Another interesting angle of this debate is whether companies practice CSR because they truly want to be responsible towards the society or are just practicing it because it helps to increase their profit margin. As Little and Little, (2000) and Moore (2003) cited in Tench and Yeomans, (2006) say, “...arguments and evidence are emerging to support CSR’s contribution to the financial performance of organisations” (p.101). Personally, I would agree with Sola that most companies are now engaging in CSR because they have realised that CSR does contribute to bottom line profits and not because they feel deep down in them a moral duty to help the society or community. After all businesses want profits and will engage in whatever will bring them greater profits. The statement of Anna Diamantopoulou that “Many businesses have already recognized that CSR can be profitable and CSR schemes have mushroomed..." seems to support the fact that most businesses use CSR as a means to increase their profit margin. There are a number of international businesses who project a more socially responsible behaviour in Europe and other developed countries because the government, the general public, pressure groups and competition force them to and because the public tend to buy products from companies which are socially responsible meanwhile the same companies are not socially responsible or practice very limited CSR in developing countries because the population there do not buy products because a company is socially responsible or not and are also they are not well informed about CSR. They know if they do not practice CSR in a society where all businesses are doing it, they will be left out of the competition and profits. This goes to support Elisa Juholin’s statement that CSR is more a matter of business than ethics.
6 comments:
Hi Ophelia,
I personally believe that most of companies practice CSR because it helps to increase their profit and income. It is just a propaganda and PR hun.
I completely agree with Elisa Juholin’s statement that CSR is more a matter of business than ethics.
You know, some of companies PR campaigns include CSR in their tactics. CSR just a PR tactic. Any way, the public gets some benefits from CSR.
I believe that business is all about making profit. Practicing CRS will help the company make more money as the consumers will generally love their products.
it is wonderful to read all this, but you would definitely find it difficult to implement in Cameroon. our companies are not often conscious of social resposibility
corporate resposibilty is new in cameroon, I first learnt it from junior chamber international(JCI) but you are very correct and express in succinct words what it is all about. that companies should take care of their societies> that is excellent
this is good from a cameroonian. defineitely you got this in England. can you apply this back in your home?
All of the research I have undertaken about motivations and CSR has led me to believe that there are a lot of different reasons why corporations participate in CSR but they are not soley about the bottom line. I think that a successful CSR programme incorporates both doing what is right for society and what is right for the corporation. I do not see the harm in a corporation making a profit off of their CSR efforts because, in the end, a failing corporation hurts society and thus is the ultimate form of social irresponsibility.
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