Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings includes abstracts of all papers and symposia presented at the annual conference, plus 6-page abridged versions of the “Best Papers” accepted for inclusion in the program (approximately 10%). Papers published in the Proceedings are abridged because presenting papers at their full length could preclude subsequent journal publication. Please contact the author(s) directly for the full papers. ArticlesPLURALISM'S ROLE IN DEFINING BUSINESS'S SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.Keith DavisKeith DavisPublished Online:30 Nov 2017https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.1970.4981030AboutSectionsPDF/EPUB ToolsDownload CitationsAdd to favoritesTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail AbstractI suggest that pluralism's effects are significant because it defines the fundamental framework within which business must live and grow. Unless businessmen understand the "rules or the game" by which pluralism operates, they are handicapped in their efforts to make business a viable 1 Portions of this discussion are adapted from Keith Davis and Robert L. Blomstrom, Business Society, and Environment: Social Power and Social Response (2d ed.; New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1971). 2 John W. Gardner, "Toward a Self-renewing Society," Time, April 11, 1969, p. 40. and socially responsible institution. This is their environment. They must know it in order to perform their roles as leaders. Whether they prefer pluralism is not the current issue. It, like the weather, is here. They must live and prosper within it. Pluralism is clearly a system concept. A pluralistic society exists when there are diverse groups maintaining autonomous participation and influence in the social system.[3] Business is influenced by its interface with them in the system. In turn, and also at the points of interface, business exerts countervailing forces on them.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 1970, No. 1 Permissions Metrics in the past 12 months History Published online 30 November 2017 Published in print 1 August 1970 InformationCopyright of Academy of Management Journal is the property of Academy of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.KeywordsCULTURAL pluralismSOCIAL systemsBUSINESS enterprisesMANAGEMENTSOCIAL valuesSTRATEGIC planningBUSINESS ethicsSOCIAL responsibility of businessORGANIZATIONAL changeSOCIAL sciencesDownload PDF