Corporate Social Responsibility: A Critical Analysis by Joel Bakan

This essay critically analyzes the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by Joel Bakan, its impacts on social, environmental, and ecological aspects, and its influence on the marketplace and workplace of business organizations.

ESSAY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Critically analysing the Corporate Social Responsibility by Joel Bakan....................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be defined as management concept in which
organization integrates environmental and social concerns in business operations. It helps
organisation to become more sustainable and improve the brand image and transparency of the
company (What is CSR, 2019). The main motive of CSR to protect the environment, Corporate
with government. This report is based on views of Joel Bakan on Corporate social responsibility,
he is a law professor, author and film-maker. Also, analysis the impacts of social, environmental,
ecological based CSR and the way this influences the philanthropist. Further, discuss the impact
and relationship that influences marketplace, workplace of business organization.
MAIN BODY
Critically analysing the Corporate Social Responsibility by Joel Bakan
Corporate Social Responsibility is a concept of management undertaken by company to
combine environmental and social discussion in the business operations and interact with their
stakeholders (What is importance of CSR, 2019). It deals with environmental and social impacts
of the business. The main importance of CSR to helps business more sustainable and operates
ethical responsibilities towards the society. Ethical responsibility ensures organization to operate
the business activities in ethical and fair manner. Likewise, pay maximum wage to labour which
is fixed by government and avoid child labour. Joel Bakan has analysed that CSR is generally
build brand reputation of the organization and deals with strategic initiative towards society and
environment. In addition to this, social responsibility inaugurate coherently with successful
business ethics provided by government which is mandatory to follow for any organization
(Abbas, 2020). Bakan argues on evolution of law (corporate) in UK and US during 19th century
that organization transformed into person with separate legal identity and also with its own
identity. Then government treat company as intangible asset with separate legal entity. Beside
this, those people have to pay taxes according to their entity in terms of owner and managers
empowered with own name or real person, employs and workers.
There are several programmes organized by Corporate Social Responsibility in
expanding public opinion positively for companies. Also, CSR undertaken primarily geared an
ethical need to do the right-thing. Companies that adopted such practices every time have
promotes employee relation, morale and healthier cultures. The literature also shows when a

company is going to engage with CSR, this directly or indirectly affects the bottom line of the
organization. In consequences, that can be sound easy but it very costly on other side, also every
company is not able to do such big practices. Many corporate companies share the opportunity to
offer with their venture and sponsoring partners (Khan and et.al, 2018). The expectations of
society towards their businesses, which have grown amazingly during the few decades. The main
motive of adaptation of CSR is to take care the legal, social and environmental responsibility of
businesses. There are several organizations that have responded beyond expectation by providing
food, shelters and clothes to poor people. Besides, that is not enough for businesses to resolve
environmental and social problems of the society (Liu and et.al, 2019). Such practices may be
time-consuming. Joel Bakan has identified that Ecological based CSR deal with harmful effects
that can be caused to environment that may reduced by attention of a companies' operation. Firm
tries hard to decreases the harmful effects of environment through minimizing its production that
causes major damage to environment.
Furthermore, it improves business culture and reputation of the company in order to
increases value and profitability. This includes encouragement of using non- renewable
resources, also increases the use of fossil fuels. Organization can perform society based CSR
activities to towards society in terms of conduct different events to safeguard the well-being
society. To proceed the several programs firm can arrange the funds that enhance standard of
living of people of the society. Workforce based CSR plays important role in any organization
such as human resources, generally, firms are focus on requirement of HR to regulate their work
with living better and easier. CSR can be executed in order to give leaves to employees as
medication and casual leaves. Philanthropist based CSR usually, connected with several
companies in order to trust and charity for nonprofit organisation. The NGO and other non-profit
organization contributed by the firms and individuals to expect help in terms of providing
finance and other resources to needy people. This most preferred CSR activity that is utilized
through several enterprises. Company get more advantages in the market and customers by being
philanthropist, it consist of good image in outside market. This influence organization's name in
society as consistent and trustful towards their work. Also, makes the business more attractive to
investors in terms of advocacy and loyalty.
In addition to this, is important at any workplace because it builds brand and image of
the company. Formal CSR programs boost morale of employees and also increases productivity

in workforce (Yoon and Chung, 2018). On other side, it corporate with marketplace directly to
maintains relationship with suppliers, government and customers in terms of providing services
and products. There are several principles which includes CSR at marketplace such as, to support
vulnerable customers, seek capable customer with excluded group, discourage people to do not
misuse the product and support consistent standards. In supply chain management it defines as
voluntary integration of company to concern about environmental and social responsibility with
other stakeholders business relationships. From the Bakan views it enhances overall position and
reputation of the company in competitive advantages. Examples of CSR are to engage with
charity and volunteer work, improves labour policies, reduces carbon footprints. There are ethics
in supply chain to treats workers in a good manner ethically which are produces product and
services (Bhardwaj and et.al., 2018). Through Corporate-social-responsibility company can
positively engage with all the communities across the world on all level society. This is not only
benefit to communities but also provide new opportunities for communities and business. A
Government firms and large employer included with public policy realm are committed with
sustainable and ethical business practices regards to corporate social responsibility in order to
corporate and development agenda for society.
CSR is an essential activity as well as responsibility for all business organizations
regardless of size and functions. According to professor Joel Bakan some benefits of CSR
includes are the activity helps organization to have better brand recognition as more and more
people are aware of firm activities and role they play for the society. Also, firms sales and brand
loyalty also increases as people tend to buy products of those firms that contribute more towards
the welfare of the society than others. Further, overall organizational growth is also developed as
firms achieve the objectives in effective manner without any government and customer
intervention. Positive business reputation is developed through continuously serving the society
in most efficient ways. Joel also stated that CSR activity attract new potential customers and
retains the older employees as they believe the organization is having flexible job society, and
they feel excellent working with organization. New investors are also attracted to the
organization as they believe they are investing into better investment proposals which will give
better returns in future and business will incur fewer losses. Further, motivation of workers is
also increased as CSR activity helps in enhancing teamwork and self-confidence among the staff

members as a result of which productivity and efficiency in the output is enhanced to a great
extent.
According to Joel Bakan, the CSR activities also have negative impacts on working of
organization as cost factor can decreased the profit margins of the firm which is primary
motive.Every CSR activity involves costs for the implementation of projects, training to the
employees, investing in various dedicated programs etc. that increases the overall costs and
expenditures for the organization (He and Harris, 2020). CSR activities can also create conflicts
in achieving overall goals and objectives of the firm as some people may resist changes made in
organization as they may find it as meaningless. When business is involved in frequent CSR
activities, the cost of operations tend to increase that is paid through the funds of investor.
Therefore, the point is raised from shareholders when returns earned are very less according to
the investment done. CSR activities put pressure to deliver best to the public when there is
intense competition in markets which may be demerit for the small and start up firms due to lack
of huge investment. CSR activities can also resist those investors that are less interested in
investing in those projects that do not give high returns in terms of profit. Such investors invest
in only those projects because they want to gain maximum revenue in short period without much
efforts. Initially CSR activity can proved benefit for the firm as people feel connected with
workers for excellent reason (Adnan, Hay and van Staden, 2018.). However, if the firm does not
provide quick outcomes or results people may assume that it was only to gain popularity and as
such they are impatient.
CONCLUSION
From this report it has been concluded that corporate social responsibility plays vital role in
any organization because it leads in gaining trust and confidence of customers and building
strong brand image of firm. As study summarized views of Joel Bakan pertaining to the
Corporate social responsibility it has both positive and negative impact in the field of social,
ecological and environmental. Moreover, this analysed impact of CSR in terms of market place
and workplace. At last, it can be summarized that company needs to take step towards the
corporate-social-responsibility to enjoy high profit margin and competitive advantages in retail
sector of United Kingdom.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
He, H. and Harris, L., 2020. The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on corporate social responsibility
and marketing philosophy. Journal of business research. 116. pp.176-182.
Adnan, S. M., Hay, D. and van Staden, C. J., 2018. The influence of culture and corporate
governance on corporate social responsibility disclosure: A cross country analysis. Journal of
Cleaner Production. 198. pp.820-832.
Yoon, B. and Chung, Y., 2018. The effects of corporate social responsibility on firm
performance: A stakeholder approach. Journal of hospitality and tourism management. 37.
pp.89-96.
Bhardwaj, P. and et.al., 2018. When and how is corporate social responsibility profitable?.
Journal of Business Research. 84. pp.206-219.
Abbas, J., 2020. Impact of total quality management on corporate green performance through the
mediating role of corporate social responsibility. Journal of Cleaner Production.
242.p.118458.
Liu, Y. and et.al, 2019. Corporate social responsibility and decision analysis in a supply chain
through government subsidy. Journal of cleaner production. 208. pp.436-447.
Khan, S.A.R. and et.al, 2018. Green supply chain management, economic growth and
environment: A GMM based evidence. Journal of Cleaner Production. 185. pp.588-599.
Online
What is CSR?. 2019. [Online]. Available through :<https://www.unido.org/our-focus/advancing-
economic-competitiveness/competitive-trade-capacities-and-corporate-responsibility/
corporate-social-responsibility-market-integration/what-csr>.
What is importance of CSR. 2019. [Online]. Available through :<https://thecsrjournal.in/what-is-
the-importance-of-csr/>.