CSR Report: Unethical Issues of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Infosys

This CSR report discusses the unethical issues faced by Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Infosys, along with their values and approaches to social responsibility. It also suggests appropriate sustainable development goals for these companies.

CSR Report Based
Project
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
2 companies and industries facing CSR problems......................................................................3
Social, economic and environmental issues of both companies..................................................4
Appropriate sustainable development goals for these companies...............................................4
Values and approaches to social responsibility of these companies............................................5
Unethical issues of Indian oil Corporation Ltd and Infosys........................................................6
Reflection of these companies along with ways of solving problems.........................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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INTRODUCTION
Corporate social responsibility can be defined as a business practices or a type of
international private self regulation business which incorporate sustainable (Crane, Matten and
Spence, 2019). The main aim of CSR is to not to hurt anyone and increasing long term profit for
stakeholders in an ethical manner. This study is based on Indian oil corporation Ltd which is an
Indian government owned oil and gas company. This present study is going to show importance
of ethics and CSR. It will also show some unethical issues of Indian oil Corporation Ltd and
Infosys and what challenges they have to face due to unethical practices. Further, it will show a
CSR report of this company in order to show its all activities.
TASK 1
2 companies and industries facing CSR problems
This study is based on two industries or companies which are Indian oil Corporation Ltd and
Infosys.
Indian Corporation Ltd: In the context of Indian Corporation Ltd, it is oil and Gas Company
owned by Indian government. In the context of net profit it is considered one of the largest
companies in this country. There are several strengths of this company which makes it able to
accomplish its goal to some extent. One of the main strength is it has around 33,498 employees
who help it out in meeting its goals (Ramya and Chandran, 2018). It has announced to launch
Bharat Stage 6 fuels in all retail outlets. Rather, having all features still it is facing some ethical
related problems for which it was filed a lawsuit.
Infosys: It is multinational company of information technology and outsourcing. It is known as
2nd largest IT Company in the context of revenue. It has around 243,454 people at its all stores of
world-wide. It has several features but still this company was filed a lawsuit due to its some
unethical acts and behaviours. Due to this unethical act it also had to close its offices Now, it is
analysed that 15% of its staff agreed to return to offices. After all problems and promising to
perform activities in an ethical manner it reopened offices in all locations (Infosys Staff Return
to Office, 2020).
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Social, economic and environmental issues of both companies
There are some social and environmental factors which are affecting this company to the
great extent. Climate change, electricity consumption, carbon emission are some problems which
are creating problems and barriers in the path of the success. In this context, it is also stated that
governments are trying to make changes and implement some environmental policies as per
them all companies will be bound to follow them and protect environment (Jindal and Jain,
2018). It is beneficial for this company but it is putting pressure to make changes in the way of
performing as well as strategies which can increase its cost.
In addition, in the context of Indian Corporation Ltd it is analysed that some
environmental and social issues like poor management of wastes, water and natural resources
scarcity, water and air pollution are creating several problems. It is also stated that this company
was filed a lawsuit because of increasing waste materials and spoiling water to great extent due
to its manufacturing process of Gas and oil. It is one of the industries who needs to take extra
care of the society and environment in order to being in the competition and having a good
image in the eyes of stakeholders (Sahoo, Swain and Bal, 2018). People are also becoming
concerned and aware about environmental protection because they know that how air and water
pollution is affecting the quality of their lives and health. For preventing environmental and
people, governments have also developed some legislations and policies. By following all these
legislations, both companies can reduce all these problems and prevent people and the
environment against carbon emission and other harmful effects.
Appropriate sustainable development goals for these companies
There are some goals which both Infosys and Indian Corporate Ltd set for regaining its image
and making people believe in it. Some sustainable goals of Infosys include:
 To strive hard for economic development which affect societies in a positive manner with
minimal resource footprint?
 To embrace responsibility for its own company’s actions and encouraging al employees
to have positive effects through focusing on activities on poverty, hunger, stakeholders
and societies etc (Hák, Janoušková and Moldan, 2016).
In the context of Indian corporation Ltd it is stated that this company controls over 10 of India’s
refineries so, it is important for this company to focus on corporate social responsibility and
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sustainability. This company has set some core values and objectives on which basis it can make
itself successful and gain its image again. Its core values include: passion, innovation, trust and
care because all these factors and elements can allow it to make stakeholders aware and believe
that this company is concerned towards their needs (Gupta and Vegelin, 2016). They are also
aware about needs to work beyond financial considerations and for that they put in that little
extra to make sure that they are perceived not only just at corporate behemoths which only exists
for profits but care for societies. Some goals which can help it out in regaining image include:
 Developing techno economically viable as well s environmental friendly services for
making beneficial to all customers by maintaining standard of safety.
 To support scheduled caste of people and for that it is focusing on community
development funds for their welfare and reducing gap between the rich and the poor
(CSR Activities of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, 2018).
Values and approaches to social responsibility of these companies
In the context of social responsibility strategies and values, it is stated that Infosys Ltd is
focusing and striving hard for accomplishing its pre determined goals. For increasing values it is
focusing on main areas which are:
Education: It believes that lack of education in some areas is one of the main reasons which
makes differences and create barriers in sustainability. By focusing and promoting education,
employment enhancing vocational skills among women, children and disable people it is trying
to provide values to all (Corporate Social responsibility Policy: Infosys Ltd, 2020)
Hunger, poverty: Eradicating extreme hunger and poverty in some areas it wants to improve
health of people in order to decrease all environmental and social challenges. It also wants to
decrease malnutrition among children and making drinking water available for all.
In the future and upcoming years it is going to undertake some CSR activities by making them
approved by CSR committee. The surplus arising out of the CSR activities and programs shall
not be part of its profit.
As compare to Infosys, it is analyzed that Indian Corporation Ltd focusing on satisfying
its stakeholders because it believes that stakeholders satisfaction is the main key of the success of
business. So, it focuses on stakeholder engagement by involving them in its daily operations and
transactions. The main aims of this company is to increase trust and regain its image and for that
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it also involves them in decision making process and seek their views for making them feel
valued and respected (Approach to Sustainability: Indian Oil, 2020). It also takes feedbacks from
them for knowing that whether it is going on the right track or not and also identifying that how
their stakeholders feel and think about it.
In addition, it is also analysed that for making its approaches effective it has formed a
board committee on CSR and SD at the apex level. This board of directors and committee help it
out in telling its effectiveness of performance and monitor initiatives related to CSR. For
addressing environmental and social issues it also formed an alternative energy and sustainable
development group.
Unethical issues of Indian oil Corporation Ltd and Infosys
Before talking and discussing about unethical issues and CSR it is important to understand that
what the meaning of ethics and CSR. In the context of ethics it can be said that ethics refers
behaviours, moral principles and values which are being expected to take place and followed by
people at all places. It governs people behaviours and shows the way of performing activities by
companies. There are 2 ways of performing activities and behaviour which is good and bad.
When people perform all activities in an effective and good manner than it is just considered
ethics. But when an organization performs activities in an ineffective manner and hurt someone
than it is considered unethical. A person who has knowledge the difference between the right and
the wrong they are more likely to follow codes of ethics. On the other hand, Corporate social
responsibility (CSR) refers a management concept where all companies require to integrate
social as well as environmental concerns in their activities and daily business operations in order
to improve brand and having a good image in the eyes of stakeholders. An unethical and an
ineffective way of performing activities can lead several unethical issues for companies which
need to be solved out. In the context of Indian oil Corporation Ltd and Infosys, who is a India’s
national flagship company with having business interest of hydrocarbon value chain including:
refining, pipelines, marketing of petroleum and transportation, it can be said that it has faced
several issues regarding ethics which are:
Unethical issues: One of the main and the most common issue which is stated is half filled gas
in cylinder. It is stated and complained by many customers that delivery man of Indian oil
corporation Ltd deliver cylinder with half gas filled and when they are asked to measure the
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weight of the cylinder with their spring weighting machine than they misbehave and ignore it by
saying that there is no difference between filled gas. One of the custo0mer of this company
stated that this problem happen with him and when delivery man came to deliver the cylinder,
his mother with the age of 70 was present at the home. When his mother noticed suspicious
behaviour of the delivery man then she asked him to measure weight but delivery man
misbehaved with her and denied to measure weight by saying that weighting spring machine is
out of order (Unethical behaviour of Delivery Man, 2018). Then she asked him to bring another
weighting machine or measure weight anyhow as it is her right to know about weight of
delivered cylinder but after that, delivery man left that place with cylinder and did not deliver till
date. It is complained by many customers that this company mislead with customers and make
them fool by delivering cylinder with half gas filled. So, it can be said that it is one of the main
unethical behaviour of this company which needs to be solved and focused on in order to
improve image in the eyes of customers.
Unethical acts or rules: One of the other main problems which customers companied about this
company is its unethical and inappropriate rules. It is stated by one of the customer of this
company that when he went to buy a gas connection than lady at the counter said that for taking
gas connection he will have to buy stove with It. Customer denied to buy stove by saying as he
already have and after that the lady said it is the rule that customers have to buy any other
products if they want to take fresh gas connection. She said that if he has stove than he can buy
or take any other 2 products available to shop like pan, cooker etc. After denying buying
products unnecessary, that lady at the counter completely refused to give gas connection to the
customers. So, it can be said that the behaviour of employees of this company is unethical and
rude which is one of the main unethical issue of this company. It can also be said that if there is a
rule of any company than they should have written rules and have legal authority. By making
such kinds of rule and binding customers to follow their rules is the main unethical behaviour
(Indian Oil Corporation, Unethical Behaviour, 2016).
Unethical practices to boost numbers: One of the main unethical behaviour which is being
accused by whistleblower to Infosys that company is taking unethical steps in order to boost
profits and short term revenues. There is a proof in the form of letter in which the group alleges
to the board of the company that CEO of this company is bypassing reviews as well as approvals
of large deals. It is also stated that CEO of this company give instructions to board members to
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make wrong assumptions to show margins. Making profit is good but earning profit in such
manner is completely unethical which does not only affect long term profit but also affects image
of the company (Whistleblower Accuses Infosys of Unethical Practices, 2019). Once the image
lost than it takes too much time to regain and make a position as like before. So, it is important
for this company to make profit and perform all business activities in an effective and ethical
manner.
Reflection of these companies along with ways of solving problems
From the above study I got to know that ethics and sustainability plays an important role
because it allows companies to improve their image in the eyes of their stakeholders. All those
companies who perform their activities in an ethical manner they are more likely to become
market leader and attracting customers to the great extent. I also analysed that some companies
like Indian Corporation Ltd and Infosys are facing several ethical and sustainable related issues.
It decreases their image and created barriers in the path of the success but now they have
promised to decrease carbon emission and take care of their society, economy and environment
as well
I can recommend to these companies that by making an effective use of total quality
management and six sigma tools they can reduce errors and waste in the process of
manufactures. These techniques can also allow these companies to improve quality of their
products and services. By reducing wastes and using resources to some extent in an effective
manner they can make themselves sustainable. I also found that the rate of sustainability is
growing and will hold to upward push inside the future years. I also found that stakeholders and
their satisfaction play an important role if company wants to become sustainable and improve its
image. By focusing on all those areas which are stakeholders cantered can support company to
solve all problems and meeting goals as well.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been summarized that sustainability played a vital role as it
allows companies to improve their image and attract customers to the great extent. By
performing all activities and in ethical manner companies can accomplish their goals and make
their stakeholders believe that it performs activities in a sustainable manner.
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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.
Gupta, J. and Vegelin, C., 2016. Sustainable development goals and inclusive
development. International environmental agreements: Politics, law and
economics. 16(3). pp.433-448.
Hák, T., Janoušková, S. and Moldan, B., 2016. Sustainable Development Goals: A need for
relevant indicators. Ecological Indicators. 60. pp.565-573.
Jindal, D. and Jain, I., 2018. Role of Companies in Environmental Management Through
Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Policy. In Green Chemistry in
Environmental Sustainability and Chemical Education (pp. 23-41). Springer, Singapore.
Ramya, S. and Chandran, R.P., 2018. Financial Analysis and Performance of Indian Oil
Corporation Ltd. International Journal for Advance Research and Development. 3(3).
pp.1-5.
Sahoo, G., Swain, R.K. and Bal, R.K., 2018. Corporate sustainability reporting practices of
selected Indian companies. Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary
Studies, 5(44), pp.1-9.
Online
Unethical behaviour of Delivery Man 2018. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.consumercomplaints.in/indian-oil-corporation-ioc-unethical-behavior-of-
delivery-man-c1581750>
Indian Oil Corporation, Unethical Behaviour. 2016. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.consumercomplaints.in/indian-oil-corporation-ioc-unethical-behaviour-
pune-c1288296/>
Whistleblower Accuses Infosys of Unethical Practices. 2019. [Online]. Available through <
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/whistleblower-accuses-infosys-of-
unethical-practices-to-boost-nos/articleshow/71679710.cms?from=mdr>
Infosys Staff Return to Office. 2020. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.livemint.com/industry/infotech/15-infosys-staff-to-return-to-office-this-
week-11590430823230.html>
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Corporate Social responsibility Policy: Infosys Ltd.. 2020. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.infosys.com/investors/corporate-governance/Documents/corporate-social-
responsibility-policy.pdf>
Approach to Sustainability: Indian Oil. 2020. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.iocl.com/sustainability/home.aspx>
CSR Activities of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. 2018. [Online]. Available through <
http://www.csrworld.net/csr-activities-of-indian-oil-corporation-limited.asp>
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