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Corporate Social Responsibility and Risk Management in Property Projects

Corporate Social Responsibility and Risk Management in Property Projects

Introduction

This chapter presents a background of the study, rationale for the selected topic, a brief exploration of the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR), the relationship between CSR and risk management (RM), aims and objectives and an outline of the research methodology employed in the study.

Background

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a way in which organizations integrate economic, social and environmental concerns into their decision making, culture, values, operations and strategy in a transparent and accountable manner and thereby, create wealth, establish better practices and improve the society (Dunphy et al, 2003, p. 5). Grant (2009, p. 16) defines CSR as engagement in beneficial activities that do not have negative effects on the economic, social and natural environment surrounding businesses and individuals presently and in the future. As such, an organization embracing CSR upholds three main principles, namely, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. As Beth and singh 2005, p. 12) point out, CSR principles enhance broad engagement of stakeholders in organizational activities and enhances the reputation of an organization in the eyes of stakeholders. Importantly, embracing CSR principles enhances the ability of an organization to effectively manage economic, legal, social, environmental and other risks. Precisely, CSR is related to RM by providing intelligence about the potential risks and by offering an effective means for responding to these risks (Smith, 2010, p. 20).

As Walesh (2000, p. 135) explains, RM is part of project management carried out within organizations. Project management is the application of techniques, knowledge, skills and tools to a range of activities that constitute a project with a central aim of meeting or exceeding the expectations and requirements of the stakeholders. According to Walesh (2000, p. 135), in order to meet or exceed the requirements or expectations of stakeholders, project management has to keep balance between the time, resources, quality and scope of the project in question. These elements interact with each other in a way that makes each process meant to give a desired outcome unique. The unique process leading to a desired outcome is called a project.

Sometimes, these elements interact to form systems or projects that are complex and dynamic within organizations. To achieve successful outcome in such projects, organizations select project managers to deal with specific issues such as risks, human resources, finance, communication and technical issues. Dominelli’s (2011, p. 432) explains that all risk management activities carried out at top management level of a project should make consideration of interests of internal and external stakeholders. Organizational stakeholders with interest in the performance of organizational projects include shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees, communities, governments, international organizations, non-governmental organization and others affected by a firm’s activities. By giving consideration to the interests of the stakeholders, the top management would ensure that a project attains success and is secure from adversity that would occur as a result of ignoring their contribution (Lawrence, 1998, p. 232). Therefore, CSR principles are relevant to RM in property projects.

Rationale for the topic

Numerous scholars have paid attention the connection that exists between CSR and RM in organizations. However, there is limited literature focusing on the relevance of the connection between CSR and RM in projects. Risk in project management implies the possibility of harm arising from an activity or the possibility that a project might not progress in the future. As Edwards and Bowen (2005) explain, there has been increasing need to establish the potential risks that are related to projects in order to find ways to mitigate or avoid them. According to Bourne (2007, p. 2), the success of a project relies on three pillars, namely, management of uncertainty, maintenance of project relationships and delivery of value. To achieve success, there is need for alignment of the performance metrics and management of the project to the perceived requirements by the stakeholders. Alternatively, this step may involve negotiations within the established relationships so as to align the perceived requirements with the feasible outcomes of the project. As Bourne (2007, p. 2) explains, the three elements need to be combined together for a project to attain success as indicated in figure 1.

Figure1. A balanced view of success; the pillars of project success

177165039370 Managing relationships

-Managing stakeholders’ expectations

Managing relationships

-Managing stakeholders’ expectations

-257175115570Delivery Value

-Time, cost, scope and

quality

Delivery Value

-Time, cost, scope and

quality

2114550259080Stakeholders

Stakeholders

1181100259080

Managing risk

Managing risk

Given that CSR helps to alleviated risks at organizational level, it also possible that CSR can help to mitigate risks at project level.To investigate this issue, this paper focuses on the relevance of the connection between CSR and RM in property project.

Indicative Literature

CSR principles

Economic sustainability implies the application of various organizational strategies that lead to utilization of available resources to the best advantage of an organization, all stakeholders and the natural environment (Wells, 2010, p. 67). Overfishing, for instance is an activity that cannot be regarded as been economically sustainable. Thus, economic sustainability refers to the use of resources in the most efficient responsible way in order to ensure long-term benefits. Environmental sustainability implies the movement towards the use of renewable rather than non-renewable resources and the minimization or elimination of polluting and hazardous wastes (Wells, 2010, p. 67). The recycling of waste products that pollute the environment such as plastic paper bags is an activity that is sustainable in the long-term. Social sustainability on the other hand refers to creating and maintaining quality of life for all. By respecting ethical principles while dealing with human beings and working towards economic and environmental sustainability, an organization is already working towards social sustainability (Wells, 2010, p. 67).

Relationship between CSR principles and RM

An o embracing the principles of CSR generates investor confidence, attract funding and escape from risks associated with financing. As Smith (2010, p. 21) explain, CSR principles focus on increasing profitability and enhancing efficiency in an organization. This helps to create wealth and other benefits for shareholders. The level of accountability, probity and transparency that an organization has influences investors and potential investors to accept the organization as a caring, honest and legitimate wealth creating organ. This helps to improve organizational reputation, image and market standing (Grant, 2009, p. 76). This helps to assure investors that their will be secure and well managed and will generate wealth for them. Therefore, an organization embracing CSR is able to attract funding and to shield it self from potential financial risks. In the same vein, it is also vital for individuals involved in project management to take into account the perception of the stakeholders to the value of a given project.

On the contrary, failure to embrace CSR principles makes an organization vulnerable to financial distress or financial risks in the future. Frederikslust et al (2008, p. 75) noted that failure to embrace CSR principles may lead to risky financing patterns, poor organizational performance and increased exposure to non-conducive macroeconomic crises. This leads to loss of investor confidence and inability to attract sufficient funding. Without sufficient funding, an organization is exposed to the risk of liquidation (Wells 2010, p. 59). Generally, this applies to both organizations and projects that are undertaken within organizations. Therefore, CSR is crucial to the performance of a project.

Aims and Objectives of the Study

The main aim of this study is to establish the relevance of CSR in RM in Property Projects

The specific objectives of the study are

To determine the relationship between CSR and RM

To determine the effects of CSR engagement on the reactions of stakeholders

to determine the effects of CSR on projects performance

To determine the relevance of the relationship between CSR and RM in property project

Research Methodology

Research methodology refers to way and manner in which a study is conducted and includes all the methods used to carry out research within the social and natural sciences (Creswell, 2003, p. 42). In this study, the researcher has adopted an exploratory research design and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. This research relied on conceptualization and empirical phases respectively. During the first phase, relevant literature to the topic of study was reviewed and the tools of data collection, particularly interview schedules, developed. During the second phase, data was collected from the selected participants and then analysed according to content validity and in regard to the set objectives of the study.

The study used both secondary and primary data. Secondary data was collected through exploration of available books and journals from school and online databases related to the relevance of the connection between CSR and RM in property management. Primary data was collected through interviews which were conducted on directors or managers of the selected property projects in various firms. Only one interview schedule was used to collect data from all respondents. The researcher used open-ended questions to obtain extensive information from the respondents. The researcher found interviews to be the best data collection method for this study since it allowed him to collect large volume of information in a short time and on a limited budget. The interviews were made short in order to encourage participation.

References

Beth, K. & singh, P. 2005 “Corporate Social Responsibility as Risk Management: A

Model for Multinationals” Social Responsibility Initiative Working Paper No. 10. John F. Kennedy School of Government,a Cambridge

Creswell, J. W., (2003). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed

Methods Approaches, London: Sage Publications

Dominelli’s, L. (2011). ‘Climate change: Social workers’ roles and contributions to policy debates and interventions,’ International Journal of Social Welfare. Vol. 20 Iss. 4, Pp. 430–438.

Dunphy, D. C. & Andrew, G. & Suzanne, B. (2003) ‘The sustaining corporation’ In:

Organizational change for corporate sustainability: a guide for leaders and change agents of the future / Dexter Dunphy, Andrew Griffiths and Suzanne Benn. London : Routledge

Edwards, P., & Bowen, P., (2005), Project organization, Risk Management In Project

Organisations. Burlington: Butterworth Heinemann.

Frederikslust, R A I V & Ang, J S. 2008. Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance: A European Perspective, Taylor & Francis, London.

Grant, J. (2009), The green marketing manifesto, John Wiley & Sons, London

Lawrence, G. W. (1998) Management development…some ideals, images and realties.

In: Colman, A.D. and Geller, M. H. (eds.) Group relations reader 2, A. K. Rice Institute Series. 231-241

Smith, H. 2010. ‘Corporate Governance: Status Report,’ Viewed May 29, 2013

< HYPERLINK “http://www.herbertsmith.com/NR/rdonlyres/4070E00E-CB33-436D-9934-C0D02470EF7A/0/8734StatusReport_d3.pdf” http://www.herbertsmith.com/NR/rdonlyres/4070E00E-CB33-436D-9934-C0D02470EF7A/0/8734StatusReport_d3.pdf>

Walesh, S. G. (2000). Engineering your future: the non-technical side of professional

practice in engineering and other technical fields: project management. ASCE Publications, New York

Wells 2010. Sustainability in Australian Business: Fundamental Principles and

Practice, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Limited, Sydney

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MILTON FRIEDMANS MANTRA

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MILTON FRIEDMAN’S MANTRA

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TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc376284965” Abstract PAGEREF _Toc376284965 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376284966” Introduction PAGEREF _Toc376284966 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376284967” Milton Friedman’s theory PAGEREF _Toc376284967 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376284968” Milton Friedman’s Theory and CSR Analysis PAGEREF _Toc376284968 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376284969” Economic and Legal Responsibilities of Business PAGEREF _Toc376284969 h 8

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376284970” Corporate Social Responsibility Matters PAGEREF _Toc376284970 h 9

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376284971” Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc376284971 h 11

HYPERLINK l “_Toc376284972” Bibliography PAGEREF _Toc376284972 h 12

AbstractThe underlying public perceives that business managers make decisions solely to maximize profits though they most perceive the behavior to be wrong. Examining the role of business organization in regard to generation of profit maximizing, structurally centered decisions making procedure rather than socially responsible, human centered view, which is fundamental. An unconventional characterization of business is aimed at maintainable organizational performance and places social responsibility on stakeholders and on managers. CSR is accepted by numerous modern companies as one of a significant section of the business strategy thus acknowledging the benefits that normally comes along with adoption of the corporate social responsibility activities. Moreover, it is ranked the escalating pressure for the social concern as the greatest significant business challenge to the modern companies. Corporate social responsibility is considered as variants in regard to citizenship and sustainability is the new business mantra. Introduction Corporate Social Responsibility had been taken for a relatively longer period as a tendency that reached when the current Generation X arrived the labor force and becoming a sturdier consumer occurrence within corporate America. The underlying arguments concerning the role of business within society have erupted as companies that are normally subscribe to searching for suitable methods to lessen the dare necessity for CSR or for methods to turn social responsibility into the corresponding factor of profit making (Godet, 2006, 123). Whereas populace normally believes that corporate social responsibility is an interruption that ceases business performing to their probable and crippling the economy. Efficient and effective Corporate Social Responsibility and corresponding effectual marketing and business strategy are capable to aid a business grow to relatively bigger profits whilst promoting the society at large (Orts, 2013, 112). CSR has been accepted by numerous modern companies as a significant section of the business strategy thus acknowledging the benefits that normally comes along with adoption of the corporate social responsibility activities. Moreover, it is ranked the escalating pressure for the social concern as the greatest significant business challenge to the modern companies.

Milton Friedman’s TheoryIn the year 1970 an economist Milton Friedman summarized that underlying social responsibility of business in regard to utilization of resource and activities is mainly designed to escalate its profit (Flynn, 2008, 237). He asserts the main purpose of any business is making profit (Porritt, 2007, 453). Nevertheless, this perception of business responsibility that is challenged via stakeholders and corresponding political consumers, which put pressure on the underlying companies to manufacture their products and service through means that conforms with national and intercontinental standards and demand. The literature on the underlying corporate social responsibility provide no solitary designation of CSR and diverse definitions are utilized within maintain able growth, corporate citizenship and corresponding the threefold bottom line are normally instantaneously utilize in the description of CSR. The underlying common features the charitable perspective meaning that companies go yonder the preparation in an exertion to meet community encounters encrustation the creation. Social challenges are seen as massive significance since CSR efforts mainly depend on the way social challenges are apparent by society (Godet, 2006, 124).

Milton Friedman’s Theory and CSR AnalysisMilton Friedman is the main designers of the association alongside the prevailing social responsibility by taking into consideration numerous influential pieces of work disapproving Corporate Social Responsibility, and corresponding business organizations that promoted CSR credentials. He asserted that prevailing business persons who practice CRS are the main puppets of knowledgeable forces that undermine the underlying foundation of the free society in the previous decades. Friedman’s believed that only populace can possess responsibilities but not the business organizations and that the populaces that have been employed by the companies have responsibility primarily to their corresponding workers in regard to accomplishing the requirements of attaining profits (Godet, 2006, 226). He acknowledges that an individual is capable of having responsibilities in other places apart from business, but the responsibilities such as social responsibilities ought to be accomplished as a foremost and not an agent by spending own resource, time and energy. Moreover, social responsibilities ought to be business.

Milton Friedman’s method is disassemble in regard to the personification of the underlying businesses within corresponding specific businessmen but rather than presenting them as collectives of an individual s who normally remunerated to work at the request of the vendors. Thus, workers ought to be only motivated in order to accomplish their underlying responsibility to generate profit for the owners hence should not be a concern with the role of the company in regard to benefiting society (Porritt, 2007, 457). This can be conversely being perceived as the craving to function with the underlying social conscience possesses no place within the free market. Whilst there is little concurrence with the Friedman’s arguments, populace feels that Friedman understands in regard to Corporate Social Responsibility to be extremely narrow. This is because it decently focused on the underlying business and its role within a free market, which have become outdated for the prevailing contemporary culture (Flynn, 2008, 237). Milton Friedman makes valid points on the deconstruction of the underlying personification of the business; nevertheless, he mainly forgets the major attributes that are the prevailing CSR’s strengths and benefits to the general public. Friedman perception of the business is mainly in a factual manner that depicts workers working to get the owner of the business profit but not the corresponding public (Goodman & Hirsch, 2010, 265).

Milton Friedman argument of business enterprise social responsibility entirely depends on making of profit within the modern business. The main aim of operating business is to realize a profit without which the business cannot survive. Friedman’s theory does not support the idea of social responsibility to the underlying society. This is because the increase of revenue within any company normally leads to the development of the economy which subsequently benefits the populace. He thought that social responsibility ought not to be compelled by the prevailing administration. Whereas numerous economists concur with Friedman’s point of view as the underlying companies can still uphold their underlying efficacious path whilst in an attempt to shadowing numerous diverse methods in regard to the social responsibility. Moreover, responsibility to the corresponding investors can be accomplished in the process of strengthening the society. There are numerous means that any organization can be socially responsible and they solely foster social responsibility to the environment, society and underlying workers. These means are normally in line with Friedman’s theory.

The underlying perception of the company as an entire representative and in case an individual makes nay mistake within it results to an error which is social judgment as populace normally judge the entire company but not the individual. CSR can be harnessed to generate important positive change to the underlying profits; negative strategy can destroy profit within a company (Godet, 2006, 125). For instance, an individual agent operating with Friedman is supported by Nike since the manager opt to operate within countries where child labor is acceptable in order to reduce cost thus making Nike company to increase their profits. Friedman’s theory made a mistake was in the separation of the public from the corresponding customers within his evaluation thus neglecting the understanding of the customer base of the company that could be influenced by broader public (Flynn, 2008, 241-2).

Researchers believe that Friedman’s main focal point in regard to the business ought to focus on escalation of profits that will correspondingly benefit a society best. Moreover, the main responsibility of business in retard to economic performance is making a profit. This is business that normally realizes minimal profit that equate to its underlying cost of capital is considered to be socially irresponsible (Sandbu, 2011, 146). Nevertheless, economic performance is not normally considered as the sole responsibility of prevailing business enterprises since power ought to balance by responsibility. Moreover, Corporate Social Responsibility as a strategy is normally seen as cost-effectiveness as espoused by Friedman. The best CSR strategy that ensures profitability is normally marketing based. Significant issues associating with every CSR dimensions are not exclusively marketing associated. For instance, pollution control at the chemical plant is a manufacture associated matter; standard background for the supplies is mainly procurement connected topic while the background of the fair reimbursement is normally a human resource issue. Significance of marketing mainly regard to developing a CSR approaches cost-effective (Goodman & Hirsch, 2010, 266).

The concept against the CSR basically commences with the classical economic argument mainly articulated forcefully by Milton Friedman who held the opinion that the organization has the responsibility of maximizing the profits of its underlying owners and shareholders (Sandbu, 2011, 149). Moreover, social issues are not the main concern of the business populace and that these problems ought to be resolved by the unencumbered workings of the free markets system. TH objection of adoption CSR normally put business into the fields’ endeavor that is not associated to the underlying suitable objectives (Orts, 2013, 118).

Economic and Legal Responsibilities of BusinessThe underlying remarks pertaining to the economic and legal responsibilities of business economic responsibilities and concerns the production of good and service that is desired by the profit. Companies normally accomplish their primary responsibility as pecuniary units within society. Nevertheless, the underlying standard transformed to profit maximization. The doctrine of profit maximization is sanctioned by the underlying classical economic interpretation led by Friedman. Lack of any conclusive business case concerning corporate social responsibility is the center of debate over the corresponding business in disentangling community and corresponding environmental problems. Even though the connection amidst Corporate Social Responsibility activities coupled with company financial performance depicts that association relies on the CSR initiative implemented (Godet, 2006, 128-9). Decision by the company to assimilate CSR into its prevailing corporate approach incorporates numerous things. The elements that are normally taken into consideration are reliant on the underlying company’s production and location operation that makes selective activities and corresponding programs to be more suitable as compared to others. Moreover, stakeholders and customers’ demands are taken into consideration in the process of initiating CSR by companies. According to Godet (2006, 128-9), companies that manufacture products within developing states ought to center on certifying appropriate working circumstances by further engaging within the underlying local community and finding means of aiding meeting of social challenges. Big industrial company’s utilization of treacherous chemicals within their productions might look at options and execute supply chain.

Corporate Social Responsibility MattersPopulace is currently skeptical of the underlying positive impacts of executing CSR. The fundamental argument pertains to venturing money within CSR. Nevertheless, solid reasons for execution of CSR into the corresponding business strategy. Ethically correct making of income rather than the underlying fundamental human rights can never be vindicated. Appropriate communiqué the exertions can be outlined as a massive in aiding the company to brand in regard to the constructive coupled with character among customers. As asserts Sandbu (2011, 148-9), good CSR performs can entice social venture. Inclusive, CSR matters might attract social investments coupled with consumers who require a product that are not manufactured rather than other populace’s health, security and human rights.

The impacts of social responsibility in regard to the environment mainly focus on safeguarding environment. This purely entail careful disposal of the wastes to the environment and following outlined regulation by the government. Companies that are normally aware of the prevailing space purely share within the local community their accomplishment. Moreover, companies ought to strategize new advancements via taking into consideration local pecuniary and corresponding social outlines. Business normally promotes. Workers that promote escalated benefits and corresponding better working situations are extremely important for any company. Caring about the employees by the company’s is healthy fir the development of community. Conversely, poor relations within underlying relations can make members of the community to stop cooperating with the company thus leading to poor performance and low turnover.

Milton Friedman asserts that sole business of the underlying managers of an overtly held corporation is mainly to maximize the prevailing value of its outstanding shares (Kinley, 2009, 26). Effort of utilizing corporate resources for purely altruistic purposes is normally equated to the act of socialism. Friedman projected that the underlying corporation law ought to preclude prevailing managers from straying off the arrangement to join the altruists, authority currently unanimously given by the state legislation (Flynn, 2008, 236-7). It is cumbersome to differentiate a profit motive from a benevolent motive in any specific corporate action, a strong regulation against corporate selflessness in regard to the Friedman’s assertion thus inviting judges to assess the respectability of a significant set of administrative decisions.

Corporate Social Responsibility concept possesses dual different focuses namely internal and corresponding external. Main social challenges are increasing quantity of the underlying resident getting communal welfares and corresponding fear pertaining to the social marginalization that is relatively expensive for the entire society. In the context of CSR internal mainly focus on the workers who are in vulnerability of dropping their prevailing employment opportunities due to the reduction capability to work for diverse reasons such as downheartedness, anxiety and work calamity (Goodman & Hirsch, 2010, 262-3). The administration ought to present variety of strategy mechanisms that enhance and aid companies in keeping employees at their respective company special terms such as working duration and hefty labor where the management would fund companies that might loss workforce. The internal emphasizes extremely associated to the Human Assets thus not rampant and broadly connected with the Corporate Social Responsibility. Nevertheless, it is a section of the Corporate Social Responsibility and ought to continue. The common understanding of the CSR is associated with external focus. Within a progressively globalized universe commodities are manufactured in developing countries where the salaries are reasonably lower and the laws on working circumstances are less severe and less subject to the mechanism by the underlying government examinations (Sandbu, 2011, 144). Efforts of making a income and for the corporate to endure, companies might concession transnational recognized standards on fundamental human rights and utilize production procedures which destruction the environment. In the present universe human rights defilements and the setting are depicted as chief worldwide social challenge (Orts, 2013, 116).

Ethical approach to CSR according to Henry Mintzberg

Mintzberg states that the corporate management demands its underlying executives to sign directive 20.5 that explicitly forbade price fixing and any other violation of the antitrust laws. This opposes the Friedman theory that say that companies ought to strive to make profit without considering society. Conversely, severely managed system of reward are subjected to punishment since they require annual advancement in regard to earnings, return and market share, which is applicable indiscriminately to all divisions. Thus, forces within a diversified firm tend to strip away economic fat and corresponding social tradition from the underlying management aspects of the entire issues facing the division management. Without responsible and ethical populace within significant positions then the society can never survive. Seven organizational blocks ethical approach to CSR allied with Henry Mintzberg strong role models, strict lines of command that discourage questioning of such practices, task group cohesiveness and ambiguity concerning the priorities.

According to Freeman, and Liedtka in the stakeholders theory assert that corporations ought to take into consideration the impacts of their underlying actions upon the prevailing customers, suppliers, general public, workers and other personalities having stake or interest within the corporation (Donaldson, Werhane, & Cording, 2002, 178-9). They also reason that by offering for the needs of stakeholders, corporations ensure their continued accomplishment. Freeman also asserts that the responsibility of business entails more than its primary economic duty to shareholders; business has a duty to other stakeholder. Thus, the narrow sense of stakeholder mainly refers to any identifiable group or corresponding individual on whom the organization is dependent for its continued survival (Goodman, & Hirsch, 2010, 125). This is completely in contrast to the Friedman’s perception that business organization only ought to make its own profit without giving back to the society.

CSR scholar Carroll (2004) asserts that companies have ethical and moral obligations to the society. Moreover, stakeholder theorists argue that while there are normative, ethical elements to the corresponding stakeholder theory yonder its managerial, social science application that are separate and distinct (Flynn, 2008, 93). CSP model is deemed to be not important since it partially solved by integrating underlying stakeholder perspectives in those traditional approaches (Carroll, 1991, 2004). Freeman and Liedtka suggest that CSR appears exclusively to grant a human face to capitalism but with a complete separation pertaining to economics and ethics (Flynn, 2008, 88).

According to Freeman and Liedtka the prevailing idea of corporate social responsibility has its roots in the writings of the Andrew Carnegie (Flynn, G. 2008, 89). The dual principle was essential for capitalism to work. The first principle of charity demanded more fortunate members of the prevailing society to support its less fortunate members including the jobless, the disabled, the sick and the elderly. Moreover, the less fortunate can be supported either directly or indirectly via institutions such as churches, settlement houses and other corresponding community groups (Goodman, & Hirsch, 2010, 128). Stewardship principle demands that businesses and wealthy individuals to focus on the stewards of their property. Nevertheless, it is a function of business to multiply society’s wealth by increasing its own via prudent investments of resources.

ConclusionUnfortunately for the Milton Friedman in regard to CSR has persisted for considerable longer time to be considered as a movement but a self-sufficient approach fundamental to a business that normally desires to accomplish within the fashionable socio-economic weather. In areas which are widely believed that Philosopher Karl Marx’s biggest blunder was ignoring the natural human predisposition to concur, Milton Friedman’s appear to have bargain-basement the natural requirement to endure by sticking with the underlying herd. Thus, Friedman decided to explore the prevailing opportunities that Corporate Social Responsibility depicted in regard to aiding a company generates solutions to social issues devoid affecting its underlying profit performance at the expense of striving to stifle the development on one of the most fundamental corporate policies of the last part of the twentieth Century. The argument offer rational justification for the CSR initiatives from a primarily corporate economic and financial perspective. There exist tension amidst the need for business to make profits and the corresponding requirements of the society, but the issue has been intensive in the past times. Consumers’ lack of trust in main companies such as Enron normally avoids goods and services from particular companies when the companies do not act at the interest of the society. There is escalating pressure from society on companies to take relatively more responsibility.

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Donaldson, T., Werhane, P. H., & Cording, M. 2002. Ethical issues in business: a philosophical approach. Upper Saddle River, N.J., Prentice Hall.

Flynn, G. 2008. Leadership and business ethics. [Dordrecht], Springer.

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Corporate Social Reporting The Case of British Airways

Corporate Social Reporting: The Case of British Airways

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Introduction

Corporate social responsibility has been recognized as one of the most fundamental issues in the contemporary business environment. The term refers to a company-adopted policy that operates as an in-built self regulating mechanism where the business entity monitors, as well as ensures that it actively complies with the ethical standards, spirit of the rule of law, and international regulations and norms. It revolves around a process where the company strives to embrace its actions, as well as encourage or have a positive influence via its activities pertaining to the environment, employees, consumers, stakeholders, communities and all people in the public arena who are considered to be stakeholders. There are varied reasons as to why corporations incorporate corporate social responsibility in their operations. It comes as one of the ways of showing or exhibiting true commitment in a certain cause, not to mentions that it enhances their social media visibility. In addition, it comes as one of the most effective techniques of establishing a positive and enviable workplace environment, thereby enhancing the productivity of employees. On the same note, corporate social responsibility comes with immense public relations benefits, not to mention that it enhances the relationship between the corporations and government agencies. In the contemporary world, the manner in which corporations behave has been subjected to intense scrutiny. This is especially due to the dramatic increase in the public awareness of the economic, social, and environmental impacts of a business in the last few years and decades. In essence, corporations are now faced by intense pressure from governments, investors, customers, as well as other stakeholders even in the public arena to demonstrate the effort that they have undertaken to manage and alleviate the negative effects that their operations may have on the society and the environment in general. Scholars, however, note that accounting, which is essentially a set of socially conditioned processes and practices that have different but significant effects on the societal operations, has been called upon to help in outlining the integrity and accountability pertaining to business actions. Corporate social reporting has resulted from combination of the intense pressures that companies in the contemporary world face daily. It has been developed in an effort to address the intense need for information emanating from the key stakeholders of the company with regard to the company’s environmental and social performance. Recent times have seen an increase in the cases of Corporate Social Disclosures. While varied reasons may be used in explaining this, researchers acknowledge that corporate social disclosures are mainly used when the legitimacy of an organization or business entity is threatened, then business entities face intense media exposure or pressure from the general public, or in instances where the corporations fails to comply with the requirements pertaining to an implicit social contract. This may also be seen when corporations are facing immense threats to their image and reputation.

Extensive research has been carried out with regard to legitimacy theory as the key driver for corporations to report environmental and social information. Legitimacy theory has been defined as a supposition that a business entity undertakes constant attempts at functioning or operating within varied accepted customs and norms pertaining to the society within which they operate. The legitimacy of the operations of a corporation are conferred by the constituents who, essentially are the external and external actors making decisions pertaining to the legitimacy of a business entity. Researchers have always underlined the problems emanating from the legitimacy gap existing between the expectations of the constituent and the behaviors of the firm and underlined the fact that the deficiency of legitimacy would result in the withdrawal of the social contract that exists between the society and the business entity. Research shows that companies tend to modify policies pertaining to their disclosure especially around the time when there occurs fundamental industry or company related social events. This statement underlines the strategic nature pertaining to voluntary social disclosures, and affirms the view that the management of varied business entities considers social disclosures in annual reports as a useful and effective device in alleviating the effects of an event that is seen as unfavorable or unattractive to the image of the business entity. The contract of the organization to continue operating in the society may be revoked in instances where the social expectations pertaining to its operations’ legitimacy are unmet. It is noteworthy, however, that the event must have taken place, thereby having detrimental effects on the legitimacy and reputation of the organization. This causes the organization to have a perception on how the society sees it with regards to whether it carried out its duties in an acceptable manner. With perception and pressure from varied sources, the organization’s effort to gain legitimacy would result in strategic tactics that aim at convincing the general public as to its legitimacy. A large number of these tactics aim at controlling or concentrating the perception of the public to an organization as a response to threats to the organization’s legitimacy emanating from social pressure. This was the case for British Airways in 2000.

The Event

The accident occurred on 25th July 2000, when the Concorde had its first fatal accident 10 miles north-east of Paris after departing from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris on a non-scheduled service heading to New York. The accident took place after close to 25 years of offering the only sustained supersonic passenger service. All the 109 passengers aboard the Concorde including the 9 crew members and an additional four on the ground died in the accident, while another six people suffered serious injuries. The Concorde was chartered by a tour company from Germany and was ferrying individuals who were to take a transatlantic trip using a Caribbean cruise. On the fateful day, Air France Concorde started its take-off on Runway 26-Right. On attaining a speed of about 320 Kmh, one of its tyres ran over a strip of metal that was lying on the pavement. This resulted in a fire on the Concorde’s left side. The aircraft, nonetheless, lifted off and was airborne for almost a minute but was incapable of maintaining altitude or speed, in which case it struck a hotel and exploded about 5.5 km from the runway’s end.

One day prior to the accident, British Airways had been forced to admit to having safety issues after stating that all the planes in the Concorde fleet incorporated some hairline cracks in the wings. This resulted in serious concerns pertaining to safety among the aviation industry and the general public.

Consequently, Concorde’s certificate for airworthiness was revoked by the British and French Civil Aviation Authority. While varied changes were made with the Concorde returning to regular service as at November 2001, British Airways and Air France, the only two operators of Concorde announced the termination of the Concorde’s service by the end of the year thereby eliminating the other aircrafts from use. They cited low passenger loads, general slowdown of the airline industry and high cost of maintenance.

Investigation and Outcomes

France’s accident Investigation bureau undertook the official investigation, which was published on January 16th 2002. It was concluded that the Concorde had been overloaded by about 810 kg above the maximum weight safe for takeoff. This excess weight, however, was said to have a negligible effect on the takeoff performance.

The key blame was laid on the tyre of wheel number 2, which, after attaining takeoff speed, was cut by a metal strip that was lying on the runway. The metal strip had come from the thrust reverser cowl door for engine number for Continental Airline DC-10, which had left the runway a few minutes prior to the Concorde. It was concluded that the strip, which had been installed in Houston, Texas, was neither manufactured nor put into place in line with the procedures laid out by the manufacturer. On the same note, the investigating team noted that the accident may have emanated from the ripping out of an enormous piece of the aircraft’s tank in a complicated transmission process for the energy emanating from the piece of tyre at a different point on the tank. The transmission associated the tank skin’ deformation and the oil movement, with the contributory effects pertaining to other minor shorts or a hydrodynamic pressure surge.

The investigators exonerated the crew and aircraft stating that they were qualified and airworthy respectively. They stated that there were no prior serious problems pertaining to the landing gear that failed to retract. In fact, terminating the takeoff would have resulted in a high-speed runway excursion, as well as collapse of the landing gear, which would eventually have resulted in a crash. On the same note, as much as two of the plane’s engines had problems with one of the being shut down, the structure of the plane was so severely damaged that the crash could not be prevented if with the normal functioning of the engines. However, as much as the crew was properly trained and certified, the airline did not have any plan for the failure of the two engines on the runway at the same time, considering such an occurrence as highly unlikely.

Recommendations

The investigators published four recommendations that were specific to Concorde. It recommended that the operators and manufacturers of Concorde, as well as the airworthiness of authorities undertake a reinforcement of the means that were available for analysis of the operation of in-service events and aircraft systems and a speedy definition of the corrective actions.

In addition, it recommended that Air France makes certain that the emergency procedures pertaining to the utilization of Concorde in the Operations Manual are coherent with the flight manual. On the same note, it recommended that Air France installs recorders that have the capacity to sample at least once every second the parameters allowing for the determination of engine speed on all engines in Concorde aircraft. Lastly, the report recommended that the Directorate General for Civil Aviation audits the maintenance and operational conditions within Air France.

Other recommendations revolved around the primary certification authorities asking aircraft manufacturers to undertake an immediate identification of any potentially dangerous substances (in case of an accident) that are used in manufacturing aircrafts under their responsibility. They were supposed to outline them explicitly in documentation. The Federal Aviation Administration was supposed to audit the maintenance of Continental Airlines in the United States, as well as the foreign subcontractors.

Asserting its Responsibility and Legitimacy Using Accounting Reports

While the accident did not involve British Airways directly, BA’s Corporate Social Reporting was affected by the subsequent grounding of the Concorde fleet, as well as the intense public concern pertaining to the safety of the aircrafts. Researchers note that following the accident, British Airways increased the total Corporate Social Disclosure in its financial reports by 8% in 2001. Prior to the accident in 2000, the company’s Corporate Social Disclosure was primarily revolving around Social and Environment Report. This, however, reduced after the accident with the company paying more attention and giving more space to Healthy and Safety information as the popular disclosing theme. It is worth noting that Health and Safety information doubled in proportion in 2001 from 2000. Researchers note that these attempts are attributable or interpreted as an attempt by the organization to address and salvage their legitimacy, which was threatened by the accident. This was also necessitated by the dire effects that the September 11th 2001 attacks in Washington DC had on the entire industry, as well as the occurrence of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) after the accident, which further threatened the entire industry’ s legitimacy and, therefore, contributed to the proportional increase in the Health and Safety information. Considering that the Health and Safety and total substantive Corporate Social Disclosure reduced in the subsequent years, it would only follow that the symbolic vs. substantive evidence signifies an image-oriented, as well as pragmatic organizational stance to corporate social reporting, where the organization gives priority to the protection of their legitimacy rather than ethically or opportunistically extending it. A qualitative analysis pertaining to British Airways annual and sustainability reports indicate an organizational position towards Corporate Social Reporting that changes from stakeholder expediency to ethics opportunism while being predominantly pragmatic. While the airline, for instance underlines its support for the UK government’s interpretation of the sustainable development as espousing better life quality for all today and in the future, thereby seeming to adopt an ethical position, it seems to be opportunistically driven when it states that it would consider ethical, environmental and social implications pertaining to decisions that enhance shareholder value. It, however, seems that British Airways has a pragmatic perception of the CSR as a condition for enhancing its economic success where it states that although it was fundamentally concerned with the financial performance of the company, it acknowledged that its capacity to sustain a well-performing business was subject to considerations on the environment on global and local scale, as well as its relationship with the business’ legitimate stakeholders. On the same note, its pragmatic perception pertaining to Corporate Social Reporting explains the regular attempts to question contribution of the entire industry to climate change, while also laying emphasis on its contribution to economic good over the likely undesirable environmental impacts. It underlines the fact that an all-inclusive audit on the performance of the company as a sustainable business should consider the environmental, social, as well economic dimensions.

It is clear that British Airways sees corporate social reporting as a necessary or imperative “pragmatic” activity that would satisfy the heightened consumer expectations, as well as maintain legitimacy, which would consequently sustain profitability. It is also a technique through which the company undertakes an opportunistic attraction of patient shareholders, as well as enhances the reputation of the firm and its brand value so as to establish new markets, increase customer loyalty, increase the market size and gain extra market share. Comparing the pre-accident period and post-accident period Corporation Social Reporting, quantitative evidence suggests that the company paid an increased emphasis on its health and safety responsibilities in a likely attempt to protect, as well as restore its legitimacy. It is worth noting that, for instance, while British Airways noted the absolute importance of safety prior to the accident and stated that it will never compromise on the safety offered in its services for commercial reasons, the sustainability reports in the two years following the accident (2001 and 2002), were the only ones that incorporated an insinuation on air safety as embroidered within a culture of openness that the company had taken up. The emphasis on Health and Safety comes alongside more frequent references to aviation’s contribution that could be seen as a symbolic strategy for repairing its threatened image, as well as a substantive strategy that would change social legitimacy’s definition through attempting to modify their constituents’ perceptions. It stated that what the aviation industry can offer and facilitate as a crucial part of the world communication network is creating wealth needed for health, education and welfare that ensures a sustainable society. It continued that the aviation industry produced socio-political external benefits that may cannot be empirically measured.

However, the increased emphasis on aviation’s contribution is not supported by further attempts to question its contribution to climate change as was the case during pre-accident years. British Airways, on the contrary, seems to acknowledge that their environmental impact. The change may potentially be part of substantive efforts by the organization for role performance via engaging with its stakeholders, not to mention symbolic admission of its guilt in an effort gain ceremonial conformity. However, having in mind that these efforts were made after the accident occurred comes as an indication as to the pragmatic attempt to protect, as well as restore its legitimacy in the eyes of the society.

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