Considers the paradoxes inherent in the phrase “corporate social responsibility”. These include procedures of corporate governance, the market’s view of organizations’ ethical…
Abstract
Considers the paradoxes inherent in the phrase “corporate social responsibility”. These include procedures of corporate governance, the market’s view of organizations’ ethical stances, the lack of clear definition, acceptance or denial, the lack of formal mechanisms for taking responsibility and the placing and priority that most organizations give to social responsibility. The article concludes that until these paradoxes are properly addressed, corporate social responsibility can legitimately be branded an invention of PR. It can only have real substance if it embraces all the stakeholders of a company, if it is reinforced by changes in company law relating to governance, if it is rewarded by financial markets, if its definition relates to the goals of social and ecological sustainability, if its implementation is benchmarked and audited, if it is open to public scrutiny, if the compliance mechanisms are in place, and if it is embedded across the organization horizontally and vertically.
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Chris Skinner and Gary Mersham
The purpose of this paper is to examine aspects of corporate social investment (CSI) in the Southern African context.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine aspects of corporate social investment (CSI) in the Southern African context.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper looks at current practice in Southern Africa against the historical development of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and CSI. It looks at the impact of new legislation in South Africa.
Findings
The paper concludes by reflecting on the contribution that African public relations practice may have on the development challenges of Africa.
Originality/value
The paper adds insights into CSR in South Africa, focusing for energising trends.
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Gary Malcolm Mersham and Chris Skinner
The purpose of this study is to describe the current practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in South Africa, its linkage to corporate social investment (CSI), the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to describe the current practice of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in South Africa, its linkage to corporate social investment (CSI), the impact of new Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation and the contribution that South African public relations practice can have on the development challenges facing the continent of Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical data and reports drawn from various industry and evaluative sources is interpreted in the context of key contemporary elements of practice. The last part of the article provides a theoretical discussion of the public relations role as a “change” agent in South Africa and for the continent of Africa as a whole.
Findings
The South African Government’s prescriptive stance on transformation and BEE has thrust the reconsideration of CSR onto every corporate agenda in South Africa. With set targets and expenditure requirements, CSI has become a performance-driven pursuit among businesses seeking to improve their overall BEE scores. At the Pan-African level, a generic model of African public relations with a strong developmental focus is required for the education and training of public relations professionals.
Research limitations/implications
African public relations practice challenges accepted normative approaches in the conceptualisation of a sustainable new global model of the profession. More research will be needed to show how the African humanist approach might impact on the debate about the political, social and economic relevance of the profession in society and the reputation of the profession worldwide.
Originality/value
This study provides historical context for recent developments in public relations in South Africa, providing insights into the direction of the development of public relations practice in Africa.
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Peter Jones, Daphne Comfort and David Hillier
This paper aims to offer a preliminary case study exploration of the corporate social responsibility issues being addressed and reported by the top ten global retailers.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to offer a preliminary case study exploration of the corporate social responsibility issues being addressed and reported by the top ten global retailers.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper begins with a short discussion of the characteristics and origins of CSR and this is followed by an illustrative examination of the CSR issue publicly reported by the top ten global retailers. The paper draws its empirical material from the CSR reports and information posted on the Worldwide web by these retailers.
Findings
The findings reveal that each of the retailers has its own approach to CSR and that there are substantial variations in the nature and the extent of reporting. More specifically the paper focuses upon four sets of CSR issues, namely those relating to the environment; the marketplace; the workplace; and the community, and on the measurement of CSR performance.
Research limitations/implications
Retailers are paying growing attention to CSR and the case study suggests a number of fertile grounds for future enquiry and research. That said, the current case is a preliminary exploration of CSR issues as reported on the Worldwide web and more in‐depth work will be needed before more definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Originality/value
The paper provides an accessible review of the CSR issues and agendas being reported by the top ten global retailers and as such it will interest academics and those working in management positions within the retail industry.
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Peter Jones, Daphne Comfort and David Hillier
This paper aims to offer a preliminary case study exploration of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues being addressed and reported by the UK's top ten pub operators.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to offer a preliminary case study exploration of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues being addressed and reported by the UK's top ten pub operators.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper begins with a short discussion of the characteristics and origins of CSR and this is followed by a brief outline of pubs and pub operators within the UK. The paper draws its empirical material from the CSR reports and information posted on the worldwide web by the leading pub operators.
Findings
The findings reveal that each of the leading operators has its own approach to CSR and that there are substantial variations in the nature and the extent of reporting. More specifically the paper focuses upon four sets of CSR issues namely those relating to the marketplace; the workplace; the environment; and the community and then provides some reflections on the commitment to these issues at both corporate and individual pub levels.
Research implications/limitations
CSR in the pub sector of the hospitality industry has received relatively little attention from academics but the case study suggests a number of fertile grounds for future enquiry and research. That said the current case is a preliminary exploration of CSR issues as reported on the worldwide web and more in depth work will be needed before more definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Practical implications
The paper offers a number of CSR action points for both the companies and the individuals who are involved in running pubs.
Originality/value
The paper provides an accessible review of the CSR issues and agendas being reported by the UK's leading pub operators and as such it will interest academics and practitioners working in the licensed trade and those professionals who work with the licensed trade.
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Peter Jones, Daphne Comfort and David Hillier
The purpose of this paper is to offer an exploratory case study of how the UK's top ten food retailers are employing corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a means of marketing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to offer an exploratory case study of how the UK's top ten food retailers are employing corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a means of marketing to customers while they are within stores.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper begins with a short review of the characteristics and origins of CSR and it is followed by a literature review of current thinking on the relationships between marketing and CSR and a brief outline of the structure of food retailing in the UK. Data obtained from an internet search and a simple walk through visual inspection and information collection survey conducted within the largest store operated by each of the top ten retailers within the towns of Cheltenham and Gloucester, UK provides the empirical material for the case study.
Findings
The survey revealed that the principal CSR themes being employed within stores were value for money, support for local food producers, Fairtrade, healthy living and healthy eating, commitment to organic products, charitable donations and initiatives to support the local community.
Practical implications
That there was considerable variation in the extent to which the top ten retailers were using CSR themes in marketing communications within stores.
Originality/value
Outlines the relationships between marketing and CSR and gives a brief summary of the structure of food retailing in the UK and will be of interest to those involved in those fields.
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Isaac Heard, Peter E.D. Love, Michael C.P. Sing and Veronica Goerke
Research examining the role of construction and involvement of resource organisations with indigenous reconciliation has been very limited in Australia. This paper aims to examine…
Abstract
Purpose
Research examining the role of construction and involvement of resource organisations with indigenous reconciliation has been very limited in Australia. This paper aims to examine how a sample of organisations from Western Australia (WA) are engaging with indigenous reconciliation.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey juxtaposed with in-depth interviews are used to explore how construction and resource companies (mining and energy) operating in WA have been planning to build better relationships with the indigenous community as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
Findings
The majority of construction and resource companies sampled embraced reconciliation as part of a contractual and legal requirement rather than part of their CSR. It was acknowledged that to effectively address the issues associated with reconciliation and indigenous engagement, there is a requirement for flexibility and adaption of existing protocols and processes to better suit the cultural differences that arise with interactions between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.
Research limitations/implications
The questionnaire survey was cross-sectional, and a limited number of in-depth interviews were undertaken. Respondents’ opinions were sought about their organisations’ reconciliation action plans, which have only been recently embraced by firms, and thus, views that were solicited should not be treated as being definitive.
Originality/value
Research examining the role of construction and involvement of resource organisations with indigenous reconciliation in the construction and resource sector has been limited. The findings of this study can provide a platform for examining and comparing how construction and resource organisations in different countries are embracing the process of reconciliation with their indigenous peoples.
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Peter Jones, Daphne Comfort and David Hillier
This paper offers a preliminary exploration of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues being addressed by the UK's top ten retailers.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper offers a preliminary exploration of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues being addressed by the UK's top ten retailers.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws its empirical information from the CSR reports and information posted on the world wide web by the UK's top ten UK country of origin retailers. Four principal headings: namely, Environment; Marketplace; Workplace; and Community, are used to capture, and provide some illustrative examples of, CSR agendas.
Findings
The findings reveal that each of the top ten retailers has its own approach to CSR and that there are substantial variations in the nature and extent of the reporting process. That said there is some common ground in reporting on a range of environmental issues, on sourcing, on commitment to customers, on employees and on the communities in which the top ten retailers operate. A number of the top ten retailers are employing key performance indicators in an attempt to measure and benchmark their CSR achievements. The underlying message is that the top ten retailers claim that CSR is an integral element of their core business.
Originality/value
The paper provides an accessible review of CSR agendas being pursued by the UK's top ten retailers and as such will interest academics and students in higher education and practitioners and professionals working in the retail marketplace.
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Peter Jones, Daphne Comfort and David Hillier
This paper offers a preliminary exploration of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues being addressed and reported by some of the UK's leading construction companies.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper offers a preliminary exploration of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues being addressed and reported by some of the UK's leading construction companies.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper begins with a short discussion of the characteristics and origins of CSR and this is followed by a brief outline of the construction industry and some of the challenges it is currently facing. The empirical information for the paper is drawn from the CSR reports and information posted on the world wide web by some of the leading construction companies.
Findings
The findings reveal substantial variations in the nature and the extent of reporting. The paper specifically focuses upon six sets of CSR issues namely those relating to environment; health and safety; human resources; supply chain management; customers and communities; and governance and ethics. More generally the paper suggests that although construction companies report their recognition of the importance of CSR and their commitment to integrate it within their businesses they make relatively limited use of key performance Indicators and have low participation rates in general benchmarking exercises.
Originality/value
The paper provides an accessible review of the CSR issues and agendas being reported by some of the UK's leading construction companies and as such it will interest academics and practitioners working in the construction industry and those professionals who work with the construction industry.
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Peter Jones, Daphne Comfort and David Hillier
The purpose of this paper is to present exploratory examination of the ways in which large retailers in the UK are using corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a means of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present exploratory examination of the ways in which large retailers in the UK are using corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a means of communicating with customers while they are in the store.
Design/methodology/approach
After a literature‐based review of CSR, its relationship to marketing and the rationale for growing retail interest in the topic, an analysis is conducted of CSR reports and information posted on the world wide web by the UK's top ten food retailers, followed by participant observation in their largest branch stores in one medium‐sized English town.
Findings
While there were considerable variations in the extent to which the top ten retailers used CSR themes to communicate with customers at the point of sale, the scope was found to be generally limited. The main messages used concerned support for British food producers, Fairtrade, fitness, healthy living, healthy eating, organic produce, sustainability, employment policies, charitable giving, and support for local communities.
Research limitations/implications
Further studies could confirm and extend understanding of the role of in‐store CSR communications in strengthening brand image and engaging customers with wider social and environmental issues to a company's advantage.
Practical implications
Marketing intelligence insights can form the basis for marketing plans and strategies related to CSR, principally in the context of retailing but also beyond it.
Originality/value
An accessible review of how the UK's leading retailers are addressing CSR issues, of potential interest to marketing academics and practitioners working on and in the retail marketplace.