Business Environments: Csr
Introduction
This essay will evaluate the growing importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and how this concept impacts on an organisations business environment. In particular the essay will look into WM Morrison’s stance on CSR and how this impacts the way they conduct business.
Greenberg (2003) defines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as ‘Business decision making linked to ethical values, compliance with legal requirements and respect for individuals, the community at large, and the environment. It involves operating a business in a manner that meets or exceeds the ethical, legal, and public expectations that society has of business’.
UK’s Confederation of British Industry (2001) as cited by Peter Jones (2005) has argued that “CSR is highly subjective and therefore does not allow for a universally applicable definition”. However, different organisations have framed a variety of definitions for example the Commission for the European Communities (2001) defines CSR as “a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in the business operations and in their interactions with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis”. For the Commission of the European Communities this means not just fulfilling legal responsibilities but also going beyond compliance to embrace wider social, environmental and economic goals. The World Bank (2004) defines CSR as:
‘The commitment of businesses to contribute to sustainable economic development-working with employees, their families, the local community, and society at large to improve the quality of life, in ways that are good for business and good for development’.
A little about Morrisons
Morrison’s is the fourth largest retailer in the UK and is also the UK’s fifth largest food manufacturer, with 14 UK based manufacturing sites including its own bakeries, abattoirs and produce packing plants. Bringing good practice in energy efficiency to such a large company is a big
This essay will evaluate the growing importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and how this concept impacts on an organisations business environment. In particular the essay will look into WM Morrison’s stance on CSR and how this impacts the way they conduct business.
Greenberg (2003) defines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as ‘Business decision making linked to ethical values, compliance with legal requirements and respect for individuals, the community at large, and the environment. It involves operating a business in a manner that meets or exceeds the ethical, legal, and public expectations that society has of business’.
UK’s Confederation of British Industry (2001) as cited by Peter Jones (2005) has argued that “CSR is highly subjective and therefore does not allow for a universally applicable definition”. However, different organisations have framed a variety of definitions for example the Commission for the European Communities (2001) defines CSR as “a concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in the business operations and in their interactions with their stakeholders on a voluntary basis”. For the Commission of the European Communities this means not just fulfilling legal responsibilities but also going beyond compliance to embrace wider social, environmental and economic goals. The World Bank (2004) defines CSR as:
‘The commitment of businesses to contribute to sustainable economic development-working with employees, their families, the local community, and society at large to improve the quality of life, in ways that are good for business and good for development’.
A little about Morrisons
Morrison’s is the fourth largest retailer in the UK and is also the UK’s fifth largest food manufacturer, with 14 UK based manufacturing sites including its own bakeries, abattoirs and produce packing plants. Bringing good practice in energy efficiency to such a large company is a big