals within the business models in order to achieve full impact (Banerjee 2007).

CSR fronts numerous benefits to an organization that have established and ratified its principles. This is crucial in earning the public trust on operational and business grounds. One advantage of CSR in governance is the ability to develop competitive advantages over other contenders following its impacts on the society (IISD 2011).

CSR manages to enact social, ethical, economic, and environmental values in the organization. It is crucial to agree that CSR is no longer a mere provision in most organization but rather a necessity for sustainable development within the organization (Mullerat & Brennan 2010, P. 317).

Evidently, organizations have set their core CSR areas to help them realize its mandates to the public. It is crucial to agree that CSR contributes immensely to the corporate strategies and governance since it reshapes concerned organizations in the realms of their operations and service to the people.

Most organizations have incorporated the CSR principles as any other policies within their business models. This effort benefits the company in achieving its corporate objectives with limited hindrances. Organizations have varied economic, societal, and environmental strategies depending on their mission and passion for the society.

It is crucial to recognize individual/corporate strategies in order to design appropriate CSR objectives. Nonetheless, CSR has numerous benefits to both the concerned organization and society, which it serves. While considering the social objectives of CSR, the involved corporate will observe the issues relating to education, public services, rejuvenation, and workers volunteering.

Precisely, the concerned organization will observe the social aspects of the public upon ratifying the CSR principles. This provision is evident in Pepsi company following its passion to give back to the public (Egan & Mather 2005). The significance of CSR in this context is its ability to mould the company’s operations to observe the ethical and social aspects in its service delivery.

Eventually, most organizations incorporate CSR principles in their endeavors as mentioned earlier. The economic contributions of CSR relates to the issues of jobs, business principles, and product value (IISD 2011). Organization that observes CSR in this aspect will ensure that their products have the recommended value commensurate to their prices.

Contextually, General Electric Company (based in the U.S.) has observed the issues of the product value earning it a massive competitive advantage. Thus, CSR will force the concerned organization to enact business processes with positive influence on the society as indicated before (Beurden & Go¨ssling, 2008).

CSR is a self-regulating phenomenon whose benefits forces any given company to consider the concerns of its surrounding. Any responsible organization will embrace the aspects of CSR voluntarily since its benefits are bountiful. Attaining a positive public perception is a remarkable achievement for any organization aiming to expand its market territories.

As a strategy, most organizations have put varied strategies to ensure that they enact viable CSR in their daily operation (Hillenbrand, Money & Ghobadian 2013). The company has a globalized fame emerging from its competitive automobiles and participation in numerous global social events and policymaking. It is crucial to consider and understand the concepts of CSR in the Nissan’s context.

This is achievable by dividing its participation into several units that have added to the achievement of its CSR goals independently (Egan & Mather 2005). Numerous corporations have realized substantial profits in their business upon the ratification of viable CSR policies within their business models.

This incorporated the enactment of policies that considered the public interest and the current global demands in the realms of environment protection and economic intensification for poverty suppression (Borchgrave 2001).

As a strategy, most organizations have developed numerous key CSR areas to help them achieve their strategic goals in the realms of business and service provision to the society. To conform to the demands of CSR, companies have developed a philosophy that establishes a safe coexistence amid the society and nature.

In their endeavours, they strive to attain a sustainable and mobile society with limited adverse effects to the environment. Evidently, CSR endures to protect the interest of the society.

Most organizations have observed this demands hence established self-regulating policies that ensure a viable and sustainable environment (Nissan 2011). Despite the companies’ desire to attain huge returns, they prioritize the issues relating to the environment. Companies have identified three principal areas to achieve this mandate (Jakobsson & Ramzan 2008).

Firstly, most institutions endure to reduce the emission of CO2 and CO gases through the production of environmental friendly commodities. The emergence of new technologies forces organizations to reinvent vehicles that hardly utilize fossil fuels known to pollute the environment upon combustion.

This occurs besides the efforts to produce motors that hardly emit the known dangerous gases to the environment (Nissan 2011). Additionally, the company mandates to provide automobiles that would help in protecting the air, soil, and water among other lucrative resources. This will help the current and future generation in attaining a sustainably environment for other coming generations.

Establishing, developing, and championing these environmentally responsive technologies are core in this context. It is through technologies that the organization realizes its CSR through appropriate business models (Fischer 2009). Lastly, Nissan recycles numerous resources to ensure an efficient but sparing use of the available resources. This ensures little or no wastage of resources.

Most organizations have achieved their global might and business prevalence by fostering the individuality that exists amid employees and the society at large. Realizing the benefits of workforce diversity, and its impacts to the society are critical. Besides harnessing individual potentials, employees feel ethically valued hence ready to work and propel the company further (EC-COUNCIL PRESS 2011).

The diversity within the Nissan’s workforce fraternity is its driving force meant to achieve its client’s demands and attain a sustainable growth. As demanded by its CSR policies, the company has respect for diversity, creates a learning culture, embraces internal communication, and builds ambient workplaces (GEVA 2008).

These achievements have met the international standardization requirements regarding the establishment and ratification of CSR (Grünewälder, 2008).

As another strategy, numerous organizations dedicate their economic achievements to the society through ample impacts of CSR. The sustainable and profitable expansion of the company indicates economic sensitivity to the society. Nissan’s conformity to the international legal requirements, ethical issues within the industry, and environmental concerns form the substantial aspects in the realms of embracing CSR.

This provision contributes to the company’s CSR achievement. Nissan trusts the concerns of the public and endeavors in its capacity to ensure that the public attains their ethical rights for a sustainable development (Hunter & Piltzecker 2003). Recognizing the significance of every stakeholder in the operational context is a crucial phenomenon in most companies.

Thus, the company strives to attain beneficial management practices as it endures to conform to the demands of the CSR and dynamic world markets. It is evident that the integration of the CSR principles into the company operation enhances the aspects of compliance demanded. Precisely, CSR endures to manage the viable business processes in order to inflict a remarkable impact on society (Fifka 2013).

CSR is a critical provision in most organization meant to enact self-regulating policies. Most organizations strive to comply with the lawful, societal, ethical, fiscal, and environmental concerns in order to achieve their business objectives. CSR is voluntary requirement with its principles helping in conforming to the mentioned provisions with limited hindrance.

Contextually, most organizations have enacted CSR in numerous aspects ranging from their environmental concerns to the philanthropic passions. Organizations that chose to work with local communities employ different strategies.

The aspects of the society, environmental safety, quality, goodwill, internal governance, and promoting CSR through the value chain similarly demonstrate the concepts of CSR at the organizational level. CSR has numerous benefits, and it contributes immensely to the corporate success.

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IvyPanda. (2024, January 11). Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies. https://ivypanda.com/essays/corporate-social-responsibility-15/

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Corporate Social Responsibility Strategies." January 11, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/corporate-social-responsibility-15/.

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