Corporate social responsibility
SDefinitions and meaning
The theory on CSR
Social issues, i.e. problems
Stakeholders’ interests
Carroll (1979)
o Economic
o Legal
o Ethical
o Discretionary
Critical to
1. Neoclassical economic approach of profit maximization
2. Public policy executed by government only
Advocate ‘social good’
Prevent from ‘social harm’
Dimensions of CSR definitions
What is CSR?
“A concept whereby companies integrate European social and environmental concerns in
their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary
basis” (European Commission, 2001)
“the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society” (European Commission,
2011)
, Pay attention to:
Context
o Which sector?
Dynamics
o Responsible today?
Conflicts
o Stakeholders disagree?
System
o Stakeholder responsibility?
[T]he confusion is not so much about how CSR is defined, as about how CSR is socially
constructed in a specific context.
Dahlsrud, 2008, p. 1
Level of analysis
SDefinitions and meaning
The theory on CSR
Social issues, i.e. problems
Stakeholders’ interests
Carroll (1979)
o Economic
o Legal
o Ethical
o Discretionary
Critical to
1. Neoclassical economic approach of profit maximization
2. Public policy executed by government only
Advocate ‘social good’
Prevent from ‘social harm’
Dimensions of CSR definitions
What is CSR?
“A concept whereby companies integrate European social and environmental concerns in
their business operations and in their interaction with their stakeholders on a voluntary
basis” (European Commission, 2001)
“the responsibility of enterprises for their impacts on society” (European Commission,
2011)
, Pay attention to:
Context
o Which sector?
Dynamics
o Responsible today?
Conflicts
o Stakeholders disagree?
System
o Stakeholder responsibility?
[T]he confusion is not so much about how CSR is defined, as about how CSR is socially
constructed in a specific context.
Dahlsrud, 2008, p. 1
Level of analysis
