Abstract
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an evolving concept that reflects various views and approaches regarding corporate relationships with broader society. This study examines the meanings and values attached to CSR within the Australian resource sector where various interests shape the implementation of CSR programs. The study was based on in-depth interviews with industry practitioners, business leaders, environmental and social specialists, government representatives and community leaders, including representatives from Indigenous groups.CSR was found to be a complex, multi-dimensional concept that was highly individualised with a variety of aspects highlighted during interviews. To make sense of this complexity, meanings of CSR were mapped according to Carroll’s four dimensions, namely Corporate, Legal, Ethical, and Philanthropic. However, a further CSR dimension was also required to capture the full spectrum of meanings. Referred to as ‘CSR interaction’, this dimension focuses on CSR meanings that align with the concept of CSR creating social change and improving the dynamics between companies and local communities and stakeholders.This study also identified some key social processes or drivers which helped explain how and why CSR meanings and approaches are adopted and delivered. These drivers also increased understanding of the wide diversity of CSR meanings and their distribution across the different stakeholder groups. Drivers included not only individual-level influences such as background, life experience, cultural and ethical values, but also broader influences such as organisational and institutional context. The implications of this for CSR practice were explored.The study sought to provide guidance for developing a working definition of CSR within the given context, through identifying the key integral requirements for CSR incorporating different perspectives and interests. The intent is that this can help support evaluation of the future success of CSR programs within the Australian resource sector.
Highlights
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a concept that captures the responsibility of business to the environment, its stakeholders and to the broader society (Blowfield 2005)
Each participant had a multi-dimensional perspective of CSR, which involved integrating different CSR themes in a unique way.13This indicates that individual-level influences are important in determining how CSR ideologies are combined to form CSR approaches
State-based regulatory frameworks were integral to CSR for stakeholders, including government representatives (50%), Non-Government Organisation (NGO)’s (63%) and community leaders (35%), as they enabled protection of natural assets and incorporated public interest elements including triple bottom line approaches, heritage protection, and economic and community development
Summary
CSR is a concept that captures the responsibility of business to the environment, its stakeholders and to the broader society (Blowfield 2005) It can be applied as a theory, research agenda, corporate practice or even ideal (Bice 2011). In the 2000’s, CSR was viewed as the critical linkage between business strategy and sustainable development (Steurer et al 2005) This included companies utilising CSR to align with relevant international and industry standards Nations Global Compact and International Financing Standards) Such a connection of CSR from the local to the global was most relevant to large-scale global companies which had high public profiles and were cognisant of the need to gain reputational currency through CSR. A group of anthropologists sought to ensure that the rights of Indigenous people were upheld and that company CSR resources were spent on genealogical research to provide the basis for a land rights claim
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