Corporate Social Responsibility Literature Review and Analysis Report

This report provides a comprehensive overview of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), encompassing a literature review, analysis, and recommendations. The introduction defines CSR as a business approach focused on societal and stakeholder welfare, emphasizing the need for ethical practices. The literature review explores the definition of CSR, key issues, and studies, including the importance of stakeholder management and the impact of gender inequality in the workplace. The analysis section discusses the relationship between CSR and corporate identity, emphasizing the importance of CSR activities for productivity and profitability. It references various studies and company examples to support its arguments. The recommendations include the implementation of proper codes of conduct, health and safety programs, and the promotion of ethical practices to address workplace issues. The report concludes by highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of CSR practices, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability. The document is contributed by a student to be published on the website Desklib, a platform which provides all the necessary AI based study tools for students.

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Individual report
<Corporate Social Responsibility>
Student ID:<Your Student ID>
Date of Submission:<Date of Submission>
I declare that this work is all my own work and that I have acknowledged all materials used
from the published or unpublished works of other people. All references have been duly
cited.
Executive Summary or Abstract
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This project report summarised that what is literature review and it's purpose of doing
this. Along with this, it include corporate social responsibilities definition according to the
literature review, key issues, other information regarding CSR, analysis or recommendation
for the better social responsibility for the organisation.
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Table of Contents
1.Introduction........................................................................................................................................4
1.1What is a literature review?..........................................................................................................4
1.2What is its purpose?.....................................................................................................................5
2. Literature Review...............................................................................................................................6
2.1 Give a definition of CSR according to the literature.....................................................................6
2.2 What is known about this topic? Refer to studies on CSR and discuss........................................6
2.3 Find a focus and choose appropriate literature to mention at least 3 key issues relating to CSR
– what are the most important areas/ topics/ subtopics?.................................................................6
3. Analysis .............................................................................................................................................7
4. Recommendations.............................................................................................................................8
5. Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................9
6. References.......................................................................................................................................10
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1.Introduction
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a business approach where every
organisation have to done some activities which is beneficial for the society and their welfare.
Company give their contribution for the sustainable development of the economy, society and
environment (Khan and Ibraheem, 2012). It is beneficial for the stakeholders of the
organisation. It is kind of ethical practices which required by the society but companies not
fulfil their responsibility towards their stakeholders. For the growth of nation or people CSR
is required. Stakeholders contribute in the organisation and make them capable to achieve
their business goals & targets. So it is corporate responsibility to pay them back in term of
various programs. It can be related to free medical check-up, primary education, digital
campaign regarding awareness and various programs to enhance individual skills such as
training & development. Main purpose of this report is to spread awareness about what is
literature review and why researchers done it. Along with this, it include the literature review
of corporate social responsibility where students can understand the basis and it's essential
requirements in the society. In addition, CSR activities help the society to grow and provide
sustainable development. For this, organisation have to perform their responsibility toward
their stakeholders by use of ethical practices.
1.1 What is a literature review?
Literature review is a kind of review of various article or journals, it include current
information along with essential findings. Review done on a particular topics which include
different theories and methodology as a contribution make their literature review effective. It
is a simple summary of various source of information but generally it is in specific pattern
where combined the both type of information such as summary or logical thinking. In the
summery part person can include the important information but with full of logical evidence
or reshuffle of data. Literature review include the old as well as new information and make
them relevant for others through their interpretation. It provide strength to track mental
progress of the field which include the debates from various authors and it based on various
situation where they provide their point of view with logical or evidence based proof.
Literature review evaluate several sources and advice their readers on the basis of their
findings which mentioned in the review (Dumay and Garlatti, 2015). Literature review
majorly focus on single topic and then deeply analyse the source of information which
includes the aim or objectives with some question where they have to argue with strong
evidence along with various examples.
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1.2 What is its purpose?
 It will provide easy access to researcher to review on a particular topics where they
get high quality of articles or other study material.
 These information is important, meaningful as well as relevant for others where they
combined all information in the single report and then summarise.
 It provide strong base for the researchers who are beginners or wanted to research on
specific area. It will them to summarize, compare and evaluate with original research
which already done.
 Make sure that information is not same as they already done in their previous research
(Pope and Wæraas, 2016).
 It further helps in future research, it will provide the idea for next literature review so
they complete their work effectively in comparison to last one.
 Purpose of literature review is to highlight the key findings of their topic which is
very important for the readers.
 By use of various methodology or theory, researcher can make it more effective or
authentic which help them to analyse their information in appropriate way.
 Literature review highlight the strength as well as weakness on of their research topic
on the basis of academic opinion. Where researcher can disagree with the argument
and put their point to justify own statement.
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2. Literature Review
2.1 Give a definition of CSR according to the literature
According to Steiner, 2019 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the
understanding of aspirations of society and determination to contribute their profit margin in
the society for the welfare of people. Because in the society, have various issues which is not
possible to solve by the government. Organisation have to done for their stakeholders because
they are important for them and these people help the corporates to achieve their business
goals & objectives. So it's corporates as well as government responsibly to take of it.
2.2 What is known about this topic? Refer to studies on CSR and discuss.
As per Tilt, 2016 CSR provide more environmental or social information to the
public. Previously these activities perform by developed country who's economy is strong
such as US, UK, Australia, New Zealand etc. But in the recent years, it also focuses in
developing countries because they required development and turn their growth toward
capitalistic orientated economy. On the basis of various research, it is argue that emerging
economics experience growth and move further to become market base orientation. There are
some factors which influence the CSR disclosure practices and it classified into external as
well as internal factors. Internal factor include different aspect of corporate governance.
External factors include size of company, economic performance, trading volume, price, risk,
macro environmental factors etc.
2.3 Find a focus and choose appropriate literature to mention at least 3 key
issues relating to CSR – what are the most important areas/ topics/
subtopics?
According to Carroll, 2012 organisation have to perform their responsibility and
should look at the issues which occur on the basis their rules & working environment of
workplace. As per studies. American woman are more educated then man but they hire in the
company of lower pay. As per the article published (Gender inequality in workplace 2019),
Unequal pay will create difference among the employee and they not satisfied with
organisation. Institute for woman's policy research said that, woman earn 49 cents in
comparison to $1 of men. Another issue related to society is that sexual harassment where
38% woman found to be harassed in non profit organisation in the January 2018. Statistical
data also represent that number of sexual harassment case will increase with the time.
Woman are promoted less on comparison to men rather then having higher educational
degree or better in their work. Less than 10% woman are top earner in the S&P organisation.
In other companies this case is more worst situation where they are almost invisible in S&P
500 boards and Fortune 500 boards. Inequality in the workplace on the basis of gender,
colour, region is affect the organisation as well as society. Along with this, it affect the brand
image of the corporation. Most important issue is that, company have to follow ethical
practices which help them to prevent these issues in workplace. It impact the large group of
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people in the community which affect them in terms of their productivity as well as
profitability. Because employee is not satisfied with working environment then they can
leave the organisation. Company loose their valuable worker or employee which make entity
to achieve their business goals & targets.
3. Analysis
According to Otubanjo (2013), CSR and Corporate Identify (CI) highlight the growth
over the years, where national or multinational organisation suggest that CSR or CI both
concepts are common. It is the important business practices particularly in profit making
corporation where they make extra efforts on their CSR activities because it will affect the
company's productivity as well as profitability. Basically core idea of behind these practices
is to promotion their business and create brand value in the eyes of their stakeholders.
As per Golob (2014), CSR is the relationship of business and the wider society. It is
the controversial process which can be achieved by the system theory & sense-making
perspective. Holistic approach regarding CSR and value chain that include the segregation of
their stakeholders such as customers, suppliers, employees, owner, business partners etc. This
literature review provide the theoretical point of view for example JYSK a multinational
company where they have learn from their action. JSYK face the issues related to employees
retention and it will occur due to inequality in the workplace.
Brown and Forster (2013) states that corporates have to work regarding benefits of
stakeholders because they are the major parts of the society who contribute in the
organisation to help them to achieve their business goals & objectives. For the successful
achievement of their CSR practices they have to adopt stakeholder management theory. As
Bazillier and Vauday (2014) says, CSR practices are the practical implementation which
affect the society for the sustainable development. For example Tata steel Europe done
various CSR activities for the development of sociality which make them more popular
among the stakeholders. Along with this, it will create the brand value among the customers
where they can lead the market through effective CSR practices.
Michailidis, Morphitou and Theophylatou (2012) explain that in the workplace there
are various barriers for the woman impact on their organisational activities and their working
environment. Such as conflicting work, stereotypes and families responsibility due to lack of
their involvement in the business activities they feel under confidant. It will develop gender
baseness, sex discrimination at work place and become barrier for the organisation to grow in
the market. For example Uber company investigated regarding gender discrimination.
As per Lorenz (2014), in the organisation female employees get the lower pay in
comparison to male member. According to 2003 study, after having same level of education
woman get he lower pay because organisation think that male members have family
responsibly. So they think that it is important to provide male employees higher salary in
comparison to female. These kind of stereotype will affect the organisation and their
stakeholders too because when they not treat their female employees equal then they their
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CSR practices is not in favour of them. Due to this reason legal aspect affect the company
where they have to follow equal pay law.
With he help of this literature review, readers can can identify strength & weakness of
doing various CSR activities. CSR practice will improve the profitability as well as value of
the organisation. It will increase accountability or transparency among the stakeholders so
they can aware about the whole activities which perform by the organisation. With the help of
this, there is less chances oh having unethical practices and it will make better customer
relation. CSR activities are too costly, purpose was struggle with the profit motive and Green-
washing. These are the weaknesses of CSR practices.
4. Recommendations
 Follow proper code of conduct which include various practices that organisation have
to perform their task according to it and if business not follow these standards then it
called unethical practices.
 Health and safety programmes make employees aware about safety equipments which
is important for the workers to know. It further make them alert to prevent various
injury and it will be done through various practical demonstration. It help the
organisation as well as staff members to identify their safety areas.
 Provide a safety environment which contribute in the organisation to make their
workplace more safe and provide safety to their workers. So they can complete their
task without any injury (Touboulic and Walker, 2015).
 Get supplier on board means every organisation contribute something in the society
through various activities. For the completion of these activities so they required
suppliers who help them to make it more profitable firm.
 Be smart about donating money and maintain each & every record of their CSR
activities. Because it will help them to generate CSR report or for the disclosure of
their donation in the annual report.
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5. Conclusion
From the above discussion, it has been concluded that Corporate Social Responsibility
help the organisation to perform various activities which is beneficial for them. To perform
ethical practices make them more popular among the stakeholder. In this report, literature
review on the topic of CSR where different authors have differer perspectives regarding
company's social responsibility and how it is beneficial for the key stakeholders. Due to
ethical issues business face the various problems which affect the profitability as well as
profitability of the company.
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6. References
Books & Journals
Bazillier, R. and Vauday, J., 2014. CSR into (new) perspective. Foresight. 16(2). pp.176-188.
Brown, J. A. and Forster, W. R., 2013. CSR and stakeholder theory: A tale of Adam
Smith. Journal of business ethics. 112(2). pp.301-312.
Golob, U., and et.al., 2014. Corporate social responsibility as a messy problem: Linking
systems and sensemaking perspectives. Systemic Practice and Action Research.
27(4). pp.363-376.
Khan, R. Z. and Ibraheem, N. A., 2012. Hand gesture recognition: a literature
review. International journal of artificial Intelligence & Applications, 3(4),
p.161.Massaro, M., Dumay, J. and Garlatti, A., 2015. Public sector knowledge
management: a structured literature review. Journal of Knowledge Management.
19(3). pp.530-558.
Lorenz, K., 2014. Equal pay for women? Not till 2050.
Michailidis, M. P., Morphitou, R. N. and Theophylatou, I., 2012. Women at workequality
versus inequality: barriers for advancing in the workplace. The International
Journal of Human Resource Management. 23(20). pp.4231-4245.
Otubanjo, O., 2013. Theorising the interconnectivity between corporate social responsibility
(CSR) and corporate identity. J. Mgmt. & Sustainability. 3. p.74.
Pope, S. and Wæraas, A., 2016. CSR-washing is rare: A conceptual framework, literature
review, and critique. Journal of Business Ethics. 137(1). pp.173-193.
Touboulic, A. and Walker, H., 2015. Theories in sustainable supply chain management: a
structured literature review. International Journal of Physical Distribution &
Logistics Management. 45(1/2). pp.16-42.
Online
Gender inequality in work place. 2019. [Online] Available through:
<https://www.asyousow.org/blog/gender-equality-workplace-issues>
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