Business Portfolio: Corporate Social Responsibility Seminar Analysis

This portfolio is a reflection on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its implications for business development. It comprises reflections on seminar discussions centered around CSR and global sustainable development, exploring the multifaceted aspects of CSR, including ethical practices, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of sustainability into corporate strategies. The portfolio delves into the importance of CSR in maintaining long-term business operations, the challenges faced by organizations in implementing sustainable practices, and the benefits of aligning business goals with societal needs. It further analyzes different approaches to CSR, emphasizing how companies can fulfill their social responsibilities and contribute to economic improvement. The document highlights the importance of ethical considerations, the role of legal standards, and the impact of CSR on workforce satisfaction and corporate image. It also touches upon the three levels of CSR responsibility: internal, middle, and external.

Portfolio

Contents
PART 1............................................................................................................................................3
Prepration...............................................................................................................................3
The seminar disscussion.........................................................................................................3
Short reflection.......................................................................................................................3
Preparation..............................................................................................................................3
Seminar Discussion................................................................................................................4
Short Reflection......................................................................................................................4
PART 2............................................................................................................................................5
Reflection...............................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

PART 1
Prepration
Seminar 2 is based on the topic CSR and global sustainable development. It is a wide
topic and immense information is available on different sources regarding same (Aguinis and
Glavas, 2012). Different authors have their own view on the concern topic and the most common
definition extracted from all the different sources is that Global sustainable development is
bringing growth in the overall society by following such practice which are ethically correct and
for the welfare of people. According to Louise Scott in 2017 it is very important that along with
growth of business practices which are important for commercial growth it is also vital that equal
considerations are given to the environmental resources and hence company must fulfil their
responsibility towards the environment too (From promise to reality: Does business really care
about the SDGs?,2018). From the same article it was found out there are many organisations
which are not fulfilling their duties towards the society and even after taking the pledge for being
a part of developing the concept of corporate reasponsibites are failing to do it on real grounds.
According to this source 27% of total organisations are giving their maximum efforts towards the
fulfilment of their duties towards the surroundings in which it is operating and are accordingly
planning their future course of action. 23% on the other hand has developed some performance
indicators focusing on the expectations of the external surrounding so that by fulfilling them
company can create its brand image.
The seminar disscussion
Range of concepts related to CSR are discussed. There were some points in which not
everyone agreed to the same point. In many areas the link between the CSR and sustainable
growth were not clear. According to many it is not necessary that to have growth company must
only focus on fulfilling the sustainable growth only. There are many operations which needs to
be performed by the corporates and by designing the various guidelines of CSR the overall scope
of business is limited which further affects the final outcomes. Some says that not all the
challenges discussed in the seminar are common to all business as it is not necessary that
problem for one enterprise is issue for another too. the challenges are very personal according to
them and depends widely on the overall scope of business (Hopkins, 2012).

Short reflection
After discussing the different concepts related to CSR concept I found out that it is very
difficult to maintain all the CSR guidelines with the business activities. Although there are many
advantages which are associated with it there is need for making changes in same so that more
scope to entrepreneurs are given to raise their business (Jo and Harjoto, 2012).
Preparation
According to James Dean in 2011 and with the help of other online sources I have
developed an understanding what Corporate social responsibility basically denotes to in context
of organisations. This is related to social responsibility of companies which they possess towards
environment and people living in society as, every organisation is using it so that they are able to
follow all the rules which have been made by governing authorities in their country (Grayson
and Hodges, 2017). Social demands are a crucial factor which create a pressure on Companies
that they have to follow so that they are having a control on any wrong doing which can take
place and have a negative effect on organization's performance and productivity. According to
Aguinis and Glavas it can be stated that CSR practises are going beyond tasks, organisational
and is very necessary from profit prospective also. There can be differences in opinion which can
happen in any company and this is related with social responsibility of the organisation. It is a
voluntary initiative on part of Companies and is related with aims, values, fairness and
philosophy of a particular company. National culture and stakeholders also analyse various
expectations of people of society. Ethical issues are having a direct relation with corporate social
responsibility adopted by the organisation.
Seminar Discussion
There are many arguments which are related with CSR practises sand which has an impact
on overall performance of every organisation (Servaes and Tamayo, 2013). Also, every
individual has their own process of thinking which leads to divergence and difference amongst
them. Some were in favour of the overall idea of CSR and some had a totally opposite view with
regards to this it can be said that it is not necessary and is a quality which is a burden on any
organisation. But there was a significant contribution of views which were based on a point that
CSR practises are needed long term survival of a company and also for implementation of
professionalization. I tried to maintain and avoid such minor conflict which arise because of the
way in which views of different teammates do not match with each other. This lead to

development of one particular view regarding Corporate social responsivity practises in an
organisation and this was very positive as it was agreed that this is a very necessary tools which
can help in ensuring survival of a company for a long term and also for creation of a significant
position in the external market.
Short Reflection
I have attended many seminars and I have learnt that CSR plays a very important part in
every organisation as with the growing technology it has become very necessary for
organisations that they have to use all their resources in an effective manner. I have developed
the basic understanding of what is meaning of Corporate social responsibility and also its relation
with growth and development in the organisation. I have also been able to develop an
understanding of how such practises can be beneficial for all the stakeholders who are related to
company external or internally. This concept of CSR is also related with the concept of
globalisation which is becoming more popular with the changing environment of business.
PART 2
Reflection
From the above discussion much understanding about the concept of corporate social
responsibility is developed. It is an effective way of ensuring ethical practice in by the corporate
units so that harm to society by companies can be minimised. Through these practices the
different companies are provided with the guidelines which they have to consider while
formulating their future corporate strategies (Kotchen and Moon, 2012) . A positive impact is
created on the overall society by the organisations through fulfilling their social and ethical duty.
From the different seminars attended it is found out that CSR is a concept that supports
sustainability and helps businesses in maintaining their long term operations supported with
positive outcomes. The idea of this practice is deep rooted to bring an overall positive impact for
the companies by suggesting that if companies along with its own profits and advantage also
give equal importance to the society which it is serving then there are many other benefits also
which can be enjoyed by the firms. In seminar two global sustainable development is discussed
along with the CSR and it is highlighted that how by keeping balance in the interest of business
and society overall growth of the economy can be made possible.

The impact of sustainable development is much more on the small enterprises as by
contributing in society they are able to establish their own separate image which further assist in
their growth. Along with this public also get the advantage of being treated equally important
and their demands and needs are fulfilled considering the ethical practices. This seminar also
gave emphasis on the issues which come across the organisations while meeting the sustainable
development. The one which is most common is of the limited resources.
As there is scarcity of resources it becomes difficult for corporates to manage their
operations in environmental friendly manner. Prices of products are continuously rising which
further create pressure on business to perform in ethical manner as it adds more restriction on
their ability to grow. Apart from this it is also found that it is helpful to the corporates to
maintain the required workforce in at the work place by maintaining balance in the CSR
activities It is because the work force feels happy to be a part of socially active enterprise and
find self-worth. The other seminar i.e. seminar 4 discusses the other area of corporate social
responsibility. Through this understanding of approaches is developed and it is known that there
are many ways through which companies can fulfil their duty towards the society. According to
the scope and objective every organisation gets involved in this and hence maintain the
sustainability. This seminar gave more focus on the importance of CSR and highlighted how it is
benefitting the society. It helped me in knowing that how companies through performing socially
active practices are assisting in improving the present economy. Through this there are different
dangers which can be managed and decisions which are more beneficial are taken. This way
organisations develop a more effective image in the industry and enjoy the perks associated with
it. Also through the set standards which are guided by the legal authorities for different
corporates help in keeping control over the overall unethical acts which are led by corporates and
has major impact on society.
In the different seminars area of CSR are not discussed which are again important terms
associated with it. They are broadly divided into three levels that are internal, middle and
external areas of responsibility. Each area has its own importance and defines different
responsibility to perform.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Aguinis, H. and Glavas, A., 2012. What we know and don’t know about corporate social
responsibility: A review and research agenda. Journal of management. 38(4). pp.932-
968.
Cheng, B., Ioannou, I. and Serafeim, G., 2014. Corporate social responsibility and access to
finance. Strategic management journal. 35(1). pp.1-23.
Flammer, C., 2013. Corporate social responsibility and shareholder reaction: The environmental
awareness of investors. Academy of Management Journal. 56(3). pp.758-781.
Grayson, D. and Hodges, A., 2017. Corporate social opportunity!: Seven steps to make
corporate social responsibility work for your business. Routledge.
Online
From promise to reality: Does business really care about the SDGs?, 2018. [Online] Available
through < https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/sustainability/SDG/sdg-reporting-2018.pdf>.