Abstract
This paper examines how social responsibility is an important concern of corporations and community alike. In particular, it discusses the important tool of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and how firms use it. The paper looks at how it is usually used for financial gains or for enhancing a company's image and how some firms might engage in it for purely philanthropic reasons. The paper recommends uses for corporate soical responsibility and discusses how it can be tied with better financial health.

Outline:
Introduction
Theory and Assumptions
How Social Responsibility Affects Business
Recommendations
References

From the Paper
"Social responsibility has also become a buzzword because of the availability of large variety of similar goods. When a product comes into the market, it has to fight very hard for consumer's attention because there are several other rival goods competing for the same. A marketing and design consultant (Neuborne, 1991) states: "There was a time when you bought a product just for its price or performance...but with the number of products available, it is increasingly difficult to differentiate one product from another." In this situation, a consumer may base his buying decision on company's image and its commitment to public good. This is clearly indicated by a book, 'Shopping for a Better World' that has been selling millions of copies since it first came out in the market."

Tags:philanthropy, community, involvment, corporate, ethics

Abstract
Public relations is generally regarded as a bad thing by consumers, whose cynicism has been aroused by recent events involving major U.S. corporations and cultural 'institutions' such as Martha Stewart. However, within the last generation, consumers said they were willing to refuse to purchase products or services from any corporations not perceived to be a corporate good citizen. The question for public relations and for corporations globally is whether it is possible to make corporate actions match the good reputations their public relations departments attempt to create. In short, can the current disconnect between perceptions of corporate behavior and the corporations' misbehavior with concurrent avowals of rectitude be aligned? There are cases in which citizen action has brought those elements into alignment. In other cases-notably Thailand-the government has short-circuited the profit intentions of a major corporation to provide for the citizens. However, in far too many cases, the governments look the other way while corporations extolling their own virtues nonetheless participate in human rights-questionable activities. This study identifies the nature of some of the disparities between corporate public relations and corporate socially responsible-or irresponsible-behavior and suggest scenarios that might bring both into alignment.

Outline
Introduction
Methodology
Literature Review
Findings
Background: Burma Campaign UK
Aon Corporation
Ericsson
Ivanhoe Mines
Rolls-Royce
Unocal:
Conclusion

From the Paper
"How duplicitous are large corporations, and how gullible are consumers? These are questions public relations practitioners probably do not ask themselves very often, or perhaps ever. Yet, there are two violently divergent trends in corporate conduct, which suggest these as questions public relations practitioners-or at least, ethicists involved with corporate public relations, ought to ask. While those are open-ended questions more appropriate to an ethicist than to those planning public relations campaigns, there are two trends that public relations practitioners need to examine; the combination of those trends present precisely the sorts of corporate malfeasance and misfeasance that has captured the attention of both the public and governmental oversight organizations.
The first trend is for corporations to support worthy causes, partially for the increased goodwill it brings, and often sales as well. At first glance, it sends no warning signals. In fact, in 1994, "a nationwide survey...confirmed that a company's social performance significantly influences prospective customers, employees and investors in basic decisions about the firm" (Gildea, 1994, p. 20+) Of course, that was then and this is now. In the past decade, Enron happened, and MCI/WorldCom, and "Martha" and any number of other smaller scandals involving companies that, if not known for their good works, at least were not known for bad ones until the misdeeds came to light. Like all other companies of any size, these companies had established public relations departments to make public note of gifts to charity and the like. Bread and butter to any corporate public relations department is their corporate philanthropy, often carried out while the company is busy in other areas wreaking untold havoc. A case in point is Enron."

Tags:ericsson, enron

Abstract
This paper examines the topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and concludes that, in essence, it is a marketing smokescreen designed to trick consumers into feeling better about buying certain brands. According to the paper, it is no conclusion that CSR came into vogue only when consumers evinced greener attitudes. To this end, the essay addresses the academic debate over CSR, which has acknowledged the shift from responsibility to responsiveness, and side with mainstream business ethicists in arguing that CSR is fluff.

From the Paper
"This paper will examine the topic of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and conclude that, in essence, it is a marketing smokescreen designed to trick consumers into feeling better about buying certain brands; after all, it is no conclusion that CSR came into vogue only when consumers evinced greener attitudes. To this end, the essay will also examine the academic debate over CSR, which has acknowledged the shift from responsibility (genuine care) to responsiveness (bowing to consumer pressure), and side with mainstream business ethicists (rather than..."

Tags:corporate, social, responsibility

Abstract
The paper discusses corporate social responsibility and 19 organizational theory articles in a 25 page paper synthesizing theory with practice. The paper argues that many companies now recognize that they have responsibilities not only to their shareholders, but also to other interested communities.

From the Paper
"Traditionally managers are responsible to a company's board of directors and the board of directors is responsible to the shareholders. This has resulted in a bias among managers toward returning value to shareholders to the exclusion or at least detriment of others who have an interest in a company's performance."

Tags:corporate social responsibility, organizational theory

Abstract
This paper discusses the term "corporate social responsibility" and explains that it refers to the social responsibility that a company must honor towards the public. The paper contends that companies are required to be involved in human rights issues, community development, and environmental protection among other issues, in order to fulfill their social responsibility. The paper provides examples of major multinational corporations that are socially responsible.

From the Paper
"The commitment and social responsibility, according to Hewlett Packard, starts initially within the company, and it is towards its own employees that the company shows its commitment and responsibility. Suppliers and partners are next in line, and all these people are legally bound to follow the rules and regulations and policies laid down by the corporation regarding labor standards, safety measures, health regulations, and, most important of all, environmental protection. They emphasize the fact that all suppliers to the company are expected by the company to follow the said rules and regulations of socially responsible behavior. The company would adapt continuous improvement and corrective measures as and when the need would arise."

Tags:committment, society, involvement

Abstract
This essay will discuss the competing claims of both the stockholder and the stakeholder approaches to corporate social responsibility. An explanation for corporate social responsibility will be provided and arguments will be put forward for similarities and differences in the stockholder and stakeholder approaches to this movement. Evidence to support these arguments will be provided throughout the essay.

From the paper:

"Before discussing the competing claims, it must be understood what is meant by the term corporate social responsibility. Corporate social responsibility is just one aspect of business ethics and has become increasingly important for companies operating in the global economy. It is a fast developing and increasingly competitive field. There is no single, commonly accepted definition of corporate social responsibility but it generally refers to the idea that businesses are accountable for the effects of their actions on the community and should seek socially and economically beneficial results. It involves operating a business in a way that meets ethical and legal standards as well as meeting public expectation. Decisions taken by managers need to satisfy the needs of the community and companies must be accountable for the way in which their results are achieved."

Tags:corporate, drucker, friedman, responsibility, shareholder, social, stakeholder, stockholder

Abstract
This document discusses the similarities between business ethics and corporate social responsibility. The writer maintains that that not only are they similar expressions of corporate and organizational behavior but business ethics are derived from corporate social responsibility. The writer discusses that corporate social responsibility is the basis for organizational values in a company and its business ethics depend upon the sincerity of its value system in order to get any traction among employees.

Tags:business, ethics, corporate

Abstract
The following paper focuses on the social responsibility of television networks in their depiction of violence. The writer gives a general introduction of the ethical issues of corporate responsibility and outlines the specifics of the corporate responsibility of television networks in their depiction of violence on television. Recommendations are given to help formulate a policy that addresses this issue. This paper also delves into the details of the implementation and evaluation of the policy to address the responsibility of television networks for violence shown on television.

From the Paper
"I believe that it is not unreasonable to hold corporations to the same, if not a greater, responsibility toward the rest of society. The actions of corporations can affect, quite literally, millions of people. We only need to look at the Nestle Infant Milk Formula controversy for an especially distasteful example. Here, Nestle used misleading marketing to sell artificial infant formula to third-world children, resulting in the death of millions of these babies. See Dobbing (1988) for a detailed description of this case. Closer to home, the recent Enron scandal is another example how the actions of a corporation can damage millions of lives."

Tags:corporate, mission, statement, financial, state, profit, internal, code, ethics

Abstract
This paper discusses how the future manager's challenge will be to rebuild societal faith in his organization specifically and the corporate world in general. The paper explains that the recent financial and ethical scandals have encouraged organizations to meet the social demands of the public in order to regain the trust and loyalty of both consumers and investors.

Outline:
Introduction
The Social Contract and the Breakdown of Societal Trust
A Changing Society Equals A Changing Demand for Corporate Social Responsibility
Conclusion

From the Paper
"An organization's social contract can be described as the obligations and expectations that society and organizations mutually have with one another. However, over recent years, there has been a breakdown in societal trust, due to the blatant disregard of this contract by so many businesses. In generations past, hard work and loyalty to an organization equated to job security. When employees were productivity and the company was profitable, employees were rewarded with increased income. An employers good fortune was linked to their employees and vice versa. However, with today's increased globalization and deregulation of so many industries, have broken their half of the social contract with massive blue collar and white collar layoffs, as well as the numerous accounting scandals that have rocked the financial world including: Enron, Worldcom, and Tyco."

Tags:scandals, social, contract, ethics, values

Abstract
This paper expansively explores social responsibility in corporations. It offers a definition and then the far-reaching effects of corporate social irresponsibility are discussed. Further, the paper gives examples to qualify its opinion. In conclusion, the author discusses why social responsibility is vital to the success of the modern corporation.

From the Paper
"While interpreting safety data and identifying causes and effects of particular trends can sometimes be challenging, the overall message about corporate responsibility in this area shouldn't be obscured. Driven by the pressures of the market to lower costs, keep skilled workers, minimize legal and insurance costs, and avoid bad publicity, American businesses have toiled endlessly to make their workplaces safer."

Tags:business, employee, corporation, economy, religion