PR and CSR: Ethical Debate and Business Responsibility

This report presents a critical debate around the concepts of Public Relations (PR) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It explores the arguments both for and against the integration of these practices into business strategies. The introduction defines PR and CSR as emerging ideologies that consider societal and environmental concerns. The report then delves into a detailed debate, examining how PR and CSR can determine and create responsibility for the impacts of an organization's activities on its stakeholders and the environment. Arguments supporting PR and CSR highlight the importance of sustainability, business ethics, and moral obligations. Conversely, arguments against PR and CSR suggest that they may hinder organizational goals and create confusion. The report references key sources and concludes by summarizing the various views on using PR and CSR within an organization and how the rival activities in the business may or may not be due to the PR or CSR strategies.

PR Ethics and CSR: Referral Assignment 2
Part 1: Narrated Presentation

Table Of Content
• Introduction
• PR and CSR (Debate)
• Conclusion
• References

Public Relations (PR) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are an emerging ideology in the
commercial businesses that includes the concerns of society and environment in their business strategies.
Due to Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility, businesses can be held responsible for the
influence of their operations on the society stakeholders including suppliers, employees, customers, etc. and
the environment. The following report will demonstrate a critical debate around the concept along with the
argument to support the idea of PR and CSR as well as not to support it.
Introduction

PR and CSR are important for an organisation
because it helps to determine and create
responsibility for the impacts of the activities of an
organisation on its business stakeholders and
environment. By this the organisations deliberately
take part in improving and enhancing the experience
of its stakeholders and environmental conditions.
PR and CSR (Debate)
For the Topic

The efforts of the organisation does not limit to
only following the obligations and legal laws but it
takes responsibilities of their customers,
employees, community, environment, and many
others. There are many reasons due to which an
organisation should comply with PR and CSR,
such as sustainability, business ethics, moral
obligations etc.
Continue
For the Topic

PR and CSR enhance the moral obligation of the
organisation to satisfy the requirement of society
stakeholders by providing improvement in lifestyle
and societal growth. Sustainability can also be
achieved by this, because PR and CSR obligate an
organisation to develop sustainable practices that
are environment friendly and financially
sustainable (Urbancová and Vrabcová, 2020).
Continue
For the Topic

It can be argued that PR and CSR may not be the
only options to be an ethical business. It is argued
by Milton Friedman that PR and CSR may lower
down the abilities of organisations to achieve
organisational goals in comparison to social goals
(Friedman, 1970). It is viewed that organisations
have a single responsibility to perform that is
using the resources to increase profits and stay
competitive.
Continue
Against the Topic

In this aspect, it can be said that CSR and PR
activities hinder the growth of an organisation and
creates confusion in the real objectives and aims of
the organisation. Robert Reich, has recently
brought a focus on the fact, in his book
"Supercapitalism" that the organisations that do
not follow PR and CSR are not ruthlessly greedy,
nor brutally insensitive (Reich, 2017).
Continue
Against the Topic

It can be argued in this context that even if the
organisations do not follow PR and CSR they may
be ethical because most of them fulfil the
requirements of society, organisation and
environment by being in the limitations of the law.
One of the major problems that can be identified in
PR and CSR is that it does not include the analysis
of impacts of PR and CSR on the financial health
of the organisation.
Continue
Against the Topic

It has been concluded from the above report that there are various views on using PR and CSR within an
organisation due to the existence of debatable aspects from the sides of many diplomats. It has been
demonstrated in the report that the rival activities in the business may or may not be due to the PR or CSR
strategies that makes its an option for an organisation to choose or not to choose.
Conclusion

• Friedman, M., 1970. The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. The New York Times
Magazine [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on, 2018. [Online] Available through,
http://www.colorado.edu/studentgroups/libertarians/issues/friedman-soc-resp-business.html
• McDonald, B. and Boud, D., 2021. The impact of self-assessment on achievement: The effects of self-
assessment training on performance in external examinations. Assessment in education: principles, policy &
practice, 10(2), pp.209-220.
• Reich, R., 2017. Supercapitalism. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
• Sarvaiya, H., Arrowsmith, J. and Eweje, G., 2021. Exploring HRM involvement in CSR: variation of
Ulrich’s HR roles by organisational context. The International Journal of Human Resource
Management, 32(21), pp.4429-4462.
References