Corporate Social Responsibility and Legitimacy

The assignment investigates the influence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) on organizational legitimacy, drawing upon insights from institutional legitimacy theory. It analyzes various aspects of CSR, including its effects on firm performance, cost of equity capital, and job choice intentions. The document also considers the role of CSR communication and stakeholder perceptions in shaping business outcomes. Empirical studies and theoretical frameworks are utilized to support the analysis.

PROPOSAL DISSERTATION

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research Background..................................................................................................................3
Research problem........................................................................................................................3
Research purpose........................................................................................................................4
RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVE............................................................................................5
Aims............................................................................................................................................5
Objective.....................................................................................................................................5
RESEARCH QUESTIONS.............................................................................................................5
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................5
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................7
IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY.................................................................................................8
RESEARCH LIMITATION............................................................................................................8
PROJECT SCHEDULE...................................................................................................................9
OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER....................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Research Background
In the present era, every business enterprise requires an effective growth and progress. In
order to attain this objective, firms makes several efforts and use various strategies through
which it can compete with rival in the market. In order to survive in the competitive market, it is
very important for corporation to adopt such impressive tactics and strategy through which it can
easily face competition (Lindgreen and Swaen, 2010). In the economic condition, recession is
one of the major threat for the corporation which influence business activities and functions. In
order to face recession company requires using several measures and strategies. While recession
occurs in the nation then it directs affect corporate social responsibility in large manner. CSR is a
kind of source by which company can develop its own brand image in the market and compete
with rival in an effective manner. It is a kind of business approach that contributes to sustainable
development by delivering economic, social and environmental benefit to all stakeholders. In
order to involve in the corporate social responsibility, company involve in several such activities
by which it can provide benefit to the environment, economic and society. While in the country,
financial crisis occurs then it can affect entire business performance and activities.
In the present proposal, researcher will focus on the impact of financial crises or
recession on the Corporate social responsibility of the Primark company. It is one of the famous
Irish clothing and accessories corporation which delivers clothes, fashion accessories, beauty
product, footwear to children, men and women (Dhaliwal, Li, Tsang and Yang, 2011). In the
present study, scholar will study on the influence of recession on the activities of Corporate
social responsibility with respect of cited venture.
Research problem
In the present time, the major issue is related to the high competition in the market. In
order to face competitive and survive in the competitive environment, CSR is one of the activity
through which firm can ethically perform and attract audience in the market. As per the research
it has been founded that Primark is facing issue related to economic slow down which directly
affect its performance and productivity (Carroll and Shabana, 2010). In the financial crises time,
Primark consider on the decrease its liquidity and salvaging working capital so as it can easily
carry out its functioning in the market. It is very important for the company to adopt such
function and strategy through which it can manage its CSR activities in the financial crises

period. During economic slow down condition, implementation of CSR is one major issue for
cited venture.
Research purpose
In the present study, the major aim of the researcher is to analyse the impact of recession
on the implementation of corporate social responsibility with respect of Primark. With help of
this study, scholar can bale to get detail understanding and knowledge about the CSR activities
and measures to manage these activities in the period of recession.
Illustration 1: Corporate social responsibility
Source:Barnea and Rubin, 2010

RESEARCH AIM AND OBJECTIVE
Aims
“ To analyse the influence of recession on the implementation of CSR in the company: A case
study of Primark”
Objective
 To explore the meaning and concept of CSR activities
 To assess the connection among recession and corporate social responsibility activities
with respect of Primark
 To analyse the impact of recession on the corporate social responsibility activities and its
implementation in the company
 Recommend the strategy through which impact of recession can overcome within the
company.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
 What is the conceptual framework of CSR?
 Analyse the relationship between the recession and corporate social responsibility in the
Primark?
 Assess the influence of recession on the corporate social responsibility in the
corporation?
LITERATURE REVIEW
In the opinion of Bénabou and Tirole, (2010) in the present time, there are huge
competition in the market and firm desires to gain effective outcome in the business
environment. In order to develop an impressive brand image and attract the large number of
customers, corporate social responsibility is one of the measure by which company can sustain in
the market for long time. While company wants to earn the impressive outcome then corporate
social responsibility is one of the method which help company in large manner. CSR is business
approach by which company contributes in the economic, social and environmental aspect.
While company involves in the corporate social responsibility then it involves various activities
such as corporate express their citizenship, by contributing educational and social program, by
gain effective return on the employed resources etc.

According to the view of Bénabou and Tirole, (2010) in the country while recession or
financial crises occurs then it directly impacts on the business performance. In this situation in
the country, organisation have lack of financial and other resource's through which it can unable
to survive its business activities and functions. Due to this lack of financial resources, company
is unable to fulfil their commitment related to the corporate social responsibility. In order to
involve in the activity of CSR, there is huge requirement of the financial resources in the
company. Thus, it can be said that there is direct connection between the corporate social
responsibility and financial crisis in the country. In the opinion of Werther and Chandler, (2010)
due to the poor economic condition and lack of financial resources, corporation may unable to
invest the capital in the various activities of the corporate social responsibility. Thus, it can be
said that there is direct relationship between the financial crisis and corporate social
responsibility in the company.
In the opinion of Mishra and Suar, (2010) while financial crisis occurs in the country then
it directs impact on the implementation of the corporate social responsibility. However, this kind
of situation also provides an opportunity to the organisation related to bring some innovative
strategies, practices and tactics. In order to manage the recession in the company, management
can develop impressive strategy and use various innovative idea to handling stakeholder.
Orlitzky, Siegel and Waldman, (2011) stated that financial crisis condition of the organisation
fail to handle the business operation and activities in an effective manner. In this situation,
company does not able to focus on the ethical practices and benefit of the society. This situation
may harm to the brand image of the corporation and overcome its market share in the market. On
the contradicting view Okpara and Idowu, (2013) stated that recession situation in the country
can positively influence to the organisation. In the economic crises condition company have to
use its innovative strategies, action, implementation of innovative business method for handing
the expectation of stakeholder and society. With help of innovation idea and creativity, company
satisfy their customer, employees, government, society, supplier, audience etc. These ideas help
in implementing corporate social responsibility in an innovative manner. Thus, it can be said that
with help of effective business strategies, innovative business method, idea, company can deal
and implement the Corporate social responsibility activities and manage this situation of
economic downfall.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
In the research study, research methodology is one of the most important chapter by
which appropriate solution can easily obtain. There are various kinds of method included in this
chapter which help in addressing the problem of investigation. Following are some tool in the
research methodology which help to the investigator in analysing the impact of economic crisis
on the corporate social responsibility-
 Research philosophy- It is one of the most important method in the research methodology
which defines the criteria to carried out the research. In the present study, scholar will
apply interpritivism philosophy for analyse the impact of economic crisis on the
corporate social responsibility in the Primark.
 Research approach- This is another major important method in the research methodology
which help to investigator in understanding the actual, issue and find out the best solution
of investigation (Dawkins and et.al., 2016). In the present study, investigator will apply
inductive approach which would most suitable and effective for the qualitative studies.
 Research technique- In the absence of research technique it is very difficult to accomplish
the investigation. There are major two kinds of techniques that is qualitative and
quantitative. In the present study, qualitative study will apply for analyse the impact of
economic crisis on the corporate social responsibility of Primark.
 Data collection- Data collection is another most important method in the research
methodology by which scholar can able to collect the information about the topic. There
are major two kinds of data collection that is primary and secondary. In the present study,
scholar will take both primary and secondary data collection (Chelli, Durocher and
Richard, 2014). In the primary data collection, investigator will prepare a systematic
questionnaire and conduct survey for collect information about the impact of economic
crisis on the implementation of the corporate social responsibility in the Primark. On the
other hand in the context of secondary data collection, scholar collect information about
the economic crisis on the CSR by use of various books, journal, online website,
newspaper etc.
 Data analysis- Data analysis is another most important method in the research
methodology by which scholar can analyse and interpret the information. In this present
study, scholar will use thematic analysis for analysing and assessing information.

 Ethical consideration- Ethical consideration is another important aspect in the research
methodology. It is very important for the investigator to consider ethical aspect in the
study. In order to conduct the survey, scholar will take the permission from the higher
authority in the Primark. For obtain the appropriate solution, scholar will use ethical and
reliable sources.
IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY
In the present time, recession is one of the major problem by which company's
productivity and performance can negatively influence. Due to this situation in the country,
company can unable to full fill the expectation of stakeholders. With assistance of this present
study, investigator can able to know about the impact of recession on the implementation of
corporate social responsibility in the corporation. In addition to this, with help of this study,
scholar can able to determine various reason for the economic crisis and various strategy to
manage this recession in the business (Crouch, 2014). Thus, it can be said that with assistance of
this study, scholar can easily identify various ways to handle the expectation of stakeholder and
also manage the corporate social responsibility activities.
RESEARCH LIMITATION
In order to conduct the investigation, scholar have required financial resources and time.
Due to the limited time period, it may very difficult to conduct research. There are various major
components and reason behind the economic crisis. Due to the lack of time, it is difficult to focus
on the various element associated with the recession in the country. However, with appropriate
schedule, investigator can able to conduct the investigation in an effective manner. In addition to
this, in order to manage the time, scholar will use Gantt chart method by which each and every
activity of the research will organise according to the time period.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Activities 1th
Week
2nd
Week
3rd
Week
4th
Week
5th
Week
6th
Week
7th
Week
8th
Week
9th
Week
10th
Week
Design the
aims and

Objective
Conduct the
literature
review
Consider on
the research
methodology
Focusing on
the methods of
research
Collect
information
from primary
sources
Interpretation
Data analysis
Outcomes
Submission of
draft
OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER
In the present study, there are various kinds of chapter included which help scholar to
attain the objective. Introduction: Chapter 1- In this chapter background of the study, aims, objective,
significance, rationale will include which provides detail knowledge about the
investigation.

 Literature review: Chapter 2- In this chapter various themes related to topic will include
which help scholar in understanding the subject and their meaning. Research methodology: Chapter 3- In this chapter various method of the research
methodology will include which help researcher to address appropriate solution of the
investigation issue. Data analysis: Chapter 4- With help of this chapter, investigator can able to analyse and
interpret collected information.
 Conclusion and Recommendation Chapter 5:- In this chapter finally conclusion and
recommendation will address related to topic.

REFERENCES
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responsibility a review and research agenda. Journal of management, 38(4), pp.932-968.
Barnea, A. and Rubin, A., 2010. Corporate social responsibility as a conflict between
shareholders. Journal of business ethics. 97(1). pp.71-86.
Bénabou, R. and Tirole, J., 2010. Individual and corporate social
responsibility. Economica. 77(305). pp.1-19.
Carroll, A.B. and Shabana, K.M., 2010. The business case for corporate social responsibility: A
review of concepts, research and practice.International journal of management
reviews.12(1). pp.85-105.
Carroll, A.B., 2015. Corporate social responsibility. Organizational Dynamics,44, pp.87-96.
Chelli, M., Durocher, S. and Richard, J., 2014. France's new economic regulations: insights from
institutional legitimacy theory. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. 27(2).
pp.283-316.
Crouch, C., 2014. Introduction: labour markets and social policy after the crisis. Transfer:
European review of labour and research. 20(1). pp.7-22.
Dawkins, C. E. and et.al., 2016. Corporate social responsibility and job choice intentions: a
cross-cultural analysis.Business & Society. 55(6). pp.854-888.
Dhaliwal, D.S., Li, O.Z., Tsang, A. and Yang, Y.G., 2011. Voluntary nonfinancial disclosure and
the cost of equity capital: The initiation of corporate social responsibility reporting. The
accounting review. 86(1). pp.59-100.
Du, S., Bhattacharya, C.B. and Sen, S., 2010. Maximizing business returns to corporate social
responsibility (CSR): The role of CSR communication.International Journal of
Management Reviews. 12(1). pp.8-19.
El Ghoul, S., and et.al., 2011. Does corporate social responsibility affect the cost of
capital?. Journal of Banking & Finance, 35(9), pp.2388-2406.
Gainer, B., 2010. Corporate social responsibility. In Third Sector Research. Springer New York.
Lindgreen, A. and Swaen, V., 2010. Corporate social responsibility.International Journal of
Management Reviews.12(1). pp.1-7

Mishra, S. and Suar, D., 2010. Does corporate social responsibility influence firm performance
of Indian companies?. Journal of Business Ethics. 95(4). pp.571-601.
Okpara, J.O. and Idowu, S.O., 2013. Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer Berlin
Heidelberg.
Orlitzky, M., Siegel, D.S. and Waldman, D.A., 2011. Strategic corporate social responsibility
and environmental sustainability. Business & society.50(1).pp.6-27.
Werther Jr, W.B. and Chandler, D., 2010. Strategic corporate social responsibility: Stakeholders
in a global environment. Sage Publications.
Online
Corporate social responsibility during the economic crisis. the case of the romanian companies,
2016. [PDF] Available through:
<http://steconomiceuoradea.ro/anale/volume/2010/n2/153.pdf>. [Accessed on 25h August
2017].

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