Carroll’s pyramid

of corporate social
responsibility
Defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

“Corporate social responsibility

encompasses the economic, legal, ethical,
and discretionary (philanthropic)
expectations that society has of
organizations at a given point in time”
(Carroll 1979, 1991).
 The Importance of Corporate Social
Responsibility for Your Business

CSR demonstrates that you’re a business that takes

an interest in wider social issues, rather than just
those that impact your profit margins, which will
attract customers who share the same values.
Therefore, it makes good business sense to operate
sustainably.
The pyramid was developed by
Archie Carroll and highlights the
4 most important types of
responsibility of organizations.
These are:

1. Economic responsibility
2. Legal responsibility
3. Ethical responsibility
4. Philanthropic
responsibility
 Carroll's CSR pyramid
criticism
The model is considered by many to be overly simplistic

Organizations don’t always do what they say when it

comes to CSR

Other critics assert that many so-called CSR activities are just
publicity stunts and corporate “greenwashing.”

Others claim that ethical responsibility should be given a

more prominent position within the pyramid
Climate Change and CSR
EXAMPLE
Facts: There is a scientific consensus that global warming and climate change represent an
enormous threat facing mankind.
The controversial aspect: Can corporate CSR have a significant impact on climate change, or
is it just a public relations vehicle for companies and a distraction from the need for stronger
government action, such as through a carbon tax?
In favor of global warming-related CSR: Corporations can have a major impact in the battle
against global warming by reducing their large carbon footprints, encouraging other corporations
to follow suit, and helping discover and develop alternative sources of energy.
Against global warming-related CSR: Companies spend a lot of advertising money to boast
about small measures against global warming, but many of these companies are in industries—
such as fossil fuels or automobiles—that produce the most greenhouse gases, to begin with; self-
serving claims of climate-change concern are often simply greenwashing campaigns intended to
distract us from the need for society to take more effective measures through taxation and
regulation.
A reconstruction of
Carroll’s pyramid of
corporate social
responsibility for the
21st century

Denise Baden
Fig. 1 Proposed amended pyramid of CSR
PHILANTHROPIC
RESPONSIBILITIES

ECONOMIC 4TH
RESPONSIBILITIES

3RD
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
2ND

1ST
 Reconstruction of Carroll’s pyramid CSR

Philanthropic
Responsibility

Ethical
Responsibility

Legal Responsibility

Economic Responsibility

Fig1. proposed amended pyramid of CRS

Carroll's CSR Pyramid
 RESOURCES
Janse, B. (2020). Carroll’s CSR pyramid. Retrieved [insert date] from
toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/strategy/carroll-csr-pyramid/

Baden, D. A reconstruction of Carroll’s pyramid of corporate social

responsibility for the 21st century. Int J Corporate Soc Responsibility 1, 8
(2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40991-016-0008-2

https://www.ezyeducation.co.uk/ezybusinessdetails/ezybusiness-news/entr
y/business-studies-year-13-revision-day-8-corporate-social-responsibility.h
tml
Thank you.