2. CSR: Origin
The term "corporate social responsibility"
came into common use in the late 1960s and
early 1970s after many multinational
corporations formed the term stakeholder. It
was used to describe corporate owners
beyond shareholders as a result of an
influential book by R. Edward
Freeman, Strategic Management: A
Stakeholder Approach in 1984.
3. CSR: Goal
To embrace responsibility for the company's
actions
Encourage a positive impact through its
activities on the environment, consumers,
employees, communities, stakeholders and
all other members of the public sphere
To aid an organization's mission as well as a
guide to what the company stands for and will
uphold to its consumers
To manage the business processes to
produce an overall positive impact on society.
4. CSR Definitions
Business for Social Responsibility:
Operating a business in a manner that meets or
exceeds the ethical, legal, commercial and
public expectations that society has of business.
The World Business Council for Sustainable
Development:
Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing
commitment by business to behave ethically
and contribute to economic development while
improving the quality of life of the workforce and
their families as well as of the local community
and society at large.
5. CSR as defined by different countries
In Ghana, CSR is about capacity
building for sustainable livelihoods. It
respects cultural differences and finds
the business opportunities in building
the skills of employees, the community
and the government.
In the Philippines, CSR is about
business giving back to society.
6. In the United States, CSR has been defined
much more in terms of a philanthropic model.
Companies make profits, unhindered except
by fulfilling their duty to pay taxes. Then they
donate a certain share of the profits to
charitable causes.
In Europe, CSR is operating the core business
in a socially responsible way, complemented
by investment in communities for solid
business case reasons.
7.
8. CSR Common Approaches
1. Community – based development
2. Philanthropy / Donations
3. Education programs
4. Environment friendly programs
9. Criticisms and concerns on CSR
Undertaken by companies to distract the public
from ethical questions posed by their core
operations.
Programs used for the commercial benefit
Companies claim to promote CSR and be
committed to sustainable development but
simultaneously engage in harmful business
practices.
Distracts from the economic role of businesses
Acts as window-dressing, or an attempt to pre-
empt the role of governments as a watchdog
over powerful multinational corporations.