Module 6 - Corporate Social Responsibility

Introductory preconditions

All the firms’ actions that contribute actively to social welfare are usually classified as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The acceptance of CSR by business scholars and practitioners has a spotted history. Nowadays, CSR is an important element of strategic management. This module aims to provide a complete overview of CSR definitions and few cases about advantage of corporate social responsibility.

In order to start this module, participants should first complete module 1 – 2 – 4.

Learning outcomes

After studying this topic, the participant will know/ will be able to:

• Make the differences between Corporate social responsibility and Ethics.
• Know the importance of being social responsible.
• Investigate more about these interesting theme.

Module objectives and aims

• Analyze the differences between different CSR definitions.
• Analyze the differences between CSR and ethical behaviour.
• Show what are the main advantage to be social responsible.

Module list of content

• Learning object 1.1. Presentation of Corporate social responsibility.
• Learning object 1.2. Motivation to CSR implementation.
• Learning object 1.2. Presentation of ethics and different ethical behavior.
• Learning object 1.4. Study cases about CSR.

Key competences covered

Some of these competences that participants will able to learn are:

• Social behavior.
• Ethical behavior.

Glossary

CSR, dimensions, ethics.

Literature and further reading

Mandatory

1. Carroll, A. B. (1999). Corporate social responsibility: Evolution of a definitional construct. Business & society, 38(3), 268-295.
2. Epstein, E. M. (1987). The corporate social policy process: Beyond business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and corporate social responsiveness. California management review, 29(3), 99-114.
3. Frederick, W. C. (2008). Corporate social responsibility. In The Oxford handbook of corporate social responsibility.
4. Garriga, E., & Melé, D. (2004). Corporate social responsibility theories: Mapping the territory. Journal of business ethics, 53(1), 51-71.
5. Holme, R., & Watts, P. (1999). Corporate social responsibility. Geneva: World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
6. Joyner, B. E., & Payne, D. (2002). Evolution and implementation: A study of values, business ethics and corporate social responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 41(4), 297-311.
7. Matten, D., & Moon, J. (2005). Corporate social responsibility. Journal of business Ethics, 54(4), 323-337.
8. McWilliams, A. (2000). Corporate social responsibility. Wiley Encyclopedia of Management.
9. Unerman, J. (2008). Strategic reputation risk management and corporate social responsibility reporting. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 21(3), 362-364.