Summary BS&S
Lecture 1:
Multiple definitions for CSR exist...
• “Actions that appear to further some social good, beyond the interests of the firm and that which is
required by law” (McWilliams, Siegel & Wright, 2006)
• “A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business
operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis and in a context specific
way.” (Adapted from European Commission 2001 and Aguinis & Glavas, 2012)
• “[T]he responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society” (European Commission 2011)
Corporate Sustainability (CS):
- CS means managing a firm in such a way that its activities meet the needs of the present, without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”.(Paraphrased from the ‘Our
Common Future’ report of the World Commission on Environment and Development 1987, a.k.a.
Brundtland report)
- “CSR and CS refer to company activities – voluntary by definition – demonstrating the inclusion of
social and environmental concerns in business operations and in interactions with stakeholders” (van
Marrewijk, 2003).
CS und CSR definitions
Main elements?
1. Triple Bottom Line: economic, social & environmental dimensions
2. Stakeholder
3. Voluntary
4. Context-specificity
5. Managing externalities/impacts
6. Rooted in values and ethics
Crane & Matten Article (2010/16)
Business Ethics
• Concerned with “business situations, activities and decisions where issues of right and wrong are addressed.”
The study of Business Ethics:
• Gathering relevant evidence
• Systematically analysing the evidence through relevant lenses/theories
• Making better (not ‘objectively right’) decisions
Multiple theories, stakeholders & points of view
, Why companies go green? (Bansal & Roth, 2000)
Ecological responsiveness: “a set of corporate initiatives aimed at mitigating a firm’s impact on the natural
environment”.
Purpose: “to refine a model that explains corporate ecological responsiveness by identifying motivations for
adopting ecological initiatives and the underlying factors that lead to each motivation.”
Methods:
- Theoretical sampling: Food retailers, P&O subsidiaries, auto manufacturers, oil companies, Japanese
firms, single case studies.
- Data gathering: Interviews (88), participant observations, archival data.
Lecture 1:
Multiple definitions for CSR exist...
• “Actions that appear to further some social good, beyond the interests of the firm and that which is
required by law” (McWilliams, Siegel & Wright, 2006)
• “A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business
operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis and in a context specific
way.” (Adapted from European Commission 2001 and Aguinis & Glavas, 2012)
• “[T]he responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society” (European Commission 2011)
Corporate Sustainability (CS):
- CS means managing a firm in such a way that its activities meet the needs of the present, without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”.(Paraphrased from the ‘Our
Common Future’ report of the World Commission on Environment and Development 1987, a.k.a.
Brundtland report)
- “CSR and CS refer to company activities – voluntary by definition – demonstrating the inclusion of
social and environmental concerns in business operations and in interactions with stakeholders” (van
Marrewijk, 2003).
CS und CSR definitions
Main elements?
1. Triple Bottom Line: economic, social & environmental dimensions
2. Stakeholder
3. Voluntary
4. Context-specificity
5. Managing externalities/impacts
6. Rooted in values and ethics
Crane & Matten Article (2010/16)
Business Ethics
• Concerned with “business situations, activities and decisions where issues of right and wrong are addressed.”
The study of Business Ethics:
• Gathering relevant evidence
• Systematically analysing the evidence through relevant lenses/theories
• Making better (not ‘objectively right’) decisions
Multiple theories, stakeholders & points of view
, Why companies go green? (Bansal & Roth, 2000)
Ecological responsiveness: “a set of corporate initiatives aimed at mitigating a firm’s impact on the natural
environment”.
Purpose: “to refine a model that explains corporate ecological responsiveness by identifying motivations for
adopting ecological initiatives and the underlying factors that lead to each motivation.”
Methods:
- Theoretical sampling: Food retailers, P&O subsidiaries, auto manufacturers, oil companies, Japanese
firms, single case studies.
- Data gathering: Interviews (88), participant observations, archival data.
