Implications Of Social Responsibility Research Articles

The Knowledge-Sharing Implications of Social Responsibility of Firms: The Importance of Ethical Climate.

Using a variety of theoretical foundations, this paper examines the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employees' knowledge-sharing behavior, investigating the sequential mediation role of perceived organizational support and organizational commitment as well as the moderating role of ethical climate. Hypotheses were formulated to address both the sequential mediation effect of perceived organizational support and organizational commitment on the link between CSR and knowledge-sharing and the moderation effect of ethical climate on the relationship between CSR and perceived organizational support. In order to mitigate the problems of potential common method bias, data were gathered from a sample of 204 South Korean employees at three distinct time points. The results of the study offer compelling evidence that CSR activities exert a positive influence on employees' knowledge-sharing behavior, an effect that is sequentially mediated by both perceived organizational support and organizational commitment. Furthermore, the research uncovers the positive moderating role played by the ethical climate in the relationship between CSR and perceived organizational support. By integrating multiple theoretical frameworks, this study not only advances the extant literature but also offers invaluable insights for organizations striving to bolster knowledge-sharing through the strategic implementation of CSR initiatives.

Artificial intelligence governance: Ethical considerations and implications for social responsibility

AbstractA number of articles are increasingly raising awareness on the different uses of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for customers and businesses. Many authors discuss about their benefits and possible challenges. However, for the time being, there is still limited research focused on AI principles and regulatory guidelines for the developers of expert systems like machine learning (ML) and/or deep learning (DL) technologies. This research addresses this knowledge gap in the academic literature. The objectives of this contribution are threefold: (i) It describes AI governance frameworks that were put forward by technology conglomerates, policy makers and by intergovernmental organizations, (ii) It sheds light on the extant literature on ‘AI governance’ as well as on the intersection of ‘AI’ and ‘corporate social responsibility’ (CSR), (iii) It identifies key dimensions of AI governance, and elaborates about the promotion of accountability and transparency; explainability, interpretability and reproducibility; fairness and inclusiveness; privacy and safety of end users, as well as on the prevention of risks and of cyber security issues from AI systems. This research implies that all those who are involved in the research, development and maintenance of AI systems, have social and ethical responsibilities to bear toward their consumers as well as to other stakeholders in society.

Is there a liability of foreignness or foreign privilege in developing nation compliance monitoring?

PurposeDrawing on the international business and game theory literature, this study assesses foreign firm treatment in the early stages of regulatory enforcement.Design/methodology/approachTreating regulation intensity as an exposure variable, negative binomial regression models were applied to firm-level data from 32 emerging markets (n = 15,331) to identify the determinants of inspection interactions. Robustness checks also were performed via variable substitutions for several predictors and an alternative form of statistical testing (i.e. Tobit regression, since it arguably better addresses dependent variables with corner solution responses).FindingsControlling for multiple organizational, regulatory and national characteristics, the findings are consistent with a foreign privilege, manifesting in reduced vulnerability to multiple encounters with labor inspection officials. Moreover, inward FDI stock was negatively related to the general probability of repeat interactions regardless of locus of ownership, an effect that was not moderated by stage of development or the regulatory influence of host interest groups. This collectively suggests that foreign firms not only are favored in compliance monitoring but also work post-entry to influence agencies to generally benefit business.Research limitations/implicationsMore comprehensive assessments were precluded given the lack of information on reasons for contact, citations and fines, and inspectorate reactions to company responses. Second, enforcement-risk management was measured indirectly since investors' internal dealings and actions toward officials are unavailable in secondary sources.Practical implicationsThese findings have important implications for social responsibility, suggesting CSR stakeholders need to track enforcement more closely and exert pressure where needed so rights are not sacrificed for economic development.Originality/valueThis study provides the most rigorous assessment to date of the role that firm, government and economic factors play in national inspection targeting. It also examined whether foreign owners pool and leverage their political influence to impact general inspection activity, a previously untested prospect.

Foreign investment sensitivity to employment regulation: reassessing what really matters

PurposeDrawing on the international business and IHRM literature, this study investigated the effects that employment regulation and its nature of enforcement have on foreign investment in emerging markets.Design/methodology/approachPanel regressions with time fixed effects were conducted for the period 2002–2017 using regulatory, human capital, and economic data for 34 developing nations. Robustness checks also were performed by varying the measures for key predictors along with the modes of analysis (i.e., Pooled OLS with clustered standard errors, generalized estimating equations (GEE), and instrumental variable (IV) regression with the generalized method of moments (GMM) approach).FindingsAlthough the totality of restrictions did not have an impact, FDI inflows were negatively related to the process strength of enforcement. This suggests investors place greater emphasis on de facto exposure than on de jure enactments, favoring nations less willing or able to push for compliance. In addition, while GDP growth had a positive impact on inward investment, the opposite was found for licensing restrictions and labor productivity. The remaining controls failed to display consistent relationships with foreign investment.Research limitations/implicationsData constraints precluded the inclusion of additional economies and years before 2001. It also was not possible to directly evaluate the influence of labor costs without a standardized measure for developing nations. This entered at best indirectly in GDP per capita, which was tested.Practical implicationsThese findings have important implications for social responsibility, suggesting more aggressive monitoring is needed of investment criteria and government relations. At a minimum, social auditing and reporting should better document overt commitments to rights-adherence and compliance-partnering. CSR stakeholders can work in tandem, tracking enforcement more closely and lobbying governments to discourage policies of lax enforcement.Originality/valueThis is the first study to assess how legal stock and its manner of enforcement influence FDI inflows. Improving on earlier studies, employment law was measured with a broad legal scale that was annually adjusted. Enforcement was evaluated in two different forms, both as process strength and administrative capacity – the former drawing investors' attention.

“Mindset of Generativity”: An Exploration of Generativity among College Students Who Mentor

The current study explored the development of generativity, care for the next generation, among college students who mentor K–12 youth. Interviews and degree-of-change graphs were conducted with 10 mentors using a phenomenological design. The findings revealed that mentoring positively influenced generativity. Additionally, antecedents and outcomes of generativity development emerged. The results argue for the role of being a mentor in psychosocial development, specifically generativity, which has implications for social responsibility, a goal of higher education.

Analysing the Social Responsibility among Dentists of Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

Objective: Dentistry is essentially a business at present. The present study aimed to analyze the meaning and implications of social responsibility among the dentists of Ethiopia. It further evaluated whether the dental professionals of Ethiopia consider themselves as responsible for equitable distribution of dental care. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 dentists practicing in Addis Ababa and Jimma city of Ethiopia in the academic year 2017-18. Simple random sampling technique was used to collect the required sample. The results were recorded by filling the predesigned self-administered questionnaire by the dentists. The descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation were used for data analysis using the software SPSS version 20. Results: Among 200 dentists, 168 dentists (which make up 84% of the sample of 200 dentists) considered finance as a major barrier to accessing dental health care in Ethiopia. Further, 168 (84% of the sample) said that the meaning of social responsibility in the dental profession was providing better access to dental care to those who are underserved. All of the participants (100%) who lived in Addis Ababa and 92% of participants of Jimma thought that social responsibility should be taught as a part of public health dentistry. Conclusion: Dentists were aware of their responsibilities in terms of providing better access to dental care to those who are underserved, but most of them considered finance as the major barrier. So, they looked at dentistry primarily as a business. This shows not only dentists working in the dental profession are socially liable for guaranteeing fair admittance to dental care, but the society and government are also responsible for its proper implementation.

La responsabilidad social de las facultades de Medicina. Una exigencia inaplazable para adaptarse a las necesidades de la población

Social responsibility (SR) is a philosophy which starts to permeate the medical schools and drives the need to revise their mission in society and how to better contribute to its development for equity, participation, collaboration and social welfare values. We speak of the fact that medical schools must become aware of their obligations to satisfy the needs of society, as expressed by the global consensus in SR. In some countries, especially in the Anglo-Saxon ones, USA, Australia and Canada SR where has already being implemented. In Europe its implementation is still limited, except for some very specific cases in France and Belgium due to the Francophone Network. For some authors we are facing a change in the medical education paradigm which may have similar impact as the Flexner report in 1910, when a radical change took place, both in the training of the doctor and in the professional practice, which led to specialization and detriment of general medicine.The aim of this article is to clarify the concept, background and implications of SR in health science schools, as well as to present the main models developed up to now, all of them oriented to Primary and Community Care, a weakness that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted.

Hybrid reality development - can social responsibility concepts provide guidance?

PurposeThis paper aims to define hybrid reality (HyR) as an ongoing process in which artificial intelligence (AI) technology is gradually introduced as an active stakeholder by using reasoning to execute real-life activities. Also, to examine the implications of social responsibility (SR) concepts as featured in the HyR underlying common framework to progress towards the redefinition of global society.Design/methodology/approachA combination of systemic tools is used to examine and assess the development of HyR. The research is based on evolutionary and learning concepts, leading to the new meta-system development. It also builds upon the viable system model and AI, invoking SR as a conceptual framework. The research is conducted by using a new approach: using system dynamics based interactions modelling, the following two models have been proposed. The state-of-the-art HyR interactions model, examined using SR concepts; and a SR concept-based HyR model, examined using a smart vehicle case.FindingsIn the HyR model, interaction asymmetry between stakeholders is identified, possibly leading to pathological behaviour and AI technology learning corruption. To resolve these asymmetry issues, an interaction model based on SR concepts is proposed and examined on the example of an autonomous vehicle transport service. The examination results display significant changes in the conceptual understanding of transport services, their utilisation and data-sharing concepts.Research limitations/implicationsAs the research proposal is theoretical in nature, the projection may not display a fully holistic perspective and can/should be complemented with empirical research results.Practical implicationsFor researchers, HyR provides a new paradigm and can thereby articulate potential research frameworks. HyR designers can recognise projected development paths and the resources required for the implication of SR concepts. Individuals and organisations should be aware of their not necessarily passive role in HyR and can therefore use the necessary social force to activate their status.Originality/valueFor the first time, to the best of the author’s knowledge, the term HyR is openly elaborated and systemically examined by invoking concepts of SR. The proposed model provides an overview of the current and potential states of HyR and examines the gap between them.

Social media ethics in the data economy: Issues of social responsibility for using Facebook for public relations

The rapidly-evolving data economy based on surveillance capitalism raises new issues of ethics and social responsibility for public relations practice and scholarship. Understanding the business model of companies like Facebook, that sell algorithmic-driven, micro-targetable profiles of individuals, is necessary in order to consider consequences of using social media to communicate with audiences. This critical essay examines the operating model and deceptive communication strategies of Facebook Inc., and considers how the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence impacts stakeholders. Ethical frameworks explicated by previous scholars to assess standards of the profession are used as a theoretical lens to consider the social responsibility implications of using Facebook for public relations. The social media environment is changing quickly, which calls for consideration of unintended impacts.

The Ethics of Whistleblowing: Social Responsibility or Loyalty

In a pandemic like the 1854 Broad Street Cholera outbreak in London or COVID-19 today, it is difficult for whistleblowers to weigh between social responsibility and loyalty. A whistleblower is a person who chooses to disclose sensitive information impacting the public’s health and welfare. John Snow, the father of modern epidemiology, was the scientist who identified the modern germ theory, contradicting the scientific theory held by the majority of people at the time in 1850s, and this theorem was not accepted by the scientific community until later. Compared to the difficulty Snow faced as a ‘whistleblower’ in the outbreak of cholera in London, it is even harder for whistleblowers today to be recognized by the public. The current issue whistleblowers face is that their information is being suppressed. Should people tell the truth or obey orders when these two are in conflict? This question speaks to the debate over the ethics of fairness and loyalty that Steven Minz explores in “Is Whistle-blowing an Ethical Act Practice”. The extent to which this type of loyalty applies becomes less obvious when encountering abnormal situations, such as a pandemic. In the current context of the COVID-19 global pandemic, two well-known cases of whistleblowers have emerged. Given the outcomes of these individual cases, evaluating the ethical implications of social responsibility and loyalty of a person who is forced to make such decisions, like Wenliang Li and Brett Crozier, may help to evaluate the necessity of whistleblowers in the future.

The TRIPS agreement implementation in Mexico. Implications for social responsibility and development

The TRIPS agreement implementation in Mexico. Implications for social responsibility and development

Supply Chain Models with Mutual Commitments and Implications for Social Responsibility

In today's increasingly globalized environment, more and more companies recognize the mutual dependence of supply chain partners in value creation. When making business decisions, they take into consideration their partners’ bottom line profitability, especially in emerging markets. The question is, is this kind of practice sustainable? This study makes an attempt to formalize this issue by examining a stylized two‐party supply chain model in which each player maximizes its own profit while making a certain commitment to its partner. We compare five different games between the two supply‐chain partners, which reflect different power positions of the players and different levels of commitment. We identify conditions under which both players are better off with mutual commitments than without, a situation we call win–win. We show that win–win can be achieved if and only if the mutual commitments are comparable. Thus, the recognition of mutual dependence of the supply chain members needs to be translated into reciprocal concerns. In addition, different players’ commitments play different roles but together they have a similar effect as a profit sharing contract. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings in the context of socially responsible operations. In particular, our analyses show that it is possible to care about the supply chain partners’ bottom line without sacrificing one's own profitability, and our models can be used as a tool to determine the commitment levels by evaluating the predicted outcome.

Tobacco manufacturer brand strategy following plain packaging in Australia: implications for social responsibility and policy

Purpose This paper aims to inform social responsibility and social policy by describing the brand strategy of Australia’s largest tobacco manufacturer, British American Tobacco Australia (BATA), the year following the introduction of plain packaging and other regulation. Tobacco controls are a proven catalyst for reducing smoking, but manufacturers adapt swiftly seeking to minimise the impact of regulatory change. Design/methodology/approach BATA’s strategy was determined using 2012-2014 tobacco ingredient reports, recommended retail price lists and a supermarket retail audit. Findings The research identified over 70 BATA brand variants, offered in diverse packaging options, with new products and modified names appearing since 2012. In total 14 main brands are highly differentiated by price, with 45 per cent difference between the cheapest and the most expensive. Volume discounting occurs across packaging ranges, with twin packs offering best value and prices up to 10 per cent lower than those of single packs. Originality/value The research originality stems from the triangulation of three different data resources to establish brand strategy following increased regulation. The study confirms ongoing market segmentation using highly differentiated ranges, and it reveals the unintended consequences of corporate responses to regulation. Evolving variant names communicate product information and imagery previously imparted by pack design. Pricing strategies enable smokers to offset substantial excise increases through brand switching and volume buying. The research, therefore, reveals the potential for regulating these as yet unrestricted elements to enhance the impact of plain packaging and other tobacco controls, thereby further reducing the social impact of smoking.

Spaces of Not Belonging: Inclusive Nationalism and Education in Scotland

This study addresses the issue of the role of national identity-making through education and how this positions migrants in the national discourse in Scotland. The issue has been highlighted by the arrival of European Union migrants post-enlargement, whose children are being schooled in Scotland. The study discusses the tensions, particularly in relation to migrant populations, between the policy discourse of inclusive nationalism and emphasis on performance that promotes standardization processes and individual accountability. Giving particular attention to the language regulations and practices in education, this article notes the fact that language creates a barrier to the fair benefits of education for migrant populations. Rather than facilitating migrants' inclusion, language has become a vehicle for assimilating migrants into the dominant social and cultural norms of the host society. The study concludes by reflecting on the notion of inclusive citizenship and the implications of social responsibility to balance the economic benefits of people's mobility with cultural recognition and protection.

Corporations and New Statism: Trends and Research Priorities

Conventional wisdom holds that there is a global trend toward liberalization of markets, yet the role of the state has expanded or shifted in certain areas rather than being generally pushed back. We explore common forms in which this “new statism” has manifested itself, specifically focusing on sovereign wealth funds, the military–industrial and penal complexes, public–private partnerships, and private finance initiatives. In each case, we systematically review key strands of the existing literature, highlighting defining features and challenges associated with each phenomenon. We outline the nature of markets in which such organizations occur, the relationship between new statist players and the polity, and the ethical and corporate social responsibility implications. We conclude with implications for theory, management, and public policy and propose an agenda for further research.

Advertisement Disclaimer Speed and Corporate Social Responsibility: “Costs” to Consumer Comprehension and Effects on Brand Trust and Purchase Intention

It is not uncommon for advertisers to present required product disclaimers quickly at the end of advertisements. We show that fast disclaimers greatly reduce consumer comprehension of product risks and benefits, creating implications for social responsibility. In addition, across two studies, we found that disclaimer speed and brand familiarity interact to predict brand trust and purchase intention, and that brand trust mediated the interactive effect of brand familiarity and disclaimer speed on purchase intention. Our results indicate that fast disclaimers actually reduce brand trust and purchase intention for unfamiliar brands, suggesting that there are both economic and social responsibility reasons to use less rapid disclaimers for unfamiliar brands. Conversely, disclaimer speed had no negative effects on brand trust and purchase intention for highly familiar brands, presenting ethical tensions between economic interests (e.g., an efficient use of advertisement time) and social responsibility. We discuss the implications of our framework for advertising ethics, for corporate social performance, and for corporate social responsibility.

Vision and Virtue in Psychoanalysis and Buddhism: Anatta and Its Implications for Social Responsibility

Buddhism and psychoanalysis have long been accused of privileging internal transformation over active social and political engagement. Yet, as representatives of non-theistic and secular paths toward the realization of human potential, both traditions embody an important aspect of the Romantic quest for progress, that is, the transcendence of internal and external division. Insight into the Buddhist notion of self as ontologically interdependent and non-dualistic optimally yields not only personal transformation but also an expanded circle of identification, with important implications for social responsibility. Erich Fromm, in interpreting the influential work of D. T. Suzuki, represents a historical and philosophical link between the psychoanalytic legacy of social responsibility and the Buddhist concept of Enlightenment. With dewdrops dripping, I wish somehow I could wash this perishing world. —Basho (1643–1694)

Coping with a natural disaster: Losses, emotions, and impulsive and compulsive buying

Using data collected from 427 US Gulf Coast residents who were impacted by Hurricane Katrina, a structural model based on life event theory is proposed and empirically tested. Results show that perceived lack of control and loss of possessions contribute directly to stress, and event-induced stress impacts depression. Depressive states, in turn, lead to impulsive and compulsive buying behaviors. Multi-group analysis reveals that income moderates the relationship between depression and compulsive buying, but age, gender, and insurance coverage do not. The depression–impulsive buying relationship is not moderated by any of these factors. Disaster victims engage in distinct purchasing behaviors to manage emotional states, recoup losses, and restore their sense of self. In the aftermath of a traumatic event, impulsive buying appears to be a rational and beneficial behavior; compulsive buying does not. The results heed valuable ethical and social responsibility implications to marketers and public policy makers.

Making real money in virtual worlds: MMORPGs and emerging business opportunities, challenges and ethical implications in metaverses

Today, millions of people from around the globe play online role playing games (MMORPG), in which a large number of players interact with one another in a virtual world, either using their existing identities in the physical world, or more often than not, through new virtual identities that might not even be remotely linked to the identities of the players in the physical world. The number of users is growing at an exponential rate and we are probably on the verge of a new development that is going to be as significant as the Internet itself. This positioning paper will discuss the business opportunities and challenges of such a virtual world, that of Second Life, and will examine the resultant corporate social responsibility implications focusing on the ethical and policy-related ones. This will help to identify important research questions that need to be systematically addressed.

Successful U.S. Entrepreneurs: Identifying Ethical Decision-making and Social Responsibility Behaviors

This two-part study analyzed some of the ethical choices made by founding entrepreneurs during the creation and development of their ventures in order to identify the areas in which founding entrepreneurs must make decisions related to ethics or social responsibility during venture creation and development. Content analysis was used to identify decisions with ethical components and/or implications from in-depth interviews with 10 successful business founders. The research for part one of the study was guided by the following research question: In what areas must entrepreneurs make decisions with ethical and/or social responsibility implications during new venture creation and development? The authors identified four distinct categories of decisions where ethical or social responsibility components exist: (1) individual entrepreneurial values-related decisions, (2) organizational culture/employee well-being decisions, (3) customer satisfaction and quality decisions, and (4) external accountability decisions. In the second part of the study, the decisions identified in part one were analyzed using a framework derived from prior research in ethics. This framework was developed from the work of Kant (1964) who theorized about human morals and Rawls (1971) who developed theories about justice. Part two of the study was guided by the following research questions: Do entrepreneurs have values and ethics similar to those held by society in general? If they don’t, how do their values and ethics differ? The comparison revealed that the ethics and/or values that the entrepreneurs either explicitly or implicitly acknowledged were in fact similar to those of society in general.