Higher Education: Literature Review on Corporate Social Responsibility

This report provides an overview of literature review techniques and their significance in academic research, emphasizing their role in synthesizing existing knowledge, identifying research gaps, and avoiding plagiarism. It then delves into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), defining it as a management approach that encompasses a company's responsibilities toward society and the environment. The report explores CSR's importance for various types of businesses and its impact on stakeholders, including customers, employees, and communities. It highlights Carroll's Pyramid of CSR, outlining economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic responsibilities. Furthermore, it examines key focus areas of CSR, such as corporate management, employees, customers, and environmental commitments, along with the importance of addressing key issues like gender dynamics, employment conditions, and environmental management within the organization. The report concludes by summarizing the benefits of literature review and the importance of CSR for business sustainability in a competitive environment.

Study Skills For Higher
Education

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
1. Literature review and what does it achieve..............................................................................1
2. Literature Review on “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)”.............................................2
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Literature review is a written article which contains summary, explanation of present
knowledge and its theoretical concepts. It is considered to secondary sources of data collection.
For the writing of literature review, research is done on the particular topic. A good literature
review covers all significance and relevant points and topics regarding literature. Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) is a management concept which include the responsibilities of
business towards societies and environment. It can be done by business as a strategy or as a
function or build a different department in company. Report will highlight on Literature review
and its purpose. Report will also reflect the literature review of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR).
MAIN BODY
1. Literature review and what does it achieve
Literature review is basically articles that provide the brief idea about the subject which
includes the current knowledge such as substantive findings and theoretical concepts etc. It
shows the readers that can understand the depth knowledge about the particular subject (Hart,
2018). It also provides the full description, evaluation and summary of topic which is considered
the best example for data gathering and collections.
The purpose of literature review is helping of demonstrating the author review point
about the field of case study. It conducting a literature review which inform the people of
influential researchers and groups in the field. It allows gaining the expertise in the ability to
scan the literature on particular topic in efficiently and effectively (Ramírez-Montoya and
García-Peñalvo, 2018). According to report on the knowledge and idea that have established on
the subjects which includes the strength and weaknesses while they allow discovering the agreed
academic opinion at the same time. It helps to understand the relationship between the different
type of contribution to identify and solve the contradictions or understand the gaps of questions.
In this way, researcher will clarify that how they work fill the gap in the literature by using the
different approaches and data analysis (Lennerholtvan, Laere and Söderström, 2018).
The literature study has been done in proper steps to understand the concepts in
sequentially.
 Finding a working topic
 Review the literature
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 Focus on the selected topic and select the papers according to the research areas or fields.
 Read and understand the articles thoroughly and evaluate them.
 Organize the selected paper by looking for patterns and sub topic
 Developing an effective working research
Literature review is playing important role in the research field that help to provide the
foundation of knowledge about the topic or subject. It helps to the scholarship and prevent the
duplication. In this way, Researcher will easily justify their addition need in case if it is required
for further study purpose (Fink, 2019). Scholar can use the different type of literature review for
the purpose to analyse the depth knowledge about the topic such as Narrative literature review,
Systematic literature review, theoretical literature review, Integrative literature review and
Argumentative literature review etc. These are the different method which include the finding
and arguments in the present case study.
2. Literature Review on “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)”
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
According to the view of Crowther and Seifi (2018), CSR is a management approach
which is defined by the efforts of company towards the improvement of societies, environment
and nation. It is also known as Corporate sustainability or responsible business or corporate
citizenship. It is important for every kind of business such as non profits companies, profit
earned companies, small companies, multinational companies, private companies and public
companies. It is done by companies for the socially, economically and environmentally
beneficial for the stakeholders. It involves human rights, corporate governance, health and safety,
environmental effects, working conditions and contribution to economic development etc.
As explained by Moon and Knudsen (2018), Due to CSR, companies are able to attract
customers which helps in brand recognition and brand awareness. This brand lead to increase in
reputation of business. Customers start buying goods and services which lead to increase in sales
and profits of the company. Overall company starts growing and able to easily access the capital
from public for the expansion or technological advancement.
PYRAMID OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
As per the view of Carroll (2016), Companies have various kind of responsibilities
towards its stakeholders which are broadly divided into 4 types of responsibilities. These 4 types
of responsibilities are shown into pyramid which is known as Caroll's Pyramid of CSR.
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4 types of responsibilities are as follows -
ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITY – It is the lowest level in pyramid. This responsibility
represents that business is an economic unit and conduct for the purpose of earn profits. Thus, it
is business responsibility to earn profit and become profitable unit for the stake of its
stakeholders who can affected by the loss of business.
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY – The second level of pyramid shows that company is a legal
entity made by company law. Thus, it is company's responsibility to obey the laws, rules,
regulations and guidelines set forth by government and society. Company should not only follow
some law but follow all the laws such as Health and Safety law, Employment law, Partnership
law, Company law, Wages and Pay Law etc.
ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY – The third level of pyramid typify the company's ethical
responsibilities. It is described as doing the right thing for the society. It is the responsibility to
act and behave morally and ethically. Company should follow all the norms and expectations of
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Illustration 1: Types of CSR
Source: Pyramid of Corporate Social
Responsibility, 2019.

society which is beyond the law. Also, company should follow its code of conduct in which the
moral value and rights should be mentioned.
PHILANTHROPIC RESPONSIBILITY – At the top of pyramid, it stands for Philanthropic
Responsibilities of companies. As explained by Ojo (2016), It states that company should give
back to the society and environment that they take it from them in order to run the business. For
that they can do various activity such as plantation, organizing and participating in charity,
donation, support customers in social issues and staff time on projects etc.
FOCUS AREA OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)
As elaborated by Unit (2015), Companies have following 4 values to improve the society
and to create a better environment by focus on significant areas of CRM. These areas are as
follows -
CORPORATE MANAGEMENT – Corporate Management refers to the management of all the
level of managerial staffs and executives. It includes strategic planning, managing resources and
implementing for the achievement of goals. Thus, company should focus on corporate
management in order to ensure that their activities should be beneficial for the societies,
customers and government.
EMPLOYEES – Employee is an individual who is hired by company for the purpose of do a
specific job. Company should treat his all employees equally and respectfully. Company should
take care of their needs and satisfaction level. Company should not discriminate between their
employees on the basis of characteristics such as sex, colour, payment, promotion opportunity,
values, beliefs, perceptions, region, disability, marriage etc.
GUESTS AND COMMUNITY – Customers and communities are the central for the
organization. They are the end user of the products and services produce by them. Without
customers and communities' support, no organization can survive. As elucidated by Tran (2019),
Thus, for the survival and profitable, companies have to focus on its customers and communities'
needs, demands, preferences and tastes. Also, they should bring innovative business and products
which can beneficial for the communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS – Environmental commitments refers to the
approach, roles, responsibilities, principles, rules, procedures and systems adopted by company
to preventing, managing and reducing the negative impact of business on environment. For that,
company can use paperless work, producing eco-friendly and recyclable products and implement
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practical environmental policy which should be strictly followed by employees, managers and
companies.
Key Issues of Corporate Social responsibility-
As per Barnett, (2019) Corporate social responsibility has important part of organization
that needs for the purpose of managing the task in proper manner. There are different type of
issues considered in the organization such as lack of consent among the different departments
that implement the strategies for managing the operations and functions. It leads to increase the
competition level in the organization between the staff members which develop the competitive
business environment.
As per Ferrell and et.al. (2019) the overall situation of women and gender dynamic
affects by the organizational policies, values and structures. There are already exists traditional
stereotypes and old perceptions relating the women commitment to the jobs due to their
secondary role of job and social roles. Women are mainly offered that have little real power or
supervisory authority. There are such responsibility sales, production that have progression to top
thought out to be no women areas. It has observed that many organizations have well
successfully and documented communicated policies but they are not necessarily implement into
the best practices.
As per Frynas and Yamahaki (2019) The social cultural perception which have
established the behaviour and attitudes of individual women and men from the barriers to the
equal participation. In addition, The society indirectly or directly enforces the certain practises
and standards to the role of women, priorities and working hour of women etc. Common society
is that when primary role of women as house wife and job is second priority. This perception
affects the ability and capability of work at workplace in the certain departments and duties
effectively. On the other hand, Said by Ng, Yam and Aguinis (2019) at workplace, the old
mental perception towards the women impact and directly affects on their career growth such as
lack of self esteem, lack of motivation, aspiration, self confidence etc. therefore, Male people
attitude and behaviour discourage the women towards their specific role in the organization.
According to Carlini and et.al., (2019)said to ensure the best possible employment
condition which based on the proper statutory provisions and international standards, in the
particular organization. The primarily focus on the granting of trade union, abolition of child and
also forced to the labour. Many employees are eliminating due to the discrimination based on the
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skin, colour, re legions, political views etc. It has required for corporation to manage understand
their social responsibilities.
As per Kim (2019) The environment management continuously aim to improve the
enterprise that impact on the culture and environment condition. It includes the progressive
internal environmental management system as per the high standards due to diligence. Consistent
reduction of green house gas emission and contingency plan is reducing the harmful effects.
As per errell and et.al. (2019) Corruption has extremely harmful effect on the institutions
and corporate governance, international competition and corporate. It has required to combating
the corruption by introducing the internal control mechanism which avoid exposes. In the
business process, many peoples are doing corruption internally to earn their income. It directly
impacts on the business image in marketplace. It has needed to use the policy and policies to
control the corruption in marketplace which supported by the management and other employees.
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CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been summarised that Literature Review skill helps students
and researcher to do high study smoothly. It helps in boosting the confidence of researcher and
readers which helps in creation of trust which is benefit for the company. It avoids plagiarism
which makes literature more professional and academic. It also helps in improvement in research
skills and knowledge. Corporate Social Responsibility is the responsibility by which company is
obliged. Without CSR, no company can run its business for longer time in competitive
environment. Companies are doing various CSR strategies and activities which is beneficial for
organization, customers, societies, communities, employees, government and nation.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barnett, M.L., 2019. The business case for corporate social responsibility: A critique and an
indirect path forward. Business & Society. 58(1). pp.167-190.
Carlini, J. and et.al., 2019. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) employer brand process:
integrative review and comprehensive model. Journal of Marketing Management, pp.1-
24.
Carroll, A.B., 2016. Carroll’s pyramid of CSR: taking another look. International journal of
corporate social responsibility. 1(1). p.3.
Crowther, D. and Seifi, S. eds., 2018. Redefining Corporate Social Responsibility. Emerald
Group Publishing.
Ferrell, O.C. and et.al., 2019. Business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and brand
attitudes: An exploratory study. Journal of Business Research. 95. pp.491-501.
Fink, A., 2019. Conducting research literature reviews: from the Internet to paper. Sage
Publications.
Frynas, J.G. and Yamahaki, C., 2019. Corporate Social Responsibility: An Outline of Key
Concepts, Trends, and Theories. In Practising CSR in the Middle East (pp. 11-37).
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Hart, C., 2018. Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. Sage.
Kim, S., 2019. The process model of corporate social responsibility (CSR) communication: CSR
communication and its relationship with consumers’ CSR knowledge, trust, and
corporate reputation perception. Journal of Business Ethics. 154(4). pp.1143-1159.
Lennerholt, C., van Laere, J. and Söderström, E., 2018. Implementation challenges of self
service business intelligence: A literature review. In 51st Hawaii International
Conference on System Sciences, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii, USA, January 3-6,
2018 (Vol. 51, pp. 5055-5063). IEEE Computer Society.
Moon, J. and Knudsen, J.S., 2018, July. Corporate social responsibility and government. In
Academy of Management Proceedings. (Vol. 2018, No. 1, p. 12777). Briarcliff Manor,
NY 10510: Academy of Management.
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Ng, T.W., Yam, K.C. and Aguinis, H., 2019. Employee perceptions of corporate social
responsibility: Effects on pride, embeddedness, and turnover. Personnel Psychology.
72(1). pp.107-137.
Ojo, M., 2016, August. Innovating Carroll’s Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility. In
American Accounting Association Paper Presentation, Annual Conference, New York.
Ramírez-Montoya, M.S. and García-Peñalvo, F.J., 2018. Co-creation and open innovation:
Systematic literature review.
Tran, B., 2019. Corporate social responsibility. In Advanced Methodologies and Technologies in
Business Operations and Management. (pp. 270-281). IGI Global.
Unit, B., 2015. Corporate social responsibility.
Online
Pyramid of Corporate Social Responsibility. 2019. [online] Available
through :<https://www.growyourgiving.org/giving-blog/pyramid-corporate-social-
responsibility>
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