Corporate Social Responsibility Essay

This assignment requires students to write an essay about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The essay should delve into the definition of CSR, highlighting its significance for organizations. It must discuss the various benefits of CSR for companies, customers, society, communities, employees, government, and the nation. The essay also encourages a critical evaluation of CSR's role in ensuring an organization's long-term sustainability and positive impact on the environment.

Literature Review

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
1. Literature Review And Its Purpose..........................................................................................1
2. Literature Review on “Corporate Social Responsibility”........................................................2
ANALYSIS......................................................................................................................................5
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Literature Review is also known as Narrative Review. It is an article which include
summary and explanation of current knowledge. It is secondary sources. In this research are done
in academic field. A good literature review covers all the relevant points and topics regarding
literature. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a business concept or an approach through
which company manage their business activities and produce positive impact on the society. It is
done for the overall beneficial of stakeholders (What is CSR?, 2019). Report will highlight on
Literature review and its purpose. Report will also reflect the literature review of Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR).
MAIN BODY
1. Literature Review And Its Purpose
Literature review is a written article which gives overview about the particular topic. It is
done by research on that topic. It provides a description, summary and evaluation about the topic.
That is the reason, Literature review is considered as the biggest example of secondary sources
of data collection. The information in literature review are collected by scholarly journal articles,
books, government reports, websites and research books etc. (Machi and McEvoy, 2016).
There are various types of Literature Review which is popular in business. These
Literature reviews are as follows -
NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW – It is also known as Traditional Literature Review
which includes critiques, summarizes and conclusions about the topic.
SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW – It prepares the research questions and identify the
studies which is directly related to the topic. It provides complete summary of research question.
ARGUMENTATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW – It includes an argument and findings that
present these arguments.
THEORETICAL LITERATURE REVIEW – It surveys books, articles, websites, etc. for a
particular issues or theory. It provides a description, summary and evaluation of findings in
relation to the issues or theory that are being research.
INTEGRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW – It outlines the topic in critical way through
which new frameworks are generated.
Purpose behind Literature Review are as follows - CSR strengthens the knowledge which
helps in gaining expertise. It guides the researcher for better research. It improves the research
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and analytical skills. CSR helps in identifying gaps in current knowledge which make research
more effectively. It provides readers an overview, summary, ideas, theories and relevant
knowledge about the topics (Xiao and Watson, 2019). CSR helps in narrowing and breaking
down the problems which helps in better understanding of problems. It also helps in
understanding of various types of research methods and their findings. CSR also avoids
unnecessary duplications. It is done to identify the relevant and potential areas for research. It is
done to check the consistency and continuity of existing studies and their results.
2. Literature Review on “Corporate Social Responsibility”
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
According to the view of Unit (2015), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) consists of
3 words i.e.- CORPORATE, SOCIAL and RESPONSIBILITY. Thus, CSR is a responsbility
sense of Corporate towards societies or communities. It is a business approach or concept or
strategy through which companies conduct various activities which is socially, economically and
environmentally beneficial for the stakeholders. It is generally considered as a maintaining
balance between company's objectives and environmentally safety. It includes human rights,
corporate governance, health and safety, environmental effects, working conditions and
contribution to economic development etc. CSR aims to getting support from public, increase
long term profits and become more efficient and sustainable business in the future.
KEY ISSUES OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
As per the view of Crowther and Seifi (2018), There are various key issues related to
CSR which are mentioning below -
There is lack of consent between various departments of organization for the
implementation of CSR activities, strategies and projects. This lead to internal competition in
business environment rather than co-operation between them. This lead to slow implication of
undertaking the initiatives capabilities of company.
There are no clear standards, rules, regulations, guidelines and policies regarding CSR in
companies which lead company to do CSR activities. This lead company to keep the perception
narrow towards CSR.
There is another key issue regarding CSR is Lack Of Transparency. Companies don't
disclose their CSR activities, programmes, audit issues, utilization of funds etc. This all lead to
impact the process of building trust and enhancing goodwill of company negatively.
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As citied by Schrempf-Stirling, Palazzo and Phillips (2016), There is lack of awareness
and interest of public and societies to participate in CSR activities conducting by companies.
This lead company to bear a lot of cost and failure of activities, which cause company to ignore
the CSR activities.
There are changing in climate due to dumping lots of carbon dioxide and another
greenhouse gases by various businesses. This pollution is impacting the climate and becoming a
big factor in cause of Global Warming.
Many shareholders demand for increased performance from companies by creating
pressure on them. This lead company to avoid about CSR.
As explained by Wang and et.al (2016), Government lays down the policy that
Company's CSR activities are self-regulated. This lead company not to follow strictly and
produce such goods which give company unfair competitive advantages and harmful for society
and environment.
There is no penalty for those defaulter businesses who intentionally not fulfill the
requirement of CSR investment. This lead company to invest in CSR below the expectations.
There are greater expenses bear by company if they replace their products and manufacturing
system. This lead to high cost and high price. This will help in decreasing in contribution from
products.
The word green-washing is used to describe corporate practices, which in reality seem to
be environmentally responsible without representing a change in the manner in which a company
operates its business.
As elaborated by Frynas and Yamahaki (2016), If Company strictly follow CSR policies
then he has to disclose all the limitations regarding products and also if products are produce by
company to violent the CSR policy. This cause bizarre to the image of the company. Due to fear
of losing the brand image, company don't follow CSR policy.
KEY AREAS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) AND ITS
RELATED ISSUES
Key areas of CSR are as follows -
Key Area – CUSTOMERS AND EMPLOYEES – Company is a people oriented that gives
value to the life of its customers and employees through its CSR activities. Company creates
high quality employment opportunities within its organization and supply chain. Also, they
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provide proper training and fair payments. This lead to decrease in poverty, boost the personal
and professional development of employees and improve their life standards. Company produces
high quality products for customers. This lead to increase in satisfaction level, improvement in
life style and health.
RELATED ISSUES - Due to rising age and decreasing birth rate, the working population in the
country is decreasing and there is a diversification in the way people work. More than ever,
companies need to create a fair and safe environment to respect basic human rights and
individual diversity and deal with employment, working conditions, employees-management
relations, security and health and human resource development. Consciousness of consumers is
increasingly growing. As elucidated by Tran (2019), Corporations should adapt to changing
issues and needs, which should create their corporate value through full business activities.
Consumers are aware of various issues which are important to them in different areas. Apart
from this, companies should now use corporate governance to ensure greater transparency and
fairness.
Key Area – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT – It is important for company to create an
opportunity in economic development of society and nation. Company produces those products
that meets the need and demand in the market and that products are prepared by taking care of
target customers' cultures, values and perceptions. Companies create employment opportunities
by opening or expanding its businesses. This need more investment. More investment means
more capital formulation. This will lead to economic growth of employees, company as well as
nation.
RELATED ISSUES - Through its employees and activities, corporations are involved in local
communities to such an extent that later can be considered the foundation of corporate existence.
For this reason, corporations should work on economic issues in their specific capacity as
corporate citizens of local communities and society, and contribute to their communities or
development.
Critiqued by Barnett (2019), Key Area – ENVIRONMENT – Company has always depended
on its environment. Business and environment share vital connection. From the extraction of raw
material to management of wastage and resources, business depends upon the environment.
Company is conducting environmental CSR in order to prevent environment from water, air and
land pollution. Also, company has started promoting eco-friendly products. Company also has
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focusing on planting. These all lead customers to attract towards company and reducing the
environmental stress.
RELATED ISSUES - Global warming and other environmental issues are the major problems of
public interest, and all humanity needs to be jointly addressed. Companies should consider their
business model, which is conducive to sustainable production and consumption, and should be
more active in fulfilling its responsibility towards the environment. In return, this will make the
companies more sustainable.
ANALYSIS
Corporate Social Responsibility is a management concept that integrate social and
environment responsibilities of company towards society. It is considered to one of the major
responsibility which has to be obliged by company. It not only deals with environmental,
economic and social issues, it also deals with ethical issues that is face by so many companies.
Companies face so many issues regarding CSR which impact their goodwill and profitablity
negatively. Thus, not only companies, but also government should look at issues such as
environmental management, eco-efficiency, responsible sourcing, stakeholder engagement,
labour standards and working conditions, employee and community relations, social equity,
gender balance, human rights, good governance, and anti-corruption measures etc. and help
companies to overcome with it so that with companies, environment, societies and nation can
safe and healthy (Definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR), 2019).
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that Company should make that kind of products which can be reuse
or recycle after usage. This will reduce the wastage of products and also the pressure on
resources will also be reduce. Company should treat it's all employees fairly and respectfully.
Company shouldn't discriminate between any of its employees on the basis of following
characteristics such as gender, opportunities, payment, promotion, sex, values, perceptions,
cultures, beliefs, colours, marriage, age, disability, race and sexual orientation etc. Company
should follow all the employment legislation such as labour law, health and safety law,
environment related law, security law, national minimum wages law and customers rights etc.
Government should make CSR act which should be strictly follow by all the companies working
in that particular nation. Government should make a strict rule about the disclosure of CSR
activities and investment done by company in order to safety of environment, society and nation.
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Company should formulate a different CSR department whose focus is only to solve the issues
and monitor the activities and strategies related to the CSR. CSR department should make tight
policy regarding CSR which should be follow by every level of management teams, employees
and employers of the company. Company should adopt a business code of conduct as well as
code of ethics which should be in understanding language and outlines on issues such as ethics,
values, environment, customers and employee respect.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been summarised that Literature review helps in avoiding
plagiarism. It also boosts the confidence of researchers and readers which lead to creation of
rapport between them. It also improves your research focus and decision making power. It is the
effective evaluation of topic by doing research. Corporate Social Responsibility is an essential
part of Organization. Without that, no company can survive for longer time. Also, it is important
from the view of environment because company's need is fulfilled by environment thus, it is the
duty of business to take care of it. For the trustworthy partner of customers, Companies are doing
various CSR activities which is beneficial for organization, customers, societies, communities,
employees, government and nation.
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REFERENCES
Books And Journals
Machi, L.A. and McEvoy, B.T., 2016. The literature review: Six steps to success. Corwin Press.
Xiao, Y. and Watson, M., 2019. Guidance on conducting a systematic literature review. Journal
of Planning Education and Research. 39(1). pp.93-112.
Unit, B., 2015. Corporate social responsibility.
Crowther, D. and Seifi, S. eds., 2018. Redefining Corporate Social Responsibility. Emerald
Group Publishing.
Schrempf-Stirling, J., Palazzo, G. and Phillips, R.A., 2016. Historic corporate social
responsibility. Academy of Management Review. 41(4). pp.700-719.
Wang, H., and et.al., 2016. Corporate social responsibility: An overview and new research
directions: Thematic issue on corporate social responsibility.
Frynas, J.G. and Yamahaki, C., 2016. Corporate social responsibility: Review and roadmap of
theoretical perspectives. Business Ethics: A European Review. 25(3). pp.258-285.
Schmitz, J. and Schrader, J., 2015. Corporate social responsibility: A microeconomic review of
the literature. Journal of Economic Surveys. 29(1). pp.27-45.
Tran, B., 2019. Corporate social responsibility. In Advanced Methodologies and Technologies in
Business Operations and Management. (pp. 270-281). IGI Global.
Barnett, M.L., 2019. The business case for corporate social responsibility: A critique and an
indirect path forward. Business & Society. 58(1). pp.167-190.
Online
Definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR). 2019. [ONLINE]. Available through:
<http://lexicon.ft.com/Term?term=corporate-social-responsibility--(CSR)>
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>
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