Corporate Social Responsibility

Defining Corporate Social Responsibility

Introduction:

This blog will look at three definitions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the benefits these policies may bring. For this purpose, we will highlight what we consider the most relevant definition.

For organisations to provide an acceptable level of (CSR) does society have to enforce laws and regulations, or will business recognise the value in developing, promoting and adhering to their own CSR manifesto. The truth may lie somewhere in between.

If business does not set their own manifesto to address issues of CSR, then it could be argued that they are complicit in the negatives that these issues can bring. This can be an opportunity for self-regulation to adapt environmental controls, without waiting for government legislation and or enforcement.

Pressure from groups likes Greenpeace and Friends of the earth have influenced public opinion on CSR and Ecological issues around the globe for decades, one major change that can be credited to them is the phasing out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) this was used in aerosol sprays and refrigeration units (Pettitt, 2013)

Definitions:

Figure 1: European commission CSR logo

 

The first and most up to date CSR definition is from The European commission’s Policy (EC) definition of CSR.  “the responsibility of enterprises for their impact on society” [this definition is for enterprises larger than small to medium enterprises (sme’s)] “To fully meet their social responsibility, enterprises, ”should have in place a process to integrate social, environmental, ethical human rights and consumer concerns into their business operations and core strategy in close collaboration with their stakeholders” (commission, 2011).

The EC then goes on to relate to sme’s (Commision, 2011) and states that for most sme’s  , the CSR process will most likely be an organic and learning process, as the complex nature of CSR will be to define prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on society as a whole. Where the EC see this impact on society as holistic, the CIPD also see CSR as a global issue.

Their advisor Jill Miller, in a recent press release, outlined the CIPD definition on CSR:  “Corporate responsibility is a global issue; organisations with a strong focus on the future are already well on the way to integrating CR principles into their business.

Figure 2: CIPD logo

However, there is more work to do and HR is well-placed to steer organisations in the right direction, working alongside business leaders in developing and embedding a focused CR agenda”. (Miller, 2013). This is a forward thinking focus on HR and the implications as seen by the CIPD, is that HR will be best placed to take CSR issues and integrate them into on-going training and practice.

By contrast, we will now look at BP’s Business Policies. This was published in 2000, before the term CSR was more commonly known. Back then, BP called this, business policies, if this were released today it would be known as their CSR mission, and is still relevant today. (Mullins, 2002)

We believe that, wherever we operate, our activities should generate economic benefits and opportunities for an enhanced quality of life for those whom our business impacts; that our conduct should be honest and open and that we should be held accountable for our actions.

“We are committed to”:

·         Respecting the rule of law, conducting our business with integrity, and showing respect for human dignity and the rights of the individual wherever we do business;

·        

Figure 3: Logo from 2000.

Creating mutual advantage in all our relationships so that people will trust us and want to do business with us;

·         Demonstrating respect for the natural environment and work toward our goals of no accidents, no harm to people and no damage to the environment;

·         Managing our financial performance to maximise long-term value for our shareholders

This goes on to outline five commitments and policy expectations. This campaign was to combat fierce opposition to numerous oil spills around the world, and BP still, today do not have their troubles to seek, as these spills are still in occurrence. Nonetheless, this is still a fully rounded, if somewhat stilted in the wording, of a committed policy to tackle CSR issues.

Summary:

Note that all three organisations have mentioned a definite inference of the future, CIPD-“Strong focus on the future”; BP-“Work towards our goal”; EC-“Prevent and mitigate adverse impacts on society “[this is strong marketing speak for, we are looking to implement CSR  organically and look to the coming years with prudence- with regard to our planet].

Bucks University and CSR:

Bucks New University demonstrate CSR in a number of ways and these are highlighted in more detail on their website http://bucks.ac.uk/. 

One of the ways in which it is offered, is within their Learning Development Unit LDU. This is, as the name implies, a learning aid offered to all stakeholders within the University, and is a tool utilised by students, the help on offer can help with grammar, spelling, essay writing and proof reading of students course work. This useful service can help with numeracy too, by students throughout their degree course.

Students who use this service can then take the skills gained, as they are transferable, and use them to gain an edge in the competitive jobs market. This shows the attitude that Bucks have toward helping disadvantage groups within the University, although this service is not exclusively for use by disadvantaged groups.

Bucks have shown a willingness to engage with the local community and have held an inaugural talk with the High Wycombe Society, 22 March. This is an opportunity for the community of H.Wycombe to air their views on any issues pertaining to the University. The vice chancellor of the University Ruth Farwell will be at the meeting and said: “Bucks New University has been present in the town for 120 years in various different forms. I am looking forward to speaking to The High Wycombe Society at the first talk in its programme this year as it's an excellent opportunity to discuss the benefits to Wycombe of being a university town".

Bucks have also run, since 2006, a range of events for enterprise week. This week is dedicated to bolstering student’s entrepreneurial skills, and in 2010, the University won the Enterprising Educator of the year Award in recognition of their enterprise related courses on offer. This is recognition of the way in which stakeholder partners have been encouraged within the University to hone their entrepreneurial flair.

Bucks, in recognition of the strong CSR aspect of environmental issues facing all businesses today, have implemented a number of measures to combat environmental pollution, by recycling, reducing carbon emissions, amongst others. Solar panels were installed and save over 20 tonnes of carbon per year. Diesel vans have been replaced with newer electric ones, these vans alone save almost 2 tons of carbon emissions per year.

The benefit with all of the above policies employed within Bucks is a stronger CSR profile. This enables stakeholder alliance and an organic partnership, to ensure all participants work toward a sustainable and environmentally friendly future for Bucks.  

In conclusion:

Although BP’s definition has been taken from their business policy of June 2000, it is still relevant today, and the terms used are still recognisable.

The most relevant CSR definition is by the EC. This definition is all-encompassing and goes to the heart of CSR, the EC cover all terminology within CSR that businesses are now trying to address. This statement is so succinct, that it could be, and may be, used as a basis to determine some form of legislation that could carry business into the coming years, within Europe.

Works Cited

Commision, E. (2011) A renewed EU strategy 2011-2014 for Corporate Social Responsibiity [online]. European Commission Enterprise and industry. Available from: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0681:FIN:EN:PDF [Accessed: 21 March 2013].

commission, E. (2011) Enterprise and Industry [online]. European commission. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sustainable-business/corporate-social-responsibility/index_en.htm [Accessed: 21 March 2013].

Miller, J. (2013) CIPD [online]. CIPD 100 hundred years of leading into HR future. Available from: http://www.cipd.co.uk/pressoffice/press-releases/cr-conference.aspx [Accessed: 21 March 2013].

Mullins, L.J. (2002) Organisational stakeholders. In: Management and Organisational Behaviour. 6th ed. Edinburgh: Pearson Education Ltd, pp.145-47.

Pettitt, F.B.&.S. (2013) influences on the political and legal environment. In: esentials of marketing. 3rd ed. London: Pearson ed, p.70.

Sifter, T. (2010) Re-branding the BP logo:The 25 funniest and most creative [online]. Twisted Sifter. Available from: http://twistedsifter.com/2010/05/funny-creative-bp-logos-competition/ [Accessed: 22 March 2013].