The Modern Era Of Social Responsibility - 1523 Words

Introduction Mahatma Gandhi once said, â€Å"Be the change you wish to see in the world.† This call to action may be challenging but it is not impossible for businesses to implement. Through effort and diligence, corporate and organizational leaders can responsibly serve the global community in which they provide goods and services. Corporate social responsibility, otherwise known as CSR, has been a topic of interest for centuries. However, the modern era of social responsibility didn’t begin until the 1950s when Howerd R. Bowen (often attributed as the Father of Corporate Social Responsibility) published Social Responsibilities of the Businessman in 1953. Here he presented the initial definition of the concept: â€Å"It refers to the obligations†¦show more content†¦Heinz, for example, has demonstrated environmental sustainability efforts including a reduction in gas emissions, solid waste, energy and water consumption, and an increase in renewable energy (Heinz website). Further dimensions include labor rights and welfare, market and stakeholder relations, as well as corporate governance (slideshare). Although these dimensions are what construct this conceptual definition, businesses can choose their level of involvement. According to ____________These â€Å"levels† can be described as the models of corporate social responsibility: economic, philanthropic, social web/citizenship, and integrative strategic. The economic model represents a company’s primary desire to produce goods and services with the motive of seeking profit in a legal manner. The philanthropic model integrates the economic CSR model with the desire to contribute to social needs. Philanthropy may exist for reputational or public relations purposes, or because the company/organization simply desires to do the right thing. The â€Å"social web†/citizenship model involves business’ embedment into social relationships in which mutual rights and responsibility is of the utmost importance. Lastly, the integrative strategic model is when a company’s involvement in CSR part of its DNA and reason for existence. In other words, the business’s primary mission is to serve the global community by setting g oals and meeting social needs. An