Business Ethics: CSR & Values Assessment of Reliance Ltd & P&G India

This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and stated values of Reliance Ltd India and P&G India, two organizations operating in different industries within the same country. It examines their social reporting, covering social, environmental, and economic issues, and evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of their approaches, referencing GRI standards. The report also discusses the companies' alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting both explicit and implicit contributions. Furthermore, it assesses the quality of their social accounting approach based on inclusivity, comparability, completeness, evolution, and management policies. The report concludes by summarizing the key aspects of their business principles, mission, vision, and approaches to social responsibility and sustainability.

PART A – Business Values Assessment Report

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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Background of the company........................................................................................................3
Reliance Ltd.............................................................................................................................3
P&G India................................................................................................................................3
Industry....................................................................................................................................3
Area Served.............................................................................................................................4
Social reporting/performance issues............................................................................................4
Range of social, environmental and economic issues.....................................................................4
Strength and weakness of the approach to social reporting evident in the reports......................6
Range of issues covered and the depth of the coverage..............................................................7
Sustainable Development Goals......................................................................................................7
Apparent quality of the social accounting approach........................................................................9
Values of companies......................................................................................................................10
Mission statement......................................................................................................................10
Vision.........................................................................................................................................10
Values........................................................................................................................................11
Business principles....................................................................................................................11
Approaches to social responsibility and sustainability..............................................................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13

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References......................................................................................................................................14

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Introduction
The aim of the report to consider the corporate social responsibility performance and stated
values of the two organisations that belongs to the different industries in similar country. The
two organisations that have been selected for this task are reliance ltd India and P&G India.
Background of the company
Reliance Ltd
A reliance industry Limited is one of the Indian conglomerate holding company with the
headquarters in Mumbai, India. The major activities of operations that are performed by the
companies include hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining and marketing,
petrochemicals, telecommunications and retail. This shows that the company is operating the
business in different areas and with the motive of the innovation-led and exponential growth.
P&G India
P&G is considered as one of the largest and among the fastest-growing company with the
consumer goods in India as this is the reason that company is able to serve their products and
services to more than 650 million consumers with the trusted brands. The major products of the
company include Vicks, Ariel, Tide, Whisper, Pampers, Pantene, Oral-B and many others. The
company believes in improving the lives of maximum customers in the different parts of India
due to which they have their stores at different places.
Industry
Industry in which P&G deals is FMCG and in the present world there is tremendous rise in the
FMCG products. The contribution to the global consumption is predicted to get double to

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approx. 5.8% by the year 2020 (IBEF, 2018). Moreover, Reliance falls under the consumer
goods industry. The industry in India is contributing effectively in increasing the disposable
income. Thus, the companies gets the benefits in terms of the profit because of the increasing
awareness, easier access and changes in the lifestyle that work as the growth drivers for the
sector.
Area Served
This has been found that P&G company deals their business across the world accept Cuba and
North Korea as it a multinational company. Though, on the other hand Reliance Company is not
multinational in terms of its presence but it does have the operations in the form of export and
imports.
Social reporting/performance issues
In the Indian market, the companies are dealing with the issue of performances because the
presence of the other competitors which majorly include the online stores that offer the products
at the low prices and the small retail outlets (Kirana) that are available in India from where the
products are purchased by the company.
Moreover, P&G and reliance industries are dealing with the issue related to the change in the
needs and preferences of the customers. The rise in the Hyper-growth of natural, organic &
wellness products is becoming the issue for companies because peoples are becoming educated
and due to which they prefer Ayurveda products that are natural.

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Range of social, environmental and economic issues
This section of the report includes the different range of social, environmental and economic
issues in terms of their social reports of both the companies operating their business in India. The
social reporting is defined as the reporting of some meaningful, definable domain related to the
business enterprises activities that lead to the social impact (Schwartz, 2017). The major uses of
the social responsibility information are related to the business enterprises which are mainly
useful to the internal as well as the external uses.
GRI is refers to as the international independent standards organisation that supports the
business, governments and other organisations. The differences are majorly evaluated in terms of
the GRI (Global reporting initiative) because it is the base for the companies while preparing the
reporting (Gri, 2018). The differences are discussed below: -
Style of information: - The style of information includes the reporting style in which it is
presented for the internal as well as for the external use. The style of information is effectively
presented in Reliance because it supports the information with the help of the examples and
illustration which reflect the clear understanding about the social, environmental and economic
aspects.
Content: - The content comparison includes the way through which the information is presented
for the effective use by the internal business and its stakeholders. The content shared by the
reliance company is supported with the GRI standards comprehensive options which majorly
include the oil and gas sector disclosures (Lin, Chang & Chang, 2015).The content that is
presented by the company shows the balance, clarity, accuracy, comparability and others. The
major differences occur here as the report presented by the P&G doesn’t support the content with

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the standards. The major difference occurs because reliance includes the rural and urban areas
where they offer their products and services. Thus, the services related to the rural areas are
discussed as they focus rural areas but P&G Company only focuses on the urban areas.
Presentation: - The presentation includes the way the reports have been presented by both the
reliance and P&G India. In terms of the presentation the way P&G has presented the
environmental, social and economic aspects are more clear and easy to identify then the Reliance
(P&G, 2011). Similarly, this has been found that Reliance Company has presented the details but
in segregated manner which for the external and internal members of the company reviewing.
Strength and weakness of the approach to social reporting evident in the
reports
The social reporting approach that is evident in the reports of the reliance and P&G in India is
descriptive approach. Descriptive approach is considered as one of the simplest and traditional
method of reporting the social information. In this approach the company reflects the social
activities that are conducted by the business corporations with the financial statements in the
narrative form.
Strengths: - The major benefit of the report is that it majorly focuses on the positive social
aspects of the firm that are presented in non-quantitative form. Thus, it is clear that the impact of
the social activities can’t be measured under the same (Wheelen, Hunger, Hoffman, & Bamford,
2017). This leads to benefit for the reader who don’t understand the qualitative measures.
Weaknesses: - The weakness of approach of social reporting is that it doesn’t include the
financial data more in the reports for explaining the details but rather it explains the matters with

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the help of the non-financial data. Thus, it leads to the negative impact on the investors and other
stakeholders who majorly rely on the financial evidence and facts.
Range of issues covered and the depth of the coverage
The range of issues that are witnessed in the reports of the reliance and P&G majorly include the
lack of the facts and figures that can make the stakeholders aware about the improvement in the
performance and their future action for the same.
Along with this, P&G Company is a multinational company with different availability of the
resources which makes them to appropriate present the report in the Indian market. The
presentation is effectively done. Though, reliance is operating operations in India due to which
they present the details in different manner.
Sustainable Development Goals
The commitment of these companies is majorly to bring sustainable development that goes
beyond the boundaries where operations are performed. The aim of the company is to add value
to the stakeholders by advancing knowledge and bringing improvement in lives. SDGs can be
explicitly and implicitly in which explicitly refers to as the result of a deliberate, voluntary and
strategic decision of companies (Yin & Jamali, 2016). Further, the implicit CSR is the not
conceived of as voluntary and deliberate corporate decisions. The goals of the company can be
explicitly and implicitly which depends of the sustainability goals. The below given are the goals
that I believe are most relevant to these companies and with this the explicitly and implicitly of
the goals are discussed: -

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 End the poverty in all its form everywhere because the India and other countries are
suffering with this issue. Though, it is very hard to bring the improvement in the level of
poverty but the companies can contribute. This decision is explicitly because this is the
way through which the company contribute in economy and can form the effective
relationships with government.
 The goal of the companies is to ensure that they contribute in ending the hunger by
achieving food security and to bring improvement by offering nutrition. Though, the
prices of the products offered by reliance and P&G are high which means that still
company need to work on their goals. This is considered as explicitly in CSR because the
objective in which the company is to serve the best to their customers.
 The goal of these companies should be to ensure the availability and sustainable
management of sanitation and water for all the people. This goal is explicitly because the
company voluntary for same because they know the importance of sustainability.
 The economic growth with the decent workplace is one of the most important SDGs for
the companies with this they should contribute in increase the gender equality and
empower all girls and women. This is one of the implicit goals which is formed because
of changing environment.
 These companies SDGs include protection, restoring and promotion of the sustainable
use of the terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably management of the forests and others. This
goal is explicitly because the corporate decisions of the companies are involved.
In the end, this is can be said that all these report enhance the effectiveness of the reporting
because it communicate the responsibility that is performed by company to the internal and

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external members. These goals are present somewhere in the goals of the company which means
both reliance and P&G addresses these goals.
Apparent quality of the social accounting approach
ZADEK et al.’s (1997) has brought the eight principles of the quality in the social accounting
that helps in analysing extend of the two reporting of the two companies conforms to and
contributes to the effective practice. These principles are: -
Inclusivity: - Reliance and P&G Company have achieved this principle to the maximum extent
in which they try to include the different types of people and ensure that they treat them in equal
manner. This is evidence with the involvement rural areas and people with the development done
by the reliance company. On the other hand, P&G believes in touching and improving the lives
of consumers which is clear with their activity of Shiksha.
Comparability: - In the social accounting approach, the principle of comparability is important
in which the information is comparable when the accounting standards and policies that are
applied by the companies (Dillard, 2010). Reliance and P&G Company deals in different
industries but they present the quality of information and make effective use of it while taking
decisions.
Completeness: - The completeness includes all the necessary segments in social accounting
approach. This principle is not followed by both the companies in India.
Evolution: - The evolution is the changes in the social reporting which is followed by both the
companies as they know with the change in environment and time they need to make the changes
in the form of reporting.

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Management policies and systems: - Management of the policies and system is one of the
principles which are effectively used by both the companies while reporting. It varies in both the
companies as they have their set policies and system according to their industry but they follow
the same (Dillard, 2010).
External verification: - The external verification is done by P&G Company mainly because it
has the presence in the global market which they want to exploit and verify from the external for
the reports that have been presented by them. Though, Reliance does that but at small level.
Continuous Improvement: - Continuous improvement has been witnessed in the social
reporting of both the companies which shows that they follow this principle.
Values of companies
Mission statement
Reliance: - The mission of company is to provide the best and most value adding advice within
the investor’s relations, financial communication, issues management and CSR reporting. In
addition, the mission is to deliver excellent guidance to clients in connection with IPOs, ECM
and M&A transaction (Reliance, 2018).
P&G: - The mission of the company is to provide the branded products and services of the
premium quality and values that will enhance the lives of the world’s consumer (P&G, 2018).
Vision
Reliance
 Always remain first call of clients and collaboration partner within the business

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 To meet and exceed the expectations of customer by value adding advices.
P& G
“Be, and be recognized as, the best consumer products and services company in the world.”
(Smithson, 2017).
Values
Reliance
 Quality
 Innovation
 Ambition
 Honesty
 Integrity
P& G
 Integrity
 Leadership
 Ownership
 Passion for Winning
 Trust

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Business principles
Reliance: - The principle of the reliance company is to stand out in terms of the products in India
with the help of their long-standing and trustful clients relationships created with the help of the
excellent advice and service (Reliance, 2018).
P&G
 Respect for All Individuals
 Value Mastery
 Externally Focused
 Mutual Interdependency
 Innovation
Approaches to social responsibility and sustainability
The analysis shows that the companies make use of the Accommodating approaches of the social
responsibility. In this the company believes that social responsibility is one of the essential part
like making the profit. In this approach the company don’t hide their work or actions and remain
vocal about it (Polonsky & Grau, 2011). This approach helps them in ensuring that they are able
to create the sustainable environment across the world and the places where they are performing
their business operations.

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Conclusion
In the end, this can be concluded that there are differences in the strategies and CSR activities of
the company. The report includes the detail description related to the two companies and their
social reports that might vary from company to company. Further, the finds the description
related to the sustainable development goals that are related to the company with extent to the
SDGs and explicitly or implicitly in CSR. Moreover, further there is detail description related to
the one of the social accounting approach of Zadek et al.’s (1997) that is used by both of the
companies.

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References
Dillard, J. F. (2010). Legitimating the social accounting project: An ethic of accountability.
In Sustainability accounting and accountability (pp. 56-73). New York: Routledge.
Gri. (2018). GRI Standards Download Center. Retrieved from:
https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/
IBEF. (2018). FMCG Industry in India. Retrieved from:
https://www.ibef.org/industry/fmcg.aspx
Lin, I. H. H., Chang, O., & Chang, C. A. (2015). Perceptions of gri reporting
guidelines. International Journal of Sustainability Policy and Practice, 9(4), 35-54.
P&G. (2011). Commitment to Everyday Life. Retrieved from:
https://www.pg.com/en_IN/downloads/sustainability/reports/PG_2011_Sustainability_Re
port.pdf
P&G. (2018). Purpose, Values & Principles. Retrieved from:
https://www.pg.com/en_IN/company/purpose-values-principles.shtml
Polonsky, M., & Grau, S. L. (2011). Assessing the social impact of charitable organizations—
four alternative approaches. International journal of nonprofit and voluntary sector
marketing, 16(2), 195-211.
Reliance Industries. (2018). Sustainability Reports. Retrieved from:
http://www.ril.com/DownloadFiles/SustainiabilityReports/RIL%20Sustainability
%20Report%202016-17.pdf

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Reliance. (2018). About Reliance. Retrieved from: http://www.reliance.dk/en/menu/about-
reliance/mission-vision-and-values
Schwartz, M. S. (2017). Corporate social responsibility. New York: Routledge.
Smithson, N. (2017). Procter & Gamble Co.’s Mission Statement & Vision Statement: An
Analysis. Retrieved from: http://panmore.com/procter-gamble-mission-statement-vision-
statement-analysis
Wheelen, T. L., Hunger, J. D., Hoffman, A. N., & Bamford, C. E. (2017). Strategic management
and business policy. UK: pearson.
Yin, J., & Jamali, D. (2016). Strategic corporate social responsibility of multinational companies
subsidiaries in emerging markets: Evidence from China. Long Range Planning, 49(5),
541-558.