This chapter introduces theories of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and discusses the relationships of multinational enterprises (MNEs) with the natural environment and human rights. It looks at key concepts that relate to the identification and evaluation of stakeholders and the proactive approaches that MNEs have adopted to address environmental and ethical concerns. It also uses case studies to develop an understanding of how the core company aims to ensure that the businesses with which it is working adhere to laws and ethical norms. The chapter presents the activities of MNEs within the global norms framework, alongside the social and environmental targets that international organizations pursue with the support of MNEs. It highlights the links between CSR and the formal and informal institutional environment and assesses the social and environmental impact of the global factory.<\/p>","DOI":"10.1093\/hebz\/9780198861898.003.0013","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]],"date-time":"2023-09-14T21:41:11Z","timestamp":1694727671000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Corporate Social Responsibility"],"prefix":"10.1093","author":[{"given":"Hinrich","family":"Voss","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,31]]},"container-title":["International Business"],"original-title":["Corporate Social Responsibility"],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.oxfordbusinesstrove.com\/display\/10.1093\/hebz\/9780198861898.001.0001\/isbn-9780198861898-book-part-10","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,5]],"date-time":"2024-02-05T10:57:50Z","timestamp":1707130670000},"score":26.335083,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.oxfordbusinesstrove.com\/view\/10.1093\/hebz\/9780198861898.001.0001\/isbn-9780198861898-book-part-10"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,22]]},"ISBN":["9780198861898","9780198900412"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/hebz\/9780198861898.003.0013","published":{"date-parts":[[2022,6,22]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,6]],"date-time":"2024-08-06T00:24:26Z","timestamp":1722903866245},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Oxford University Press","isbn-type":[{"value":"9780198849537","type":"print"},{"value":"9780198934110","type":"electronic"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,12]]},"abstract":"
This chapter discusses the importance of business ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR). It elaborates on the extent to which a business should accept responsibility for its impact on stakeholders and actively improve society. The CSR presents the key consideration for a business of how much responsibility that business wants to accept for the impact on others over and above what the law dictates. The chapter then looks into the issues related to ethical decision-making and the impact of ethical issues on the decision-maker and the business. It also notes that whistle-blowing occurs when an individual within a business reveals information that highlights illegal or unethical behaviour within the organization.<\/p>","DOI":"10.1093\/hebz\/9780198849537.003.0011","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,5]],"date-time":"2024-08-05T09:59:40Z","timestamp":1722851980000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Business ethics and corporate social responsibility"],"prefix":"10.1093","author":[{"given":"Andrew","family":"Gillespie","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,1]]},"container-title":["Foundations of Business"],"original-title":["Business ethics and corporate social responsibility"],"language":"en","deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,5]],"date-time":"2024-08-05T09:59:41Z","timestamp":1722851981000},"score":26.043114,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.oxfordbusinesstrove.com\/view\/10.1093\/hebz\/9780198849537.001.0001\/isbn-9780198849537-chapter-11"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,12]]},"ISBN":["9780198849537","9780198934110"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/hebz\/9780198849537.003.0011","published":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,12]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,7]],"date-time":"2024-09-07T13:50:47Z","timestamp":1725717047044},"publisher-location":"Berlin, Heidelberg","reference-count":0,"publisher":"Springer Berlin Heidelberg","isbn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"9783642280351"},{"type":"electronic","value":"9783642280368"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2013]]},"DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100182","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,2,25]],"date-time":"2013-02-25T02:47:08Z","timestamp":1361760428000},"page":"280-280","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Business Social Responsibility"],"prefix":"10.1007","member":"297","container-title":["Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility"],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100182","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2013,2,25]],"date-time":"2013-02-25T02:48:17Z","timestamp":1361760497000},"score":25.24147,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100182"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2013]]},"ISBN":["9783642280351","9783642280368"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100182","published":{"date-parts":[[2013]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,15]],"date-time":"2024-05-15T03:31:05Z","timestamp":1715743865711},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Oxford University Press","isbn-type":[{"value":"9780198804291","type":"print"},{"value":"9780191968808","type":"electronic"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,17]]},"abstract":"
This chapter looks at the firms\u2019 economic, social, and environmental obligations which come under the term \u2018corporate social responsibility\u2019 (CSR). It highlights the idea that firms\u2019 alleged only obligation is to maximize profit in line with CSR. The chapter explains how the international business environment is also battling cultural imperialism alongside different economic and legal contexts. It highlights concerns about child labour and corruption. Then, the chapter looks at the standard company guide provided by Global Compact. It includes a discussion on the UN\u2019s efforts to alleviate poverty called Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals.<\/p>","DOI":"10.1093\/hebz\/9780198804291.003.0006","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,9,14]],"date-time":"2023-09-14T13:40:54Z","timestamp":1694698854000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Corporate Social Responsibility"],"prefix":"10.1093","author":[{"given":"Leslie","family":"Hamilton","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Philip","family":"Webster","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,31]]},"container-title":["The International Business Environment"],"original-title":["Corporate Social Responsibility"],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.oxfordbusinesstrove.com\/display\/10.1093\/hebz\/9780198804291.001.0001\/isbn-9780198804291-book-part-6","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,5]],"date-time":"2024-02-05T10:53:34Z","timestamp":1707130414000},"score":24.949776,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.oxfordbusinesstrove.com\/view\/10.1093\/hebz\/9780198804291.001.0001\/isbn-9780198804291-book-part-6"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,17]]},"ISBN":["9780198804291","9780191968808"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/hebz\/9780198804291.003.0006","published":{"date-parts":[[2018,12,17]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,2]],"date-time":"2024-05-02T19:34:37Z","timestamp":1714678477190},"edition-number":"1","reference-count":0,"publisher":"Greenleaf Publishing Limited","isbn-type":[{"value":"9781909493667","type":"print"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"DOI":"10.9774\/gleaf.978-1-909493-66-7_2","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,4,22]],"date-time":"2013-04-22T10:23:01Z","timestamp":1366626181000},"page":"13-17","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Corporate social responsibility: a global challenge for business"],"prefix":"10.9774","author":[{"given":"Jacqueline","family":"Cramer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"member":"3896","container-title":["Corporate Social Responsibility and Globalisation: An Action Plan for Business"],"language":"en","deposited":{"date-parts":[[2013,6,1]],"date-time":"2013-06-01T10:34:26Z","timestamp":1370082866000},"score":24.861885,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.ingentaselect.com\/rpsv\/cgi-bin\/cgi?ini=xref&body=linker&reqdoi=10.9774\/GLEAF.978-1-909493-66-7_2"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[null]]},"ISBN":["9781909493667"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.9774\/gleaf.978-1-909493-66-7_2"},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,13]],"date-time":"2025-12-13T07:13:54Z","timestamp":1765610034792},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Oxford University Press","isbn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"9780190224851"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"abstract":"
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a legitimate responsibility to society, based on the principle that corporations should share some of the benefit that accrues from the control of vast resources. CSR goes beyond the legal, ethical, and financial obligations that create profits.<\/p>\n
In the research literature, corporate social responsibility is defined in a variety of ways, depending on the aspect of CSR being examined. An inclusive definition is that social responsibility requires the firm to take into account the interests of all stakeholders, where stakeholders are defined as everyone who affects or is affected by the firm\u2019s decisions and actions. A firm-focused definition holds that social responsibility includes actions that further a social goal, beyond what is required by ethics, law, and profitability. A political economy\u2013oriented definition posits that firms have a responsibility to correct market failures such as negative externalities and government failures such as limits to jurisdiction that result in worker rights violations.<\/p>\n
When implemented, altruistic CSR implies that firms provide a social good unrelated to the firms\u2019 business that does not benefit the bottom line. Strategic CSR implies that firms are simultaneously profitable and socially responsible. To achieve this, CSR must be a core value of the firm and must be integrated into processes and products. When employed strategically, CSR can be an element of a differentiation strategy, leading to premium prices, enhanced brand and firm reputation, and supportive community relations. Corporate environmental responsibility often takes the form of overcompliance with regulation, improving the environment more than is required. A primary benefit of this is to stave off further regulation.<\/p>\n
To capture the benefits of being socially responsible, the firm must make stakeholders aware of its record. This has led to triple bottom line reporting\u2014that is, reporting about firm performance in terms of profits, people, and the planet. Social enterprises go a step further and make social responsibility the primary goal of the organization.<\/p>","DOI":"10.1093\/acrefore\/9780190224851.013.12","type":"reference-entry","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,28]],"date-time":"2020-02-28T06:08:35Z","timestamp":1582870115000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Corporate Social Responsibility"],"prefix":"10.1093","author":[{"given":"Abagail","family":"McWilliams","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,28]]},"container-title":["Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management"],"original-title":["Corporate Social Responsibility"],"language":"en","deposited":{"date-parts":[[2022,8,31]],"date-time":"2022-08-31T18:57:15Z","timestamp":1661972235000},"score":24.734339,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/oxfordre.com\/business\/view\/10.1093\/acrefore\/9780190224851.001.0001\/acrefore-9780190224851-e-12"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,28]]},"ISBN":["9780190224851"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/acrefore\/9780190224851.013.12","published":{"date-parts":[[2020,2,28]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,7]],"date-time":"2024-09-07T13:50:38Z","timestamp":1725717038156},"publisher-location":"Berlin, Heidelberg","reference-count":0,"publisher":"Springer Berlin Heidelberg","isbn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"9783642280351"},{"type":"electronic","value":"9783642280368"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2013]]},"DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100467","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,2,25]],"date-time":"2013-02-25T07:48:02Z","timestamp":1361778482000},"page":"638-638","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Critiques of Business Social Responsibility"],"prefix":"10.1007","member":"297","container-title":["Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility"],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100467","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2013,2,25]],"date-time":"2013-02-25T07:50:06Z","timestamp":1361778606000},"score":24.730228,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100467"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2013]]},"ISBN":["9783642280351","9783642280368"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100467","published":{"date-parts":[[2013]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,10]],"date-time":"2024-09-10T07:01:39Z","timestamp":1725951699839},"edition-number":"1","reference-count":0,"publisher":"Routledge","isbn-type":[{"type":"electronic","value":"9781351282642"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2017,9,29]]},"DOI":"10.4324\/9781351282642-1","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,9,4]],"date-time":"2018-09-04T21:16:24Z","timestamp":1536095784000},"page":"13-17","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Corporate social responsibility: a global challenge for business"],"prefix":"10.4324","author":[{"given":"Jacqueline","family":"Cramer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"member":"301","container-title":["Corporate Social Responsibility and Globalisation"],"language":"en","deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,5]],"date-time":"2021-04-05T01:59:16Z","timestamp":1617587956000},"score":24.639824,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.taylorfrancis.com\/books\/9781351282635\/chapters\/10.4324\/9781351282642-1"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2017,9,29]]},"ISBN":["9781351282642"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781351282642-1","published":{"date-parts":[[2017,9,29]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,12]],"date-time":"2024-05-12T12:52:40Z","timestamp":1715518360434},"edition-number":"1","reference-count":1,"publisher":"Routledge","isbn-type":[{"value":"9781315862255","type":"electronic"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,25]]},"DOI":"10.4324\/9781315862255-5","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,18]],"date-time":"2021-02-18T23:13:03Z","timestamp":1613689983000},"page":"73-89","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Social Responsibility and Mana in International Business Education"],"prefix":"10.4324","author":[{"given":"John","family":"Patterson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Glenys","family":"Patterson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"301","reference":[{"key":"ref5","unstructured":"Alpers, Antony (1964). Maori Myths and Tribal Legends, Auckland: Longman Paul."}],"container-title":["Teaching International Business"],"language":"en","deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,2]],"date-time":"2021-04-02T14:15:09Z","timestamp":1617372909000},"score":24.602865,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.taylorfrancis.com\/books\/9781317948155\/chapters\/10.4324\/9781315862255-5"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,25]]},"ISBN":["9781315862255"],"references-count":1,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4324\/9781315862255-5","published":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,25]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,8]],"date-time":"2024-09-08T17:53:22Z","timestamp":1725818002118},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"SAGE Publishing","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"DOI":"10.1177\/237455680335.n1","type":"book-section","created":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,8]],"date-time":"2017-12-08T12:36:11Z","timestamp":1512736571000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["corporate-social-responsibility"],"prefix":"10.1177","member":"179","container-title":["SAGE Business Researcher"],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2017,12,8]],"date-time":"2017-12-08T12:36:12Z","timestamp":1512736572000},"score":24.581902,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/businessresearcher.sagepub.com\/sbr-1863-104799-2868180\/20171204\/corporate-social-responsibility"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[null]]},"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/237455680335.n1"},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,19]],"date-time":"2023-12-19T18:40:13Z","timestamp":1703011213688},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Research Foundation International and Centre for Studies of National Development","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["CSS"],"DOI":"10.29070\/27\/57224","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,2,27]],"date-time":"2019-02-27T10:46:27Z","timestamp":1551264387000},"page":"145-154","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Corporate Social Responsibility and Spirituality in Business"],"prefix":"10.62047","volume":"27","author":[{"given":"Rina","family":"Gupta","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Neeti","family":"Kasliwal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"48392","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,1]]},"container-title":["Contemporary Social Sciences"],"original-title":["Corporate Social Responsibility and Spirituality in Business"],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,19]],"date-time":"2023-12-19T18:25:11Z","timestamp":1703010311000},"score":24.360779,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/jndcss.ipublisher.in\/I\/a\/57224"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,1]]},"references-count":0,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.29070\/27\/57224","ISSN":["0302-9298"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0302-9298","type":"electronic"}],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,1]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,7]],"date-time":"2024-09-07T13:51:17Z","timestamp":1725717077367},"publisher-location":"Berlin, Heidelberg","reference-count":0,"publisher":"Springer Berlin Heidelberg","isbn-type":[{"type":"print","value":"9783642280351"},{"type":"electronic","value":"9783642280368"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2013]]},"DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100180","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,2,25]],"date-time":"2013-02-25T02:47:08Z","timestamp":1361760428000},"page":"280-280","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Business Responsibility"],"prefix":"10.1007","member":"297","container-title":["Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility"],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100180","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2013,2,25]],"date-time":"2013-02-25T02:48:15Z","timestamp":1361760495000},"score":24.311958,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100180"}},"issued":{"date-parts":[[2013]]},"ISBN":["9783642280351","9783642280368"],"references-count":0,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-642-28036-8_100180","published":{"date-parts":[[2013]]}},{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,9]],"date-time":"2025-12-09T06:57:48Z","timestamp":1765263468366,"version":"3.46.0"},"reference-count":0,"publisher":"Everant Journals","issue":"12","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJMRA"],"abstract":"