International Human Resource Management

Running head: INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT1
Introduction
As discussed by Bailey et al. (2018), international human resource management or
IHRM is defined as a collection of different activities that are mainly targeted towards proper
management of human resources at international levels. The human resource management
department mainly aims at meeting the different objectives that have been set by the
organization in order to gain competitive benefit in the market. The competitive advantage
that is gained by the organizations in various industries can be at the national as well as the
international levels as well (Jamali, El Dirani & Harwood, 2015).
According to Barrena-Martinez, López-Fernández and Romero-Fernandez (2018),
Corporate social responsibility or CSR is considered to be a business model that is developed
by the modern organizations in order to upsurge the levels of social accountability. The levels
of social accountability that are maintained by the organizations are related to stakeholders
and the public or local communities as well. CSR is also able to aid the mission that is
developed by an organization and also to guide the firm in the ways by which consumers can
be satisfied (Boon et al., 2018). Human resource management is able to play a major part in
promoting CSR within the firms that adopt various programs. The essay will be based on the
analysis of CSR and ethics with respect to international human resource management. The
role that is played by an international human resource manager in development of CSR in
firms will be a major part of the essay.
Explanation of ethics and CSR in context of IHRM
CSR or corporate social responsibility has started gaining maximum levels of
importance in various organizations that have global operations. The society has faced major
changes in the last few years and the awareness related to impact of business operations on
the environment has also increased in the process. The firms thereby have the obligation to

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT2
fulfil various responsibilities that are provided to them based on reduction of their impact
(Lechuga et al., 2018). The entrepreneurs have started facing major challenges based on
ethics and making right choices as well. The tensions that are developed between ethics and
the desire to make profits have an impact on the operations and policies that are developed by
the human resource managers (Kim et al., 2019).
Carroll’s Pyramid of Corporate social responsibility or CSR can be used in order to
understand the significance of the social responsibilities in proper operations of multinational
firms. The pyramid had been formed by Archie Carroll that has been able to highlight four
major responsibilities that are required to be fulfilled by the firm that include economic,
ethical, legal, economic, discretionary and philanthropic (Martínez, Fernández & Fernández,
2016). The firms that operate in the current business environment have to provide their
support to the proper fulfilment of shortages that exist in welfare of the society. The four
components that are a part of Carroll’s Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility have the
ability to complement each other in an effective manner (Newman et al., 2016).
First component that is a part of the CSR pyramid is economic responsibility which is
based on proper generation of profits that are developed by the firm. Second component on
the other hand is considered to be the legal responsibility that helps the organization to adhere
to various compliances and laws that have been formed by the organization. Third component
of the pyramid is the ethical responsibility that is linked closely to second component. This is
based on a fact that various businesses can indulge in various righteous practices when the
laws are not implemented (Rasche et al., 2017). Fourth component of the pyramid is termed
as philanthropic responsibilities that are based on serving the society by providing their
effective level of contribution towards various educational, social, recreational and cultural
purposes. The pyramid is considered to be relevant in the current market scenario and is also
discussed and debated by different corporate leaders. The framework based on this pyramid is

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT3
considered to be quite easy to understand and use with respect to the fundamentals that are
able to make companies comprehend necessary principles and develop various practices in
the firms in order to reach the topmost level of the pyramid (Rothenberg, Hull & Tang,
2017).
The Carroll’s Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR can be linked
with international human resource management based activities of modern organizations.
The four major components of pyramid including economic, legal, ethical and philanthropic
aspects related to operations of the firm have an influence on the human resources or
employees. The economic benefits can be earned by an organization with the support that is
provided by the employees and various stakeholders of the firm as well (Shen & Benson,
2016). The external and internal aspects that are able to provide major obstacles to
development and growth of the organization can be faced with the support of appropriate
management of the human resources. The legal aspects that are need to be considered by the
organization are able to play a key part in maintaining the employees in an effective way.
Major differences that exist between economic responsibilities and legal responsibilities of
the firms are based on ethical responsibilities that are considered by the management (Turner
et al., 2019). The ethical behaviour that is depicted by the firms when they conduct business
operations is helpful to offer guidelines for the future operations. The ways by which an
organization is able to become an effective corporate citizen are also related to the
responsibilities that are placed at the top of the pyramid. The corporate contributions and
community programs that are developed by the firms have a major impact on the
organizations (Vertigans & Idowu, 2017).
Role of an International HR manager in regards to ethics and CSR