Slide 1: What is Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR?

Slide 2:

 In recent years, corporate social responsibility programs have become increasingly

common/popular. Most people understand the term to refer to practices that seek
to support and empower the communities upon which corporations are dependent.
Two slightly varying definitions that I found from a business blog, Investopedia, and
the UN industrial development organization (UNIDO) are shown here.
 According to Investopedia, (CSR) refers to ‘practices and policies undertaken by
corporations that are intended to have a positive influence on the world. The key
idea behind CSR is for corporations to pursue other pro-social objectives, in addition
to maximizing profits. Examples of common CSR objectives include minimizing
environmental externalities, promoting volunteerism among company employees,
and donating to charity.’
 According to UNIDO, ‘CSR is a management concept whereby companies integrate
social and environmental concerns in their business operations and interactions
with their stakeholders. CSR is generally  understood as being the way through
which a company achieves a balance  of economic, environmental and social
imperatives (“Triple-Bottom-Line-  Approach”), while at the same time addressing
the expectations of  shareholders and stakeholders.’’

Slide 3:

 For a company to be socially responsible, it first needs to be accountable to itself

and its shareholders. Economic output cannot be impacted negatively by CSR
programs.
 Also, CSR is often a strategy of large corporations. The more visible and successful a
corporation is, the more responsibility it has to set standards of ethical behavior for
its peers, competition, and industry.
 Small-and-mid-sized businesses also create social responsibility programs, but their
initiatives are not often as well-publicized as larger corporations.
 it is also important to draw a distinction between CSR, which can be a strategic
business management concept, and charity, sponsorships or philanthropy.

Slide 4: Why its important…how is it relevant to organizations?

Slide 5:

 CSR has four key elements: the workplace, the community, the environment and
social issues. Programs must consider philanthropic, ethical, legal and economic
responsibilities simultaneously.
  CSR helps align a company’s social and environmental activities with its business
purpose and values.
 Many companies view CSR as an integral part of their brand image, believing that
customers will be more likely to do business with brands that they perceive to be
more ethical.
 Consequently, CSR activities can be an important component of corporate public
relations.
 Most companies practice a multifaceted version of CSR that ranges from pure
philanthropy to environmental sustainability to the active pursuit of shared value.

Slide 6: How it effects organizations…how it relates to organizational behavior.

Slide 7:

 Corporate social responsibility impacts several domains, within and beyond the
organization engaging in it.
 Considerations of sustainability, conversion to renewable resources where possible,
carbon offsets are examples of external impacts.
 Within the organization, CSR encourages the elimination of unethical labor
practices, raises employee morale in the workplace by encouraging greater
engagement with their values, as well as their role in value creation within society.
 As the workplace is one of the elements of CSR, practices incorporate features like
mental health support, diversity & inclusion, support for disabilities, and support for
employee family lives.
 This in turn can increase employee loyalty, productivity and reduces turnover.
Positive spillover effects of CSR policies have been noted in various studies.

Slide 8: Give Examples

Slide 9:

 Today most major corporations and companies have CSR programs. Some brands
best known for their CSR programs include Rolex, Lego, Disney, Adidas Group,
Microsoft, Sony, Cannon, Michelin, and Ben & Jerry's, among others.
 Starbucks in particular has long been known for its keen sense of corporate social
responsibility and commitment to sustainability and community welfare. According
to its 2019 Global Social Impact Report, it has achieved many of its CSR milestones,
including:
 99% ethically sourced coffee,
 global network of farmers,
 pioneering green building throughout its stores,
  millions of hours of community service,
 groundbreaking college program for its partner/employees.
 Furthermore, Starbucks' CSR goals for 2020 include hiring 10,000 refugees,
reducing the environmental impact of its cups, and engaging its employees in
environmental leadership.

Slide 10:

Most corporations recognize the need and importance of CSR in the 21 st century. It is not a
compulsion but a necessity. Niall Fitzgerald, former CEO of Unilever said - Corporate social
responsibility is a hard-edged business decision. Not because it is a nice thing to do or
because people are forcing us to do it... because it is good for our business“

Similarly, one of the managing directors of Shell stated, In my view the successful
companies of the future will be those that integrate business and employees' personal
values. The best people want to do work that contributes to society with a company whose
values they share, where their actions count and their views matter .“

The opinions of these business leaders highlights the ever-increasing relevance and
importance of CSR for every type of organization. It not only has a positive impact on
external elements like the society or the environment, but on the company itself as well. I
believe we will soon see CSR programs become the norm not only for most businesses, but
also for institutions like universities.

Slide 11: The sources for my presentation are as mentioned here:

 Rangan, K., Chase, L., & Karim, S. (2015, March 9). The Truth About CSR. Harvard
Business Review. https://hbr.org/2015/01/the-truth-about-csr.
 What is CSR? UNIDO. https://www.unido.org/our-focus/advancing-economic-
competitiveness/competitive-trade-capacities-and-corporate-
responsibility/corporate-social-responsibility-market-integration/what-csr.
 Fernando, J. (2021, February 2). Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/corp-social-
responsibility.asp.

Thank you.