The glass ceiling of corporate social responsibility: Consequences of a business case approach towards CSR

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify that corporate social responsibility (CSR) has come a long way by the prevailing business case approach, but increasingly hits a glass ceiling. The glass ceiling metaphor refers to the inherent limitations created by a business case approach towards CSR.

Design/methodology/approach

The main findings are based on an analysis of existing literature on strategies for CSR. The findings are illustrated with a case from the Dutch National Research Program on CSR.

Findings

The very term corporate social responsibility suggests that the debate about CSR is all about responsibilities of corporations. Maybe it once was, but nowadays it is much more about new market opportunities and a business‐wise approach to ecological and social problems. CSR has evolved into a marketable asset of companies, in which profit‐oriented managers and entrepreneurs are willing to invest. This “commodification” of CSR has helped to make it acceptable in the business world, but this comes at a considerable price from the perspective of the social responsibility of business. It is especially argued in the paper that a business case approach results in opportunism, leaves institutional blockades intact and drives out the intrinsic motivation for engaging in CSR.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen conceptual research approach, the propositions put forward in the paper need further grounding in empirical research.

Practical implications

In order to shatter this glass ceiling, managers have to deal with a paradoxical situation. They should maintain their appreciation of economic constraints and at the same time combine this with a sincere recognition of moral values. This at least requires that managers should show commitment to certain social values, be able to defend it in good and bad times and prepare all employees to deal with the inherent dilemmas of bearing different responsibilities.

Originality/value

Although the paper builds on earlier articles on limitations of a business case approach, it is the first paper to argue for a glass ceiling of CSR created by the inherent limitations of such an approach.

Citation

Nijhof, A.H.J. and Jeurissen, R.J.M. (2010), "The glass ceiling of corporate social responsibility: Consequences of a business case approach towards CSR", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 30 No. 11/12, pp. 618-631. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443331011085222