Corporate Social Responsibility Plans Research Articles

Analyzing Consumers’ Awareness towards CSR, Focusing on Environmental Management

The deployment of environmental friendly business practices is strongly related to the principles of the sustainable development. The customers are an important stakeholder group that appears to be sensitive to the corporate social responsibility (CSR) actions of a company. The environmental dimension is increasingly being included as a pillar of a company’s CSR plan. The aim of this study is to examine the determinants that affect consumers’ awareness of the environmental dimension of a company’s CSR plan, called hereafter corporate environmental responsible (CER) activities. Results suggest that consumers’ awareness towards CER practices is differentiated regarding their demographic profile. Highly educated and middle aged consumers are more sensitive to corporate environmental responsible practices. The income of a consumer is not a statistically significant factor though regarding their awareness of environmentally responsible firms.

Rebuilding Trust: Ireland’s CSR Plan in the Light of Caritas in Veritate

This paper seeks to contribute to the discussion on national corporate social responsibility (CSR) plans from the perspectives of the three logics as articulated in Caritas in Veritate, by using the Irish national CSR plan as an example. Good for Business, Good for the Community: Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2014–2016 maintains that CSR activities can enable organisations to build relationships and trust with communities. One of the consequences of the 2008 financial crisis was the decrease in trust in banking systems and in business more broadly. It is well recognised that relationships of trust are essential to the life of the market, the state and civil society. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s Caritas in Veritate contends that corresponding to the life of the market, the state and civil society are three logics: the logic of exchange (i.e. giving to acquire), the logic of public obligation (i.e. giving through duty) and the logic of gift (i.e. giving due to solidarity). This paper proposes that the normative framework of the three logics of Caritas in Veritate can be read into the Irish national CSR plan. This paper argues that the examples of CSR initiatives proffered by the plan could point organisations in the direction of the logic of gift and therefore enable the rebuilding of relationships of trust with citizens and communities.

Stakeholders Participation and Sustainability of Corporate Social Responsibility Programmes in Ghana: A Study of AngloGold Ashanti Mine in Obuasi

<p class="1Body">Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained tremendous attention in the policy implementation of some organizations. National governments and societies have developed keen interest in the operations of organizations under this jurisdiction. Therefore, companies may not only be profit oriented but would seek to enhance the welfare of the people as they operate in a more sustainable way without harming the environment. It is on this premise that this article attempts to assess stakeholder participation and sustainability of corporate social responsibility programmes implemented by AngloGold Ashanti in Obuasi, Ghana.</p><p class="1Body">CSR programmes initiated by AGA-Obuasi are categorized into four main areas<strong>:</strong> Community Health and Malaria Control Programme, Social Infrastructure, Education and Sports as well as Art, Culture & Heritage programmes (AngloGold Ashanti, 2013). Activities of the mines affect Obuasi and their allocated unit areas environmentally, socially, economically and culturally and hence, the company is not only profit oriented but has assumed responsibility of developing the community through CSR and the reclamation bond or process.</p><p class="1Body">CSR programmes are undertaken voluntarily by the mine corporation to facilitate its operations. CSR policies, plans, program and projects are broad and hence, the study was conducted mainly to assess stakeholder participation and sustainability. The relevant stakeholders in various communities in the AGA-Obuasi operational area were involved in the formulation and implementation of CSR programmes through consultative committee meetings, community/public meetings in various allocated communities. Program were formulated and implemented based on request from host communities.</p>

Role of Corporate Social Responsibility in alleviating poverty in Jordan: An Exploratory Study

The study aims at exploring the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in alleviating poverty in Jordan by investigating types, beneficiaries, incentives, obstacles and promoting measures of CSR in Jordan. The research methodology is descriptive based on a purposive sample of major business enterprises in Jordan. The study concludes that CSR in Jordan is mostly voluntary; about 50% of the companies in the sample see that alleviating poverty is the dominant type of their CSR activities. This was clear in the case of industries to a large extent, followed by banks then universities; the extent of CSR of Jordanian enterprises is limited; CSR in Jordan faces impeding obstacles of lack of Government’s incentives, high cost, weak transparency and disclosure. to promote the role CSR in alleviating poverty in Jordan, the study recommends establishing CSR code of conduct, periodic publication of CSR activities, expanding the role of business unions and civil societies; increasing governmental incentives; initiating CSR national award, diversifying CSR activities and having annual CSR plans for companies .

A Theoretical Framework For Managing CSR Plans And Related Initiatives In The Modern Business Environment

Organisations can make a valuable contribution in alleviating poverty and improving the general living standards of society. In the modern turbulent business environment, characterised by intense competition and customers demanding corporate responsibility, it further seems that a well-managed corporate social responsibility (CSR) plan could assist executives in winning the hearts and minds of their customers. Regular interactions with stakeholders on CSR initiatives can also assist executives in identifying trends in the market and introducing innovations. CSR can further be used as a strategic tool to manage the reputation of the organisation. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to provide a theoretical framework on guidelines that organisations could implement to manage their CSR plans and CSR-related initiatives more effectively. A number of secondary sources, including textbooks and previous research studies, were consulted in compiling the proposed framework which includes actions that executives could take to design and implement their CSR plans more effectively. In addition, principles for the effective management of CSR-driven innovations and reputation management initiatives are also provided. The framework also focuses on guidelines for the types of social media initiatives that would need to be incorporated into the executives strategic plan to ensure that the strategy implemented is truly competitive. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations that could be further investigated in a follow-on empirical study to provide further assistance to organisations wishing to survive and grow their businesses in the modern turbulent business environment. The paper is relevant to executives requiring guidance on implementing their CSR initiatives more successfully and contributes to the improvement of organisational behaviour within the socially responsible environment.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Social, Economic and Environmental Development in Sri Lanka

This study reports Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its present contribution of Sri Lankan context. CSR is renowned and known concept however, it is a new concept in Sri Lanka and research into this area relatively scarce compared with other Asian developing countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and China. Furthermore, this study reveals complete on the theoretical development and the current CSR practices in Sri Lankan organisations, based on the literature and the researcher’s CSR experience tried to achieve the research objectives which was to identify the basic activities of CSR that was implemented in the Sri Lanka’s organisations. Government and non-government organisations (NGO) have been implemented rules and regulations for community development, health and education development as well as environmental development, which are part of the CSR plans identified by international CSR standards. The government and the private sector both favour the adoption of CSR concepts, and are attempting to promote the implementation of CSR programmes in Sri Lanka.

Stakeholder Understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Emerging Markets with a Focus on Middle East, Africa (MEA) and Asia

Limited consensus in society on the definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR) still exists; and the finding that stakeholders may not understand what CSR entails is also of concern. Stakeholders across the emerging markets of Middle East and Africa (MEA), from three multi-national companies comprised of four nationality groups (MENA, Asian, Western expatriate and Sub-Sahara), are asked questions relative to the “components” of the definition of CSR (economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic) provided by Carroll (Acad Manag Rev 4(4):497–505, 1979) and Leisinger (Bus Soc Rev 112(3):316–342, 2007) and more recently, Melo and Garrido-Morgado (CSR Environ Manag 19(1):11–31, 2012). Overall, findings suggest a broader and more contemporary definition be utilised and communicated back to stakeholders to increase understanding of company specific CSR strategy. Significant differences were found across nationality groups in the MEA region, suggesting a need to incorporate cultural differences and the perceptions of different nationality groups in CSR planning. Recommendations for CSR strategy in emerging markets such as MEA are made, and are discussed in light of religious beliefs, culture and country of origin.

Ethics and corporate social responsibility integrated into knowledge management and innovation technology

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to offer an analysis of how firms could integrate ethical values and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives into its corporate and business strategies, especially in relation to its knowledge management (KM) strategy, technological innovation and human development.Design/methodology/approachA model for the “strategization” of ethics and CSR – i.e. their integration into a firm's strategies – is put forward in this paper. In addition, this model is evaluated through a case study of a Spanish innovative company, Indra. Data were generated based on interviews with various managers involved in the development of CSR, KM and corporate strategies.FindingsThe paper provides evidence of the efforts this company is making in order to connect CSR initiatives with competitive advantage through the development of intangible assets such as human capital and innovation capacity, for which KM is an essential tool.Research limitations/implicationsThe case study is limited to one company in order to go deeper into the “strategization” of CSR process. Future studies will focus on a larger and more diverse sample of firms.Practical implicationsImportant factors of influence, which have been observed in this process, have been extracted from the case study, such as the necessity of promoting the company's ethical principles through its corporate culture, the human resources practices which encourage the access to and the transfer of knowledge, and relationships with its stakeholders that allow the creation of knowledge, innovation and human development.Originality/valueThe paper provides a model of integration of ethics and CSR into the company's strategy through four stages: establishment of CSR vision, diagnosis of CSR problems, development plan of CSR development, and communication. This model can provide a roadmap for managers in other firms in order to formulate and implement a CSR plan in accordance with the company's strategies and mission.

Growing Pains: How Corporate Social Responsibility Plans Have Become Commonplace and the Consequences of Unethical Business Decisions

This paper seeks to analyze Corporate Social Responsibility programs (CSRs) and conflicts between profitability and social responsibility.