True social responsibility comes from the individual. How the individual decides to take action provides the label of consumer, activist, or corporate.
I can see where corporate social responsibility is considered a sham. In order for an individual to enable the corporation to take socially responsible actions, she or he needs to make a business case for the action. When the corporation understands the financial and goodwill benefits of social responsibility then action is taken. Continued benefits to the corporation enable the individual, or now individuals, to sustain the action. This benefit to the corporation could be seen as a sham, especially when an organization, not an individual, takes social responsibility as only a market ploy or as the "project of the month".
I agree that social responsibility and social justice must occur at an individual level before they occur at a larger (i.e., community, shareholder, board member, and corporate level). Unfortunately for corporations, the 'right thing to do' can often have nothing to do with the 'bottom line', 'ROI', 'business cases', or 'value propositions'.
For example, is WalMart correct in filing suit against the woman who received healthcare benefits from their plan and then received a settlement for an accident that left her incapacitated for the rest of her life? What about her attorney who represented her and negotiated a settlement that is by insufficient to provide her the care she needs and so that her spouse does not have to work two jobs and give up his automaobile? How do you build a business case in those instances? Or how does a pre-existing business case hold up in those circumstances?
Citing financial and goodwill benefits in a business case opens the door for criticism; i.e., marketing ploy and 'project of the month'.
Comments | 2 Total
March 31, 2008 at 12:36pm by John Whalen
True social responsibility comes from the individual. How the individual decides to take action provides the label of consumer, activist, or corporate.
I can see where corporate social responsibility is considered a sham. In order for an individual to enable the corporation to take socially responsible actions, she or he needs to make a business case for the action. When the corporation understands the financial and goodwill benefits of social responsibility then action is taken. Continued benefits to the corporation enable the individual, or now individuals, to sustain the action. This benefit to the corporation could be seen as a sham, especially when an organization, not an individual, takes social responsibility as only a market ploy or as the "project of the month".
March 31, 2008 at 6:56pm by Dale Thompson
I agree that social responsibility and social justice must occur at an individual level before they occur at a larger (i.e., community, shareholder, board member, and corporate level). Unfortunately for corporations, the 'right thing to do' can often have nothing to do with the 'bottom line', 'ROI', 'business cases', or 'value propositions'.
For example, is WalMart correct in filing suit against the woman who received healthcare benefits from their plan and then received a settlement for an accident that left her incapacitated for the rest of her life? What about her attorney who represented her and negotiated a settlement that is by insufficient to provide her the care she needs and so that her spouse does not have to work two jobs and give up his automaobile? How do you build a business case in those instances? Or how does a pre-existing business case hold up in those circumstances?
Citing financial and goodwill benefits in a business case opens the door for criticism; i.e., marketing ploy and 'project of the month'.