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Issues in Corporate Social Responsibility

This paper will present an analytic survey of literature on the topic of corporate social responsibility. Following a brief introduction pertaining to the general issues involved, the paper will focus on the specific views of various authors on the topic.

The concept of social responsibility in business is based on the belief that business gains its legitimacy from society; therefore "a socially responsible firm is one that accomplishes - and is perceived to accomplish - the desired economic, legal, ethical, ends of society in terms of moral, economic, legal, ethical and discretionary expectations" (Murray, 1986, p. 186). The necessity for social responsibility is generally regarded as more acute among "large corporations... influencing not only politics and the economy, but the 'quality of life'" (Wood, 1986, p. 193). The major issues which surround the concept of social responsibility in business include such questions as to what extent, if any, do corporations owe a debt of responsibility to society; and is there is a relationship between social responsibility and profitability?

Giacalone and Payne take a negative viewpoint in their discussion of corporate responsibility. These authors suggest that many instances of social responsibility in business today may be "merely a put-on" (Giacalone, 1987, p.22). It is acknowledged that there is growing concern among members of the American public regarding the need for stronger ethics in business. However, it is questioned whether the response of businesses to this concern is based on an actual sense of social responsibility or is simply a reaction to public pressure and an attempt to avoid "the perils of social irresponsibility, the consequences of unethical ideologies, and the red ink of amoral decision making" (p.22). The authors claim that their pessimism is justified by the results of public opinion polls and also by empirical evidence which shows that "social forces aff...

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Issues in Corporate Social Responsibility. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 05:50, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1682418.html