Corporate Social Responsibility: Essay

Study skills (Essay and Report)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
ASSESSMENT 1- Individual Essay................................................................................................1
1. Critically evaluate the suggestion made in an article.........................................................1
2. Justification of the statement made in an article................................................................2
3. Suggestions.........................................................................................................................2
ASSESSMENT 2- Individual Report..............................................................................................3
1. Presenting the meaning of literature review and what does it achieve...............................3
2. Literature Review on ' Corporate Social Responsibility'....................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Culture provides the guidance and direction for how the managers of the company will
think and behave and in the same way the report project 1 will also helps to understand the
importance of culture in a company and it is based upon an article in which the report is going to
critically evaluate the suggestion made in it. Further, the report will also justified all the
statement on which I agreed and disagreed and then made further suggestion regarding the
culture. In written report assessment 2, the study presenting the meaning of literature review and
its importance, further it also shows how does it achieved and also describe the literature review
on Corporate Social Responsibilities.
ASSESSMENT 1- Individual Essay
1. Critically evaluate the suggestion made in an article
As per the view of Hofstede, (2019), he defines five elements of culture such as values,
rituals, symbols, beliefs and though process. Further, he also states that there are four dimensions
of the culture such as, individualism or collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and
masculinity or femininity. Such as this type of culture is followed in United States and Mexico
and other countries of Asia is also complied to more collectivist principles. Apart from this, the
author also suggested that uncertainty avoidance also refers to how the members of a society
respond for ambiguity and even the company within these cultures also have the rules in place to
make sure that the employee do not deviates from their standards (Hofstede, 2015).
Moreover, it has been further critically evaluated by an article that if the organization is
dealing at global level then they also have to adjust with variety of environment as well. Apart
from this, many of the company also focus on diversity of an employee who can deal with the
different customers belongs to variety of cultures. Further, he also suggests that the culture of
employee who are working in global business may differ from the national culture of one
country due to development of own culture and values by the company. On the other side, it is
also evaluated that when there is a continuous change in communication specially in social
media and some social values, it also changes the nature of a culture and it directly creates the
impact upon the individual and an organization as well (Hofstede, Hofstede and Minkov, 2015).
Thus, the national culture is also quite important in marketing for a firm and helps to understand
the consumer behavior as well.
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2. Justification of the statement made in an article
As per the article, I am totally agreed with the statement of cultures with a high power
distance tend to be more hierarchical because as per the example given in an article that United
States business environment also adopted different forms of management such as participative
management. In this the supervisors and subordinates are place in equal terms that shows that
inequality in power distance is perceived from the followers because of hierarchical structure the
managers are only delegate the power. Apart from this, I am also agreed with the individual
dimension which states that the individualist culture place a high value on the individual
achievement and their self- interest while on the other side, the collectivist cultures work to attain
the collective goals and group harmony. This is so because to work in a team will be more
beneficial for the firm rather to do work as an individualism (Hofstede, 2015).
Apart from this, I am not agreed with the statement made in an article that change in a
communication will change in nature of culture as well, though it impact upon the employee and
an organization but did not change the nature of culture. As the business have their own values
and cultures and this values also affect the national values. Fast change in social media and
social sharing also affect the culture but it never changes, that is why I am not agreed with the
statement. Further, I also agreed with a statement of uncertainty avoidance in which the culture
that score high on the certainty avoidance dimension tend to avoid the risk taking and that is why
the organization with this type of culture also do not deviates their employees from the accepted
standard while on the other side, the cultures with less uncertainty avoidance believes that the
risk taking and innovation are two main and important in order to achieve the successful
outcomes for the business.
3. Suggestions
In order to improve the culture of the company, it is recommended that every corporation
should implement the innovation day twice a year so that everyone drops their normal work and
team form in order to make that day special in this way, the employees of different culture will
interact with each other and share their own experience with them to make the day successful.
Apart from this, it is also suggested that to make the culture fit for an employee the manager
should also provide the work in order to make their employee flexible and comfort in the work
environment as well. Further, to improve the morale, productivity and deeper connection from
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everyone, the company should also provide volunteering in which the employees have a chance
to reveal the skills in which they might not have the opportunities to show in the working culture.
Moreover, it is also suggested that the company's success is also depended upon the
employees' performance and if the culture of the company is better and flexible then it provides a
better chance to work accordingly and leads a business towards a further level of success. As the
organization's culture is also based upon the values, norms and behavior and beside values, the
norms have a high degree of specificity and clarity that are present in the form of policies and
procedure. Therefore, a firm should have made the policies in such a manner that helps to make
their employees flexible in the working area in order to raise the productivity and they should
also have diverse workforce in order to generate good ideas for the betterment of the company.
ASSESSMENT 2- Individual Report
1. Presenting the meaning of literature review and what does it achieve
Literature review refers to review the article and it also discussed the publish information
for a particular subject area and also the information for a particular subject area for some
specific period of time. Apart from this, it is the summary of sources and also combines both the
summary and synthesis. It has been further analyzed that literature review is differed from
academic research and its main focus is to summarize and synthesize the argument and the ideas
of others without adding the new contribution (Hart, 2018). Moreover, through literature
reviews, the reader can easily analyses in dept. grasp of a subject and also helps to understand
where is the writer research fit into and adds to an existing body of an agreed knowledge as well.
Purpose: The main task of literature review is to demonstrate a familiarity with a body of
knowledge and also helps to establish the credibility for a work and also summaries the prior
research and also states or understand how the project is linked with it (Webster and Watson,
2016). The literature review also demonstrate what a researcher learn from others and what is
their contribution towards a starting point of new ideas. There are many types of literature review
and some of them are as follows:
Narrative Literature Review: This type of literature review basically critiques the
literature and also summarizes the body as well. This also draws the conclusion related to a topic
and determine the gaps in a body of knowledge and it also focused in the research question in
order to conduct better literature review.
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Systematic Literature Review: This is the detailed time frame review of the research,
further this form is also consisted of overview of some existing evidence that help to clearly
formulated the research question in order to identify and critically appraise some relevant
research. This type is also consisted of two types such as meta- analysis and meta- synthesis.
This type also focusses on some specific empirical questions as well (Machi and McEvoy, 2016).
Theoretical literature review: This type is based upon the theory with regards of issue,
concept and theory. This type of literature review also play an important role in order to establish
the relationship between some already existing theories and also develop the new hypotheses
which needs to be tested.
Argumentative literature review: This literature review helps to support an argument
and deeply imbedded assumption and the problem which are already established in the literature.
The main purpose of this reviews is to develop a body of literature which further establish a
investor view point.
Integrative Literature Review: this type of literature review critique and synthesis the
secondary data about the research topic in such a way that a new framework and perspective are
generated. It is also used when the researcher did not involve the primary data collection and
data analysis and at that time only integrative literature review is used (Laubengaier, Hahn and
Wagner, 2019).
Contribution: The literature review can be achieved by critically analyses the
information which is gathered in order to identify the gap in current knowledge and by showing
the limitation of some theories and a point of view. Further, it presents the literature in such an
organized way and by formulating the areas for further research and by reviewing the areas of
controversy as well. Apart from this, literature review also surveys the literature for the
researcher chosen area and it is also review by siting journal articles and critically review the
articles which are written by different authors.
2. Literature Review on ' Corporate Social Responsibility'
According to the Crowther and Seifi (2018) corporate social responsibility is the self-
regulating business model that helps to lead a company to be socially accountable and by using
corporate social responsibility, the company can also create the positive impact upon the society
which also includes economic, social and environmental factors. Further, if the company is
engaging in corporate social responsibility, it means that a firm is operating in such a way that
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helps to enhance the society as well as environment instead of creating negative impact upon
them. On the other side, it has been evaluated by the author that in order for a firm to be socially
responsible, it has to be responsible to itself and its shareholder as well, then it has to adopt some
CSR programs that helps to enrich the society and become more successful at global level. Apart
from this, it is also evaluated that corporate social responsibility is the primarily strategy of a
large corporation such that the more responsibility it has to set the standards of ethical behavior
for their competition and peers as well (Unit, 2015). Apart from this, it has been analyses that if
there is an equality at workplace then it will help to creates positive environment and as if there
is equality at working place then employees are also generate new ideas that helps to enhance the
profitability of the company as well.
For instance, the Starbucks is well known firm who is well known firm for its corporate
social responsibility and the commitment towards the sustainability and community welfare.
Moreover, the company also achieved CSR milestone such that it reaches 99 percent ethically
sourced coffee and also creates a global network of farmers. Further it also pioneering the green
building in overall stores and also contribute millions of hours for the community service. Apart
from this, the company main aim is to include the hiring of around 10000 refugees in more than
70 countries and to reduce the environmental impact of its cups etc. this shows that the company
work for the welfare of the society and it also adopts different strategies that also help to grow
their current business to some further level of success.
As per the view of McWilliams, (2015) corporate social responsibility basically includes
its relationship to the purpose of a business and also motives for engaging in it and the author
also argued that the business or an organization main purpose is to maximize the returns from
their shareholders and also comply with all the laws within which the organization operates to
become socially responsible. On the other side, there are some CSR supporters which also claim
that the companies practicing CSR especially in developing countries are also less likely to
exploit the workers and communities. Moreover, better the governmental regulation and social
control rather than voluntary measures can be an alternative CSR which also moves the decision
making from the public to private bodies.
However, it has been critically evaluated that corporate social responsibility programs are
also undertaken by many companies in order to distract people from some ethical question that
are posed by the core operations. Even many studies also showed that CSR programs are also
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motivated by some corporate managers for their personal interest for the cost of shareholders
while on the other hand it is also argued by Grayson and Hodges (2017) that the primary purpose
of CSR is to provide the legitimacy to the power of a business and as the wealth inequality is
perceived to be raised so it is quite necessary for a business to justify their position of power.
There are various benefits which corporate social responsibility also offer to the business which
includes to prevent the financial ramification and also help to increase the employee loyalty in
which the company should treat the employees fairly and generously because it is the part of
corporate social responsibility.
Moreover, by providing good jobs and encourage high professionals and moral standards,
the company will also hold up the employee into a business. Further through corporate social
responsibility, a company also maintain a positive reputation that further includes environmental
consciousness. For instance, there are many companies which reduces the waste, recycling and
also minimizing the carbon footprints. Another advantage of using corporate social responsibility
into the working area is such that it also involves in local community projects through some
financial donation and employee participation. Therefore, it helps in local community as well.
As per the view of Crane, Matten and Spence (2019) who states that the corporate social
responsibility has become one of the most important standard business practice for the time. If
the company committed to CSR which means that they have good reputation in market and even
the establishment of corporate social responsibility strategy is become one of the most crucial
component for the company's competitiveness. It means that the business must have all the
policies and procedures in the place which integrate social, environmental and ethical concern
into the business operations and they all should be close collaboration with the stakeholders as
well (Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility, 2018). There are many companies whose
aim is to achieve the positive impact upon the society while maximizing the shared value for the
owners of a business. Apart from this, the strategic Literature Review on Corporate Social
Responsibility is the point of balance in which the benefits are maximized for both the business
and development cause.
According to Schrempf-Stirling, Palazzo and Phillips (2016) there are five Cs in CSR
which the firm should be fulfilled. The first C means that the conviction which states the real
improvement in business performance, second C means the commitment which states that when
a firm commit then they will definitely deliver. Third C refers to communication which means
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that the business should be commit to open and be honest to communicate with company's
stakeholders such that there should be two way communication. Fourth C means that consistency
which is the process of a continuous improvement in which the CSR programs should be
implemented properly and it should be continuous in a way as well. Fifth C means that
credibility which refers that it should be known for all the business ability to trust their
performance should be depend upon the credibility of their efforts. Thus, it has been realize that
the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility is wide such that it helps to enrich the society
and it also includes mission and value statement, advertising, which contributes to every field of
work. That is why many of the company also uses CSR in order to improve their company public
image because it has been analyses by the views of Wang and et.al., (2016) that a corporation's
public image is at the mercy of their Social Responsibility programs and how the firm is aware
the consumers from this. Moreover, there are variety of companies who improve the public
image by supporting the non- profit by monetary donation, volunteerism and through strong
partnership as well. Even, when the company donates the money to some non- profit
organization and also encourage the employees to volunteer their time then they demonstrate to
investors that they did not care about the profits.
It has been realized that if the company have a culture of Corporate Social Responsibility
then they will easily encourage professional and personal growth as well because when the
employees contributes their own time and money for a worthy cause, then they will definitely
develop professionally and personally. For example, there are many companies who also follows
the corporate social responsibility such as Realized Worth who has been working since 2008 for
providing help to the company at global level and the company also wants to implement great
corporate giving and volunteer programs and the same way it did as well.
The research is conducted from the data collected through secondary research in which
the information are used from the published books, Journals and articles that are already
published.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above report it has been concluded by the project assessment 1 that
culture plays a vital role in every business and it also affects the working environment as well in
both positive as well in negative way. Through the report it has been cleared that Hofstede's four
cultural dimension also affect the environment as well as creates impact upon the employees'
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performance, Such that if the culture is positive then the performance of the employees are
automatically raises. From the assessment 2nd it has been concluded that literature review is the
reviewing of an article through Journals and articles and it also shows the importance of
Corporate Social Responsibility for a business and it also helps to enrich the society and work for
society's welfare.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Crane, A., Matten, D. and Spence, L. eds., 2019. Corporate social responsibility: Readings and
cases in a global context. Routledge.
Crowther, D. and Seifi, S. eds., 2018. Redefining Corporate Social Responsibility. Emerald
Group Publishing.
Grayson, D. and Hodges, A., 2017. Corporate social opportunity!: Seven steps to make
corporate social responsibility work for your business. Routledge.
Hart, C., 2018. Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. Sage.
Hofstede, G., 2015. Cultural dimensions. www. geert-hofstede. com, consulta. 13.
Hofstede, G., 2015. Dimensionalizing cultures: The Hofstede model in context. Online readings
in psychology and culture.2(1). p.8.
Hofstede, G., 2019. Geert Hofstede cultural dimensions.
Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J. and Minkov, M., 2015. Cultures and organizations: Software of
the mind (Vol. 2). New York: Mcgraw-hill.
Laubengaier, D., Hahn, G. and Wagner, H. T., 2019, January. Organizational Culture and
Knowledge Exchange and Combination: A Systematic Literature Review. In Proceedings
of the 52nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences.
Machi, L. A. and McEvoy, B. T., 2016. The literature review: Six steps to success. Corwin
Press.
McWilliams, A., 2015. Corporate social responsibility. Wiley encyclopedia of management,
pp.1-4.
Schrempf-Stirling, J., Palazzo, G. and Phillips, R. A., 2016. Historic corporate social
responsibility. Academy of Management Review.41(4). pp.700-719.
Unit, B., 2015. Corporate social responsibility.
Wang, H. and et.al., 2016. Corporate social responsibility: An overview and new research
directions: Thematic issue on corporate social responsibility.
Webster, J. and Watson, R. T., 2016. Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: Writing a
literature review. MIS quarterly, pp.xiii-xxiii.
Online
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Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility. 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://doublethedonation.com/tips/why-corporate-social-responsibility-is-important/>.
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