Corporate Social Responsibility: What can we Learn from the Stakeholders?

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become an important strategic policy for organisations. A considerable amount of attention has been paid to the definition of CSR and yet research on the development of CSR definition has remained limited. Definitions have been hampered by a lack of clarity in theoretical frameworks and empirical methods for the CSR definition. Given that the empirical study of CSR definition development is in an undeveloped state, this research describes efforts to develop and identify CSR definition. A definition is developed based on a critical review of both the conceptualisation and practice of CSR. Based on Malaysian stakeholders, this research develops CSR definition as an essentially contested concept (ECC) and a multi-dimensional concept (MDC). What has been expressed is a set of ideals that are possible, are likely to be acceptable, and that pay due regard to the need for feasibility in regard to CSR definition. This paper should be seen as a response to a problem of the prolonged dilemma that the disciplinary boundaries of the contested concept of CSR often make it difficult to contend with.