Corporate social responsibility : corporate reputation, business performance and public liability

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) may be viewed as a business strategy rather than a philanthropic concept. The increasing use of CSR as a corporate core strategy, in reaction to consumers‘ growing sentiments, can influence aggregate consumption and consumers‘ quality of life. As such, CSR would be of interest to the policy makers and may become subject to corporate governance and control mechanism. CSR is largely unregulated. Reliance on corporations‘ self-restraint and voluntary initiatives is inadequate to protect the society and avoid the disadvantages that may emerge from the potential deceptive practices in using a CSR strategy. This study investigates the evidence of economic benefits as incentives to corporations for using CSR. CSR is measured in terms of the firm‘s relationships with primary stakeholders. A model is constructed to identify the primary stakeholders and to estimate the association between CSR, corporate reputation and business performance. Policy implications of CSR are discussed.

Towards a model of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the ready made garments (RMG) industry in Bangladesh

As the primary earner of foreign exchange in Bangladesh, the readymade garments (RMG) industry has been under constant criticism for the absence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in the industry. Based on previous research, and drawing on the model of CSR in food industry developed by Maloni and Brown (2006), this paper aims to develop a model of CSR for the RMG industry in Bangladesh and discusses its various aspects to assist our understanding of the CSR issues in this industry. As the absence of a functional practice of CSR in the industry is considered as a threat to its sustainability, this paper provides important implications for the sustainability of RMG industry in Bangladesh.

Assurance of corporate social responsibility reports : impact on report users' perceptions of reliability

This study examined whether (1) assurance, (2) the level of assurance (reasonable vs. limited), and (3) the type of assurance provider (accountant vs. specialist consultant) affect users’ perceptions of reliability of sustainability reports. Based on an experimental questionnaire, we find that the provision of assurance improves report users’ perceived reliability of the environmental and social information. There were no significant main effects between the two experimental factors; level of assurance and type of assurance provider, and report users’ perceptions of the reliability of sustainability reports. However, a significant interaction was found between the two experimental factors and report users’ perceptions of reliability of such reports. More specifically, report users placed more confidence in the sustainability reports where the level of assurance provided is reasonable (high), and when such assurance is provided by a top tier accountancy firm, rather than when the assurance is provided by a specialist consultant. No such difference was found when the level of assurance provided was limited (low) for either type of assurance provider group. The results of this study thus highlight the relevance of assurance for sustainability reporting.

Online corporate social responsibility communication by Australian SMEs : a framework for website analysis

There has been almost no IS related corporate social responsibility (CSR) research on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and most non-IS research does not examine how SMEs use websites to communicate their CSR initiatives. This paper develops and applies a framework to report on the results of an exploratory content analysis of 33 Australian SME websites in the Information Media/Telecommunications and Accommodation/ Food Services sectors which communicate CSR initiatives online.

Corporate social responsibility reporting : a business strategy by Australian banks?

The growth of voluntary corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting reflects society's expectations for business to set higher ethical standards and to undertake business in a way that meets the profit imperative (the bottom line). Additionally, the community expects socially and environmentally responsible behaviour practices; the so-called triple bottom line approach. The paper briefly reviews the development of corporate social responsibility reporting from the perspective of two large Australian banks and attempts to understand their motivation for voluntary disclosure. Stakeholder theory and game theory provide a means to analyse why banks undertake CSR reporting. The paper compares Westpac and National Australia Bank's CSR reporting over the period 2004-2005 utilising external rating agencies and CSR reports to determine the extent of disclosure in relation to employees, environment, community and customers. The paper concludes with a discussion of the pros and cons of CSR, the role of regulation and recommendations for future policy direction.

Mobilising corporate social responsibility for world cultural heritage conservation

Through case studies and international surveys, this thesis investigates means to mobilise further corporate responsibility for World Cultural Heritage Conservation. It reveals a strong business case for support, based on the sustainable development benefits and shared value for all stakeholders and makes recommendations for using the findings to engage companies.

The nature of corporate social responsibility disclosures by the Bangladeshi commercial banks

The Bangladesh Bank is now encouraging corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure by banks however the adoption of CSR remains voluntary and not mandatory. The aim in this paper is to determine the nature and extent of corporate social responsibility disclosure in the banking sector in Bangladesh, and to assess the need to improve corporate social responsibility by such organisations. We observe, from our content analysis of the annual reports of three cases studies within the banking industry of Bangladesh, that corporate social responsibility disclosures focus on initiatives undertaken to support two critical two sectors within Bangladesh's economy. agriculture and the SME sector. Further disclosures address contributions and donations made by the banks to support underprivileged sections of Bangladesh society including destitute youth and women. Of the three cases examined in this study, two are relatively new entrants to the banking sector. We observed that the newest firm, incorporated in 1999, made no disclosures in regards to its corporate social responsibility and, as a consequence, conclude that the corporate governance mechanisms in this firm are likely to be unsophisticated.

The drivers of corporate social responsibility : a critical review

The paper criticises the dominant discourse of corporate social responsibility (CSR) by examining six sets of factors conventionally considered as promoting outcomes consistent with core principles of social responsibility: intra-organizational factors, competitive dynamics, institutional investors, end-consumers, government regulators and non-governmental organizations. Each factor is addressed conceptually, empirically, and with respect to its likely future significance in promoting outcomes consistent with CSR. Our overall conclusions are not promising on any of these dimensions.

The transnational corporation, corporate social responsibility and the 'outsourcing' debate

Current popular debates in the United States and Australia on the topics of 'jobless recoveries' and the 'outsourcing' of skilled IT jobs to India (most conspicuously) evidence a confusion as to the institutional role of the business firm and its obligations to the broader stakeholder community, as well as to the more specific differences between outsourcing and the spatial restructuring of corporate value-chains. This paper will take up several issues in the hope of clarifying this confusion, including the essential nature of the business firm as an economic, political and social institution; the possibilities for social responsibility and stakeholder management in large internationalised firms; and the critical distinctions between domestic and international outsourcing and spatial restructuring. Data from the 'outsourcing' debate will be referenced to illustrate the differing logics/rationalities of relevant stakeholder groups.