Identifiers of Corporate Ethics

The Next Generation Responsible Leaders

The Next Generation Responsible Leaders, 2010

2012

Literature review about corporate social responsibility (CSR) suggests that there are organisational benefits to be gained from unintentional discretionary expenditure in laudable behaviour. With this in mind, the methodology integrates insights from the ‘stakeholder theory’ and the ‘resource-based view theory of the firm’ to sharpen the strategic base for CSR investment. Quantitative and qualitative research techniques have been used to discover how business organisations are creating shared value for themselves and for society. The main study was carried out amongst hotel enterprises in Malta. The quantitative analysis tested the relationship between Strategic CSR (in terms of the organisational benefits) against the firms’ commitment, behaviour and resources devoted to CSR. Secondly the qualitative phase of this study involved an analysis of interviews with owner-managers across the Maltese hospitality industry and with experts who are responsible for setting policies in the tourism regulatory context. The results have indicated that responsible behaviour led to the firms’ financial performance and market standing, effective human resources management and operational efficiencies. Following the empirical findings a model representing the ‘creation of shared value’ for business and society has been put forward.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) received substantial attention since 1950s. The development of CSR subsequently gain a foothold in both business and academic arenas. The wide acceptance of CSR is due to its chain benefits toward both shareholders and stakeholders. As the business world evolves with globalisation and advanced technology, CSR has developed into a multi-facet disciplinary subject. Consequently, CSR themes emerged from its development. The literatures reveal that there are many CSR themes developed in the human resource with employees being the stakeholder. Researcher further explained the evolution of employee focused CSR by relating to relevant theories namely Stakeholder Theory, Social Exchange Theory and Social Identity Theory. This paper aims to study the evolution of internal CSR by reviewing past and current literatures in order to provide an overview of internal CSR and shed light for a better understanding of its current vague definition. The paper concludes with the benefits of implementation internal CSR practices to enhance organisation performance through influencing employees’ behaviour.

Background: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been heavily discussed in the academic research since the last decade. Despite the development of CSR, focus of CSR activities on employees has remained largely neglected. Objective: This paper aims to look into the evolution and development of CSR, linking to write the employee, being the internal stakeholder. Results: The review shown that there were efforts trying to understand and examine internal CSR, however, a common and well established measures for internal CSR is still lacking. Instead of a well-defined measure, internal CSR is being assed through the practices adopted by organisations. Conclusion: The paper provide a basis to further investigate the role of internal CSR in any organisation to reap the benefits of it through employees.

Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal

Purpose The scope of this case study is to outline relevant regulatory guidelines on environmental, social and governance issues in the United States of America (USA or U.S.). This contribution includes a thorough analysis of several institutional frameworks and guiding principles that have been purposely developed to foster corporate citizenship behaviours. Design/methodology/approach A case study methodology involved a broad analysis of U.S. regulatory policies, voluntary instruments and soft laws that have stimulated organisations to implement and report their responsible behaviours. Findings This contribution ties the corporate citizenship behaviours with the institutional and stakeholder theories. The case study evaluated the USA’s federal government, bureaus and its agencies’ policies on human rights, health and social welfare, responsible supply chain and procurement of resources, anticorruption, bribery and fraudulent behaviours; energy and water conservation practices as well as environmental protection, among other issues. Research Implications Past research may have not sufficiently linked corporate citizenship with the corporate social responsibility (CSR) paradigm. This research reports how different U.S. regulatory institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are pushing forward the social responsibility, environmental sustainability as well as the responsible corporate governance agenda. Originality /value This research critically analyses U.S. policy and regulatory instruments including relevant legislation and executive orders that are primarily intended to unlock corporate citizenship practices from business and industry. It has also provided a conceptual framework for the corporate citizenship notion. In conclusion, it implies that there are business and political cases for corporate citizenship.

Organizacja i Kierowanie. Organization and Management, 2010

The under-theorised field of ethical stakeholder engagement is explored in a three-country study of business-NGO relationships. The impact of the relationships upon the formation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practice and theory is considered through discussion of stakeholder theory and ethical stakeholder engagement and the practices of business-NGO linkages in Romania, Thailand and the United Kingdom. The study applied a qualitative approach with 32 in-depth interviews with senior CSR and NGO practitioners. The outcomes include the conceptualization of business-NGO relationships in three different cultures, the management of engagement and the preparation of CSR communication for relevant stakeholders.