Table of Contents
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) 2
Definition of CSR 2
Development of CSR 2
Approaches to CSR 2
Business Benefits of CSR 3
Critical Analysis of CSR 3
Factors influencing CSR 4
The Business Case for CSR 6
TESCO PLC 8
Tesco and Corporate Social Responsibility 8
Environment 8
Community 9
Suppliers 9
People / Employees 10
Government / Regulators 10
How Tesco manages their Corporate Responsibility (CR) 10
Conclusion 10
Bibliography 13
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Definition of CSR
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR, also called corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship and responsible business) is a concept whereby organizations consider the interests of society by taking
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Critical Analysis of CSR CSR is entwined in the strategic planning process of many multinational organizations. The reasons behind social, human and environmental responsibility whether driven by ulterior motives, enlightened self-interest, or interests beyond the enterprise, is subjected to much debate.
Some critics argue that corporations are fundamental entities responsible for generating a product and service to gain profits to satisfy shareholders. Milton Friedman and others argue that there is no place for social responsibility as a business function. These critics point to the rule of corporate law that prohibits a corporation’s directors from any activity that would reduce profits.
Disputed business motives – Some critics believe that CSR programmes are often undertaken in an effort to distract the public from the ethical questions posed by their core operations. An example of such a company that had been accused of this motivation is British American Tobacco (BAT).
Self-interest – CSR critics argue that the only reason corporations put in place social projects is for the commercial benefit they see in raising their reputation with the public or with government. They suggest a number of reasons why self-interested corporations, solely seeking to maximize profits, are unable to advance the interests of society as a whole.
Other views from this perspective include: * Corporations really care little for
In the article, “The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Profits,” Friedman states that “businessmen believe that they are defending free enterprise when they proclaim that business is not concerned merely with profit but also with promoting desirable social ends.” This social responsibility is defined as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which is the belief that “corporations owe a greater duty to their communities and stakeholders” by having a “social conscience.” This, among other things, includes being environmentally responsible, contributing to non-profit organizations, and eliminating discrimination.
On the other side, as the legal personality of the corporations evolved in the 1800s, enterprises were no longer responsible for serving the public interest. Consequently, any social welfare was symbolic and procured from the economic function of organizations (Banerjee, 2008). Furthermore, it seems that corporations are using CSR strategies as a window to present favorable images and obtain economic benefits. Historically the relationship between revenues and investment in CSR programs is a controversial issue. Furthermore, the power of the economic CSR rhetoric lies in the ability to validate particular ideologies to consolidate the power of larger corporations (Banerjee,
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is something that affects all companies and should be an active factor in the company’s decision making. It is something all corporations need to care about. CSR is when business’ or corporations take part in an initiative or campaign for a cause that will benefit society and/or in some way make the world a better place (Taylor, 2015). Initially, Corporate Social Responsibility started to take shape around the 1950’s, but some say that it dates all the way back to the 1800s, the idea of CSR was seen (Carroll, 2007). One may think that because it is dated so long ago, it doesn’t have an important impact today nevertheless, it is proven that Corporate Social Responsibility is a pathway for entities to self benefit as they are in the process of benefitting society.
In this article, “The Truth About CSR,” authors Rangan, Chase and Karim stress the importance in aligning a company’s social and environmental activities with its business purpose and values (Rangan, Chase, & Karim, 2015, 41). Outcomes of CSR programs should be a “spillover” and not a primary focus of a business, expressing concern towards social responsibility and corporations failing to contribute to society accordingly (Rangan, Chase, Karim, 2015, 42). There is a great deal of importance in companies refocusing their CSR activities on a primary goal and in providing an organized process for bringing consistency and discipline to CSR strategies (42). Rangan, Chase and Karim want corporations to understand why it is important for them to evaluate their CSR activities and refocus them towards the goal of reinforcing the firm’s societal and environmental actions, while also ensuring their actions add to the overall purpose and values of the corporation. According to the authors, even though
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a term used to describe a company’s efforts to improve society in a certain way. These efforts range from donating money to an organization such as a nonprofit organization, to implementing environmentally friendly policies in the workplace. This idea is not required for companies; instead it is something that companies do to improve their communities. The way companies practice CSR is different from company to company, and some companies may not even practice it at all.
A company’s objective is always to make achievable profit. According to the research, CSR wants both companies to make high profit and let the society benefit.2 Even though, we cannot definitely consider that society does benefit eventually. Nearly all companies that work together with CSR have other hidden thoughts. Since CSR is a legal corporation,3 businesses use the cooperation to profit. For instance; imagine a company would spend its shareholders money to improve the environment for their employees. They would not use the money of their shareholders if they would not see profit in it.4 It is rather ridiculous to use the shareholders money for their profit. In that they cooperate with CSR, nobody can see their absurd thought behind. Indeed it is an intellectual force that businesses use. From the research article, we know that CSR essentially just has to build a company’s long term value and profit.5 However, as long as they do not see the ulterior motives and the misappropriation of the business against them, their actions are rather inept and expedient for the society and the employees.
Proponents of CSR would suggest a number of reasons why self interested corporations, seeking to solely to maximize profits are unable to advance the interests of society as a whole:
Pleas for corporate social responsibility will be truly embraced only by those executives who are smart enough to see that doing the right thing is a byproduct of their pursuit of profit. And that renders such pleas pointless” (Karnani, 2010). Meaning, the idea of CSR becomes a moot point, and brings us back to truth that companies will pursue markets where we demand products and services.
As a result, CSR has emerged as an inescapable priority for business leaders in every country. Many companies have already done much to improve the social and environmental consequences of their activities, yet these efforts have not been nearly as productive as they could be—for two reasons. First, they pit business against society, when clearly the two are interdependent. Second, they pressure companies to think of corporate social responsibility in generic ways instead of in the way most appropriate to each firm’s strategy. The fact is, the prevailing approaches to CSR are so fragmented and so disconnected from business and strategy as to obscure many of the greatest opportunities for companies to benefit
Corporate social responsibility is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. CSR policy functions as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business monitors and ensures its active compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. The goal of CSR is to embrace responsibility for the company 's actions and encourage a positive impact through its activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, CSR-focused businesses would proactively promote the public interest (PI) by encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the public
The economic factors may remain the priorities in many of the business leaders’ minds, even if they claim to know the significance of CSR. Although nearly all the participant CEO in the UN Global Compact Study (2013) see CSR as the “key to success,” sarcasm appears when only 45% feel CSR is “very important to future success,” while around 67% choose “growth and employment” to be the top priorities to indicate future business success. The business leaders may believe in CSR and think it could bring to the greater good, but they saw lack of direct links between their companies’ value and their goodness. On the one side, conducting CSR initiatives or programs, which may include charitable giving,
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) originated in 19537 with the publication of Bowen’s book Social Responsibilities of Businessmen (Carrol, 1999). Some perceived that at that time, the emphasis is placed on business people’s social conscience, rather than on the company itself. Some argue that corporate entities do not have any social responsibility except the ones that were written in agreement with government while establishing corporate entities, whereas others justify that corporate entities do have social responsibility. The roots of critics of CSR are so old that it is a challenge to the neoclassical business model itself (Valor, 2005). According to Smith (2005), there
Throughout the years, this statement has been debated and criticised by many scholars such as Mcwilliams and Siegel(2001) and they noted CSR as an ‘action that appears to further some social good, beyond the interests of the firm and that which is required by law.’
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in its most simple of terms is a vision. More specifically, it is a vision that in a way almost minimizes what may be better for a company’s shareholders and investors, and increases its focus on things including the environment, its employees, its role in benefiting the surrounding communities and society, and more importantly making sure that we can continue to grow, thrive, and be self-sustaining. In short, it is a business model that puts an emphasis on the future over its profits. CSR comes from an evolving view that current and future generations deem it unacceptable for businesses and corporations to conduct business under a blanket of secrecy. All the written, and unwritten laws concerning competition as well as sustainability are being rewritten.
In 1953, Bowen’s Social Responsibility of the Businessman firstly discusses the idea of corporate social responsibility. He states the relationship between society and corporations. Bowen believed that company needs to be realised the importance of ethically run the businesses are able to achieve superior performance in long run. The concept of CSR is company operate voluntarily to enhances their legal responsibility for the society, which covers many complex areas, including sustainability, charity, human rights, and environmental friendly. For example, the European commission defines CSR as “a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholder on a voluntary basis”(European Multistakeholder Forum on CSR, 2004:3). Minimize the harm and any negative impact on our environment and society to obtain sustainability by sharing responsibility between stakeholders is what CSR trying to achieve.