Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Stakeholder theory
Stakeholder theory
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Stakeholder theory
2. Literature Review
This study will review the impact of MNCs and government activities. It will throw light on the progression of government welfare packages and the challenges confronting the society in general. The literature will benefit from global, and political perspectives, as well as the specific theories of CSR which can be divided into three major areas namely: Stakeholder theory, Pyramid of CSR, and Relational Model of CSR. While not presenting an exhaustive review of each of these areas, the most relevant findings in each are presented below:
2.1. Global Perspective
The concept of globalization has opened up nations to new waves of political challenges and more needy responses from global stakeholders and individual governments
…show more content…
The major challenge will be the benefits which will accrue to the parties involved and the impact on the society. Zadek and Swift, (2002) further assure that CSR is the right mechanism on which public policies can be operational. The role of government is to provide the framework on political stability, leadership, institutional support and an enabling environment for businesses to be sustainable, profitable, and for the society to be conscious of their operations (Bell, 2005). This is to ensure a coordinated and improved social, political, and economic development for countries, MNCs, and other stakeholders. European Commission, (2002) described CSR as “the business contribution to sustainable development”. Therefore, the essentiality for governments, MNCs and other stakeholders is to provide a forum in which global and local social issues are …show more content…
Among the many researchers, Zadek, (2001) described the inclusion of government roles in the CSR frame as the “third CSR generation”. He viewed governments as central determinants in the framework of CSR. Politically, there have been strong debates as to how government should be involved in the regulation and enactment of laws on CSR.
Government involvement in CSR public policies can also be considered as “soft intervention”. Joseph, (2003), highlighted government role as systemic; noting that government attends to societal needs through its established institutions. Researchers have also positioned that government CSR public policies through soft regulation can influence the CSR of MNCs (Fox et al., 2002; Zappal, 2003; Albareda et al., 2004; Lepoutre et al. 2004; and Bell, 2005). They were able to buttress the ways in which governments (through soft intervention) can promote and develop
Governmental CSR policies are beneficial for consumers and organizations. Consumers are protected from abuse when organizations adhere to policies set forth by the government. The government has passed laws and created regulations as a guide for organizations to follow for the protection of the environment.
Globalization is a very broad term which “encompasses all cross-border interactions, whether economic, political or cultural”(Marber 67). Even though globalization is a broad term, it is met with a lot of hostility and praise. Peter Marber’s article, “Globalization and Its Contents” seeks to explain what globalization is and what opposition it faces. Since the 1950’s, life on earth has improved significantly. Individuals all over the world are living lengthier and healthier lives.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) invaded the corporate world over the last few decades. This concept has become an essential need for competitive advantage unlike its original role as a nicety. The companies have seen the business benefit of the initiative and stakeholders have appreciated the initiative. This has led to the wide application in the firm’s operational agenda.
An organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) drives them to look out for the different interests of society. Most business corporations undertake responsibility for the impact of their organizational pursuits and various activities on their customers, employees, shareholders, communities and the environment. With the high volume of general competition between different companies and organizations in varied fields, CSR has become a morally imperative commitment, more than one enforced by the law. Most organizations in the modern world willingly try to improve the general well-being of not only their employees, but also their families and the society as a whole.
Eua-anant, P., Ayuwat, D., & Promphakping, B. (2011). Relations between positive impacts of CSR, external support, CSR knowledge and the degree of CSR practices in thai small and medium enterprises. The International Business & Economics Research Journal (Online), 10(11), 17-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1418717814?accountid=63189
For Zhang et al. (2014), CSR implies that companies should be responsible not only for their shareholders, but also for their stakeholders including suppliers, customers, and communities. Carroll (1979) identified four types of responsibilities that might be subsumed under CSR: economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary expectations. Economic responsibility means that companies are obligated to achieve profitability and satisfy customer needs. Legal responsibility indicates that companies must operate within the framework of legal regulations. Ethical responsibility includes some moral requirements. Discretionary expectation equals philanthropic responsibilities that contribute to society’s development and welfare. Wang and Juslin (2009) held that the western CSR concept does not fit the Chinese market and adopted the Chinese harmony approach to define CSR: enterprises should apply harmony to business and operate in a harmonious way between people and nature. The overall purpose of CSR should be cultivating humaneness, righteousness, ritual, wisdom, sincerity, and responsibility, and becoming a superior company. However, this concept is too abstract to conduct and few Chinese people can truly understand it without a deep understanding of Chinese culture. Many companies in China do not view CSR as an effective investment to improve organizational value unless CSR has considerable payoffs. In contrast to these misunderstandings, Stewart (2006) argued that companies and society actually have the same interests because enterprises cannot make profit in a corrupt, weak, poor society; and social progress can provide a healthy environment for company governance. As compared, Carroll’s (1979) definition emphasizes simultaneous achievement of a company’s economic, ethical, legal, and philanthropic responsibilities, which can be applicable to all countries. In this dissertation,
A corporations CSR should be shaped in order to fit the goals of the corporation, although every corporation’s CSR should differ, since most have different goals and different communities behind them. The CSR should be molded into fitting the corporation’s goals in order to make it easier on the corporation in giving back to the community while achieving its goals. For example, a corporation located in a desert wishes to be more efficient, by reducing water usage it is not only creating lower costs, which result in higher revenue, but also helps the community by not taking up so much water. Taking this into consideration, it is critical that the corporation goals and values are established and clear throughout the corporation, they should be developed by the board or directors and CEO, and the highest managerial level should stress their importance to the rest of the corporation. By making the goals and values at the top branch of the corporate hierarchy, it will be simpler for the corporates community to develop in order to nurture those goals and values. Therefore, a corporation can reach the “shared-value,” a value for both its shareholders and community in a simpler manner that can result benefiting the corporation in the end as well. Throughout the article many examples are given of actual corporations that have benefited and changed their CSR in order to fit their goals, therefore, providing solid proof that these methods work. Nevertheless, as acknowledged by the author’s themselves, most of the corporations taken into consideration where one’s that Harvard CSR students were employed
(Bilton et al 1996:5) The process of globalization has certainly had many changing effects to the world we live in; it has also changed the way many factors operate. Globalization is said "to have transformed the structure and scale of human relationships that social, cultural, political, and economic processes now operate at a global scale with a consequent reduction in the significance of other geographical scales. "(The Dictionary of human geography 2004:315) Globalization has had both positive and negative effects on a local, national, international and global level. Globalization often brings benefits at one level which cause negative effects at another, these results and the scale at which they manifest are often uncertain and unpredictable.
I begin this essay by defining CSR, there are many definitions for this term by various different theorists, and EU says that CSR is "A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis." On the other hand, Sloman et al. define it as "The concept in which a firm takes into account is the interests and concerns of a community rather than just its shareholder". Davis and Blomstrom (1966), say it "Refers to a person’s obligation to consider the effects of his decisions and actions on the whole social system". These definitions differ from one another in many ways but they agree that CSR involves taking the environment into account and therefore, one must look take social responsibility.
The environmental aspect of CSR is defined as the duty to cover the environmental implications of the company’s operations, products and facilities; eliminate waste and emissions; maximize the efficiency and productivity of its resources; and minimize practices that might adversely affect the enjoyment of the country’s resources by future generations. In the emerging global economy, where the Internet, the news media and the information revolution shine light on business practices around the world, companies are more frequently judged on the basis of their environmental stewardship. Partners in business and consumers want to know what is inside a company. This transparency
They are held accountable for effectiveness of steps taken, (although a set of activities is specified as to what could constitute as CSR, corporate are given the flexibility tochoose the CSR initiatives it undertakes. Thus, despite the imposition by the new Law, to report CSR spending and reporting of initiatives taken by the firm Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot confirmed that there will be no pressure from the government on what the companies should do and that it would be up to companies on how to use it for a social cause‘ Hence, self –regulation,’ through CSR gives the impression of moral reflexivity and responsibility on the part of the companies without conceding power to the
Each definitions of CSR does vary around the core characteristics based on their conceptual concentrations and particular focus, for example, under the Voluntary Characteristic, CSR see the overall voluntary activities beyond the law. The Externalities, study both, the positive ...
The classical view of CSR is a prominent ideology which business organizations are seen merely as profit-driven organizations. Simply put, businesses work for the sole purpose of making a profit. Thus, this profit motive is the sufficient and unique social identifier that separates a business organization from other institutions in society. These business organizations have a limited, yet essential role in society. Social concerns are considered important, but businesses, in the classical view, are focused solely on the economic activities and are judged accordingly. By having a limited role in society (i.e.,...
Globalization, the acceleration and strengthening of worldwide interactions among people, companies and governments, has taken a huge toll on the world, both culturally and economically. It’s generating a fast-paced, increasingly tied world and also praising individualism. It has been a massive subject of matter amongst scientists, politicians, government bureaucrats and the normal, average human population. Globalization promoted the independence of nations and people, relying on organizations such as the World Bank and also regional organizations such as the BRICs that encourage “a world free of poverty” (World Bank). Despite the fact that critics can argue that globalization is an overall positive trend, globalization has had a rather negative cultural and economic effect such as the gigantic wealth gaps and the widespread of American culture, “Americanization”; globalization had good intentions but bad results.
Globalization can briefly be defined as ‘something’ that affects and changes the traditional arrangements of the state system. It is a term that directly implies change and therefore is a continuos process over a long period of time as compared to quickly changing into a wanted or desir...