Abstract
Business organizations implement corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives with an aim of generating business value. This has often been noted as a means of ensuring sustainable development (SD) in the relationship between business and society. However, some recent cases have produced outcomes that are contrary to this view. This is evident in the Nigerian petroleum industry where multi-national oil companies like Exxon Mobil have contributed extensively to their host-communities without generating positive outcomes based on the implemented CSR initiatives. Inspite of their contributions, the stakeholders in their host communities engage in activities that threaten their sustainable development. This outcome reflects a gap in the theory and practice of CSR. This gap was explored through critically examining the case of ExxonMobil with focus on their CSR activities and outcomes. It was revealed that the focus of extant literature on corporate perspective in CSR implementation and the extensive empirical focus on the direct relationship between CSR strategy and perceived CSR lead to a narrow view of the CSR concept. The need to adopt an interactive process approach through looking at the antecedents and outcomes in the relationship between CSR strategy and perceived CSR was proposed as a means of grasping the nature of outcomes generated from CSR.
Highlights
In 1999, the re-emergence of democracy in Nigeria came with an increased awareness of the impact of corporate practices of businesses on society
This paper examined corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy in the context of the Nigerian petroleum industry
The nature of the relationship between CSR strategy and perceived CSR was explored through a case study of ExxonMobil in the Nigerian petroleum industry
Summary
In 1999, the re-emergence of democracy in Nigeria came with an increased awareness of the impact of corporate practices of businesses on society. Due to this growing awareness, oil companies like ExxonMobil are increasingly contributing to the communities within which they operate in Nigeria (Ibok & Mboho, 2011; Mbat, Ibok, & Daniel, 2013) It reflects in their adoption of annual sustainability reporting practice as a means of showcasing their adherence to social responsibility principles. The increase in conflict between these multi-national oil companies and their host communities in Nigeria is contradictory to the enormous claims of societal contributions that they make This is evident in the fact that the stakeholders in their host-communities frequently embark on violent activities like protests, riots, blockades, militancy, sabotage among others, which threatens their sustainability (Paki & Ebienfa, 2011). It is posited that the means of ensuring a value alignment between business and society in the implementation of CSR can be attained, and the means of generating positive outcome from CSR can be better understood
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