09 Jul Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility by David Chandler, 5th Edition, Sage Publications.

Make sure to reference you course textbook for both parts!!!! 

Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility by David Chandler, 5th Edition, Sage Publications.

Part one- Assignment 1: answer the following questions below with a least three strong sentences

1.    Define corporate social responsibility.  

2.    Describe the famous example of the Malden Mills fire and discuss Aaron Feuersteins response to the fire. Was his response an example of corporate social responsibility? Why or why not? What are some other approaches the company could have taken?

3.    Define and discuss briefly the ethical, moral, rational, and economic arguments for corporate social responsibility. Of the four components, which one is more relevant to you and why?

4.    The textbook states that corporate social responsibility is a fluid concept. What does this mean?

5.    The textbook states that corporate social responsibility is both a process and an outcome. What does this mean? 

6.    Adam Smith argued that all business is local. Explain what this means, including the evolution of the concept.  

7.    Briefly define each of the five driving forces of corporate social responsibility and make an argument regarding which of the forces is most important.  

8.    Describe the difference between traditional approaches to corporate social responsibility, which focus on objective outcomes, and strategic CSR, which focuses on value creation.

9.    Describe the differences between Benefit Corporations and B Corps. Do you think either of these designations is necessary? Why or why not?

10. Why are brands more important today than they were in the past?

Part two- Discussion 1: CSR and Social and Environmental Sustainability (CLO 1)

No unread replies.No replies. Make sure to watch your grammar and have an in depth answer for each question below. Remember this is for you masters

Sustainability describes the ability to maintain various systems and processes environmentally, socially, and economically over time.  Sustainability originated in natural resource economics,but has since gained broader currency in terms of sustainable development and social equality.  (Yes!  Economics!)

Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR, usually refers to a companys commitment to practice environmental and social sustainability and to be good stewards of the environment and the social landscapes in which they operate.  Some companies and economists rejected the idea of CSR because it implied an obligation to society and future generations beyond those contained in the binding legal requirements of business. However, most companies now embrace some notion of CSR.  Approaches to CSR vary. Some companies invest in CSR as reputation management or to sustain the profitability of a company, and some invest in CSR out of a sense of moral obligation to society. 

Now I would like you to think about CSR yourself and share your thoughts on the following points related to CSR.  Support any and all positions with examples, facts, figures, and citations. You are required to post your own initial post with 2 “food for thought” questions by 6:00 pm Saturday of Week 1 and you must respond to a minimum of 2 other posts by 6:00 pm Saturday of Week 2.

Some critics argue that CSR distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses and others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing.

       In what areas do you think companies can develop a CSR strategy?

       Which of the following do you think are especially interesting for a company to highlight as part of its CSR (how do these relate to the 3 pillars of sustainability):

o   Good working environment for employees

o   A good environmental policy

o   Policy of not using child labor, products tested on animals, etc.

o   Donating a percentage of profits to good causes

o   Employing people at risk of exclusion (for instance, people with disabilities, single mothers, unemployed people over the age of 45)

       Do you know if any of the companies that you are a client of have a CSR policy?

       Given a similar offer of services, would you choose a company that also had a good CSR track record? Why/why not?

       By incorporating social, environmental and economic costs and benefits into decision making, Social Return on Investment (SROI) measures and accounts for a much broader concept of value. What pros and cons can you think of in applying this analytic tool to a company’s decision-making process?