An Analysis of Ethics and CSR for Berkeley Group Holding PLC

This report examines the concepts of ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), focusing on their importance in business operations. The report begins by defining ethics and CSR, highlighting the benefits of responsible management, such as positive community impact, public value outcomes, and enhanced employer appeal. It then delves into the role of values and ethics, exploring normative and descriptive ethical theories and their application. The report analyzes the issues surrounding CSR, emphasizing its role in stakeholder engagement and brand reputation. The report provides recommendations for Berkeley Group Holding PLC, emphasizing the integration of ethical practices and CSR initiatives to foster sustainable business practices and positive stakeholder relationships. The report also addresses the challenges associated with implementing CSR, such as increased costs, and suggests strategies for effective management. Finally, the report provides recommendations to the company to implement the CSR and ethical practices in the business.

Ethics Organisations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Responsible management and CSR............................................................................................1
Values by ethics..........................................................................................................................3
Explore the issue.........................................................................................................................4
Advice to company.....................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Ethics are the moral principles that govern or influence the behaviour of an individual.
This is a concept that provide solutions to the questions related with human morality by define
the concept such as right and wrong, good and evil (What is ethics?, 2014). Corporate social
responsibility is a concept implement by most organisation with the aim of get large number of
benefits. One of the main advantage of values and ethics is that is guide employees of enterprise
how to behave with customers and make the able to differentiate between right and wrong.
Under this enterprise do little more efforts for betterment of society and community. Berkeley
group holding plc a British developer based in Surrey, is taken under this report for study.
Concept of corporate social responsibility and values which must be formulate and adopt by
managers in order to execute business activities is all mention under this report. Various
recommendation to Berkeley group holding plc is given under this report.
Responsible management and CSR
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a broad concept which is used to define all
efforts of company to improve society or well being of people. Under this an enterprise do more
for betterment of people other than required in legal and economical way. One can say that
concept of corporate social responsibility is about when an enterprise take the responsibility for
the impacts of its decisions and operations on all aspects of society (Beaumont and Cloke, 2012).
This is more than just donate money it is about contribute in welfare of society and its people,
operate in a ethical way. It is very essential for Berkeley group holding plc to manage its
corporate social responsibility because this provide number of benefits to company. These
benefits can be better understood by following points: Positive impact on community: Concept of corporate social responsibility encourage
business enterprises to act ethically and consider the impact of business decision on
environmental and social impacts. With this Berkeley group holding plc can avoid or
decrease the harmful impact of its business activities on community. Berkeley group
holding plc can find ways to modify its services to deliver more benefits to community. CSR support public value outcomes: Value that an enterprise contribute to society is
known as public value (Banks and et. al., 2013). An effective framework of corporate
social responsibility help organisations in deliver more public value by focus on how
their services can make the society a better one or can contribute in its growth. This can
1

be done in a direct or indirect method. In a direct method organisation contribute through
its own activities such as volunteersim and in indirect method, service or product of firm
enable other individuals to contribute in welfare of society. With the help of CSR concept
Berkeley group holding plc can deliver more public value to its customers. Support being and employer of choice: This feature of CSR transform the ability of firm
attract large number of skilled candidates. Different ways and approaches are there to
assess being an employer of your choice this include offer positive and healthy working
condition, workplace flexibility and offer work life balance (Parrott, 2014). Framework
of corporate social responsibility help an enterprise to become more attractive to
influence potential employees who are looking for an enterprise which is more involved
in social activities and have sound ethics. Encourage personal and professional development: Offer opportunity to employees to
involve in social activities help in increase skills of staff members which can be applied
at workplace. By undertake different activities outside the usual work provide an
opportunity to workers to contribute to causes and work which they feel passionate about,
or they learn something new which enhance their level of knowledge. By support these
kind of activities Berkeley group holding plc can encourage growth and development of
workers.
 Create and enhance good relationship with clients: Strong corporate social
responsibility framework is very essential to build and maintain trust between company
and its clients. All this help in foster strong and effective working relationship with
existing as well as new clients. With this, Berkeley group holding plc can get loyalty of
its customers and can retain them for a long time and a the same time can capture a larger
market share.
There is no doubt that concept of corporate social responsibility provide number of
advantages to enterprise but at the same it give rise to additional cost. First is opportunity cost, as
enterprise or invest large amount of financial resources in CSR activities this block the funds of
company and sometimes results in lost of profits (Bampton and Cowton, 2013). Second one is
sunk cost which companies spend to invest in new equipments such as waste water system,
safety and health system, upgrade infrastructure and building. Activities include in corporate
social responsibility increase cost and time of business operation as managers take time to decide
2

the corporate activities. Main factors such as cost and time must be consider by the managers of
Berkeley group holding plc before implement the concept of corporate social responsibility.
Values by ethics
It is very essential for managers of Berkeley group holding plc to formulate ethics and
values in enterprise and inform everyone who is working in enterprise so they can execute their
duties as per these values (Hedgecoe, 2012). For this managers of Berkeley group holding plc
can take use of ethical theory to define values in enterprise and to explain more about it. Theories
are basically divide in following two headings: Normative ethical theories: Normative theories of ethics define the standard rules or
moral principles with which people are expected to comply with to complete the work.
Every individual have different perspective about these rules and standards that's why
different theories of ethics focus to make a moral action, on what is good or bad, what
kind of behaviour of individual is right or wrong. Normative theories of ethics are further
divided into three parts which illustrate three different set of ideas. Teleological,
consequential and deontological are the main sub parts of normative theory of ethics.
Deontological theory of ethics indicate an individual and tell him about what are his
moral duties. This theory hold the assumption that moral worth of an action relies in when one
individual conforming his roles and duties, as opposite to consider the consequences what he
really do.
Consequential theories of ethics hold assumption that moral worth of a activity or action
must be judged by its consequences. As per this, a good action is that which create best
consequences in overall situation (Truman, 2011). Therefore there can be situation in which a
consequentialist would be prepared to lie if he thought to bring best consequences. One of the
best consequential theory is Utilitarianism in which right actions are those which maximise the
happiness.
Teleological theory of ethics is relate with the end goal of process. As per this theory, if
one individual want to find out how to behave morally than first of all he need to find out the
final or main goal of ethics.
 Descriptive ethical theories: This is one of the easy theory of ethics, this simply describe
how people behave or what are the moral standards they needs to follow. This theory of
ethics incorporate research from different fields such as psychology, anthropology,
3

history and sociology as a element part of the process of understanding what people do or
have belief bout moral norms and standards. Basically descriptive ethics theories focus
to describe how ethical decisions made in an enterprise, what are the main factors which
affect the process and outcomes of those decision and actions.
Descriptive ethical theories must be adopt by the mangers of Berkeley group holding plc
as with help of these they can identify the main issues or factors which affect the actions of
employees and decision taken by them (Aggerholm, Andersen and Thomsen, 2011). With
identification of those factors they can better influence the workers to make differentiation
between what is right or wrong and what is ethical and unethical. With help of this employees
of Berkeley group holding plc can take ethical decisions and can create and maintain a good
relations with its clients which provide number of long term benefits to company. As per this
theory managers should support all employees and give them opportunity to identify what is
right and wrong. With help of this, manager can create a good working environment at
workplace. Overall, with descriptive theory of ethics managers can tell employees and can make
them inform about moral standards and implications of organisation.
Explore the issue
Corporate social responsibility is a concept of management under which companies
integrate environmental and social concerns in business operations and during interactions with
its stakeholders. Concept of CSR is refers to the way through which enterprise done various
efforts to achieve balance of economic, and environmental and at the same time consider the
expectation of its stakeholders and shareholders (Brunsson, 2015). Large number of people relate
the concept of CSR with charity but there is a need to draw a distinction between these two
terms. Concept of corporate social responsibility is much more than just charity, it include all
efforts done by business to contribute in well being of individuals.
In today's business environment produce quality products is not enough to get success.
To achieve growth it is very essential for business enterprises to take part in different kind of
activities which contribute in well being of individuals and ensure growth and safety of
environment. Corporate social responsibility is one of the concept which is adopt by large
number firm to attract large number of customers towards its offering. CSR give an opportunity
to businesses to do a bit more good for its customers, society and stakeholders. Berkeley group
4

holding plc want to focus on its corporate social responsibility and by do this company can get
number of following advantages:
 One of the main feature corporate social responsibility which make it more important is
that it give a chance to all workers of enterprise to contribute towards environment,
society and community as well (Hammersley and Traianou, 2012). Everyone individual
live or do something for himself but do something good for other individual is a different
feeling. An individual should never forget the importance of society, community and
environment in which he lives. Concept of corporate social responsibility give an
opportunity to managers to think about people. With this, Berkeley group holding plc
can work towards betterment of society and can make a better place to live.
 CSR help in create a positive word of mouth for enterprise which provide long term
benefits to company. When an enterprise do something good for society or community
than it not only contribute in growth of business but also provide various long term
benefits to company. CSR play an important in make the brand more popular not only
among the competitors but also among large number of customers. When enterprise take
initiative like education of poor children, plant more tress and many more than this create
a positive image of brand. Large number of enterprises are there which tap remote
villages and invest money in their development.
 Different activities of CSR help in strengthen the bond among workers. During
implementation of operations individuals develop a habit of working together to help
others. All of them start enjoying working together and this also help in create a strong
sense of loyalty and make the employees more attached towards enterprise. Whole
concept of CSR goes to long way which help in create a positive image of brand. This
concept make the people start trust in your brand which provide number of advantages to
company and help in create more number of revenues.
In today's business scenario, existence of cut throat competition, every enterprise do
number of efforts to capture larger market share and to generate more amount of revenues
(Cilliers and Preiser, 2010). Corporate social responsibility play a big and important role in
growth of society and at the end provide number of benefits to company.
Application of CSR is very essential for Berkeley group holding plc as firm want to
contribute more in well being of society and community. There is no doubt that with the help of
5

CSR an enterprise can get number of advantages but along with this implementation of different
corporate social activities give rise to number of challenges and it is very essential that all these
challenges must be well managed by managers. Main challenges which arise form the concept of
CSR can be better understood by following points: Increase cost: One of the main challenge face by companies during implementation of
corporate social responsibility is that this increase the cost of business operations and
activities (Suhonen and et. al., 2011). Enterprise invest large number of amount in social
activities such as in education of poor children, planting trees and in other social events
All this increase cost of business operations and provide number of disadvantages to firm
like company can invest the save amount in other productive areas and can gain different
advantages. Delay in executive of business operation: Managers make written plan to divide the
amount to be invested in social activities. It is very essential to formulate a effective plan
so company can contribute more in social development and at the same time can attract
large number of customers (Osborne and Ball, 2010). All this consume lot of time of
managers and create delay in execution of business activities which provide number of
disadvantages to business such as this decrease the number of revenues generated by
firm. Uncertainty: Every business enterprise implement the concept of CSR to gain number of
advantages. But there is no surity in this that implementation of different social
development activities help in provide advantages to firm. It can be done that it does not
help in increase the profits of firm. So uncertainty is the main challenge always relate
with the implementation of CSR activities.
 Resources: An enterprise can not implement the concept of CSR without lack of
resources. Huge resources are invested in whole concept of corporate social responsibility
such as financial resources, human resources and many more. All this increase
complexity of business operations and it become difficult fir managers to manager the
same.
All these are the main challenges face by enterprise during implementation of CSR
concept. All these can be overcome by manager with use of effective strategies. Managers can
make the process of corporate social responsibility more easy by collect relevant data from
6

various sources. Collected data help manager in get more about the strategies used by its
competitors.
Advice to company
In order to implement the concept of CSR in an effective way and to complete all
business operations in an ethical way it is very essential for managers of Berkeley group holding
plc to consider all elements before make a final plan relate with the concept of corporate social
responsibility. As CSR provide number of advantages to firm so it must be effectively
implemented by firm. For this, it is very essential for managers to first develop ethical policy and
use ethical theories to communicate moral standards with all employees so they can execute their
work in ethical way (Fox, 2012). With the help of descriptive approach of ethics managers of
Berkeley group holding plc can better identify and evaluate the issues which affect the decision
of employees which they take in enterprise. With help of an effective approach of ethics
manager can not only make the employees able to understand the difference between right and
wrong but they can create and maintain good relation with customers.
In today's business scenario, where different companies are there to better satisfy the
needs and wants of customers it is very essential for enterprise to adopt the concept of CSR so
they can attract large number of customers. This not only help in increase profits of firm but also
provide variety of long term advantages to business organisation. As this help enterprise in retain
customers for a long time which provide large number of advantages to company in long run.
With the help of this Berkeley group holding plc can capture a larger market share than its
competitors.
To achieve growth and success it is very essential for Berkeley group holding plc to
implement the concept of CSR. To make the process more easy and effective it is very essential
for managers of firm to first consider different factors such as time, resources and manpower
available to implement the plan (Gaudine and et. al., 2010). Along with this, it is advisable to
company's manager to formulate values and ethics and communicate the same with employees
so that they perform accordingly. To increase the effectiveness of CSR manager of firm must be
well informed by the expectation of all stakeholder so company can satisfy the same and can get
their loyalty towards in execute business activities and in operations related with expansion of
enterprise.
7

CONCLUSION
From the above information it can be summarised that concept of corporate social
responsibility is much more than just give charity or attend social events. This simply means
contribute more to ensure well being of individuals and to achieve growth of society and
community. It is very essential for managers of Berkeley group holding plc to first formulate a
strong and effective value system consists of moral implication and standards rules and
communicate the same with workers so they can give direction to their work. This help in create
a positive image of company in market also reduce employee turnover. Further with the help of
concept of corporate social responsibility Berkeley group holding plc can attract more number of
customers towards it as all this help in create a positive brand image.
8

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Aggerholm, H.K., Andersen, S.E. and Thomsen, C., 2011. Conceptualising employer branding in
sustainable organisations. Corporate Communications: An International Journal. 16(2).
pp.105-123.
Bampton, R. and Cowton, C.J., 2013. Taking stock of accounting ethics scholarship: A review of
the journal literature. Journal of Business Ethics. 114(3). pp.549-563.
Banks, S. and et. al., 2013. Everyday ethics in community-based participatory research.
Contemporary Social Science. 8(3). pp.263-277.
Beaumont, J. and Cloke, P. eds., 2012. Faith-based organisations and exclusion in European
cities. Policy Press.
Brunsson, K., 2015. Sustainability in a Society of Organisations. Journal of Organisational
Transformation & Social Change. 12(1). pp.5-21.
Cilliers, P. and Preiser, R. eds., 2010. Complexity, difference and identity: An ethical perspective
(Vol. 26). Springer Science & Business Media.
Fox, W. ed., 2012. Ethics and the built environment. Routledge.
Gaudine, A. and et. al., 2010. Evolution of hospital clinical ethics committees in Canada.
Journal of Medical Ethics. 36(3). pp.132-137.
Hammersley, M. and Traianou, A., 2012. Ethics in qualitative research: Controversies and
contexts. Sage.
Hedgecoe, A.M., 2012. Trust and regulatory organisations: The role of local knowledge and
facework in research ethics review. Social Studies of Science. 42(5). pp.662-683.
Osborne, S.P. and Ball, A. eds., 2010. Social accounting and public management: Accountability
for the public good. Routledge.
Parrott, L., 2014. Values and ethics in social work practice. Learning Matters.
Suhonen, R. and et. al., 2011. Organizational ethics: a literature review. Nursing Ethics. 18(3).
pp.285-303.
Truman, C.A., 2011. Ethics and the ruling relations of research production. Sociological
Research Online. 8(1).
Online
What is ethics? 2014. [Online] Available
through<http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/introduction/intro_1.shtml>./
9