Management's Social and Ethical Responsibilities

Managements Social and Ethical Responsibilities

Prepared by: Prof. Emilia. S. Bio

Source: Principles of Management by Krietner, 11th Edition

The Changing WorkplaceAs the social, political, economic, and technological environments of management have changed, the practice of management itself has changed. This is especially true for managers in the private business sector.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

The Changing WorkplaceToday, it is far less acceptable for someone in business to stand before the public and declare that his or her sole job is to make as much profit as possible.The public is wary of the abuse of power and the betrayal of trust, and business managersindeed, managers of all types of organizationsare expected to make a wide variety of economi and social contributions.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

The Changing WorkplaceDemands on business that would have been considered patently unreasonable 30 or 40 years ago have become the norm today.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. CoveyThe future is that there will be no letup in the demands of shareholders for financial performance. There will also be no letup in the demands of society that businesses behave responsibly. Management just has to better.-Stuart Graham, CEO of Skanska

Social Responsibility: Definition and Perspectives

Social Responsibility A PreludeSince the 1900s, the concept of social responsibility has grown and matured to the point where many of todays companies are intimately involved in social programs that have no direct connection with the bottom line.But like all aspects of management, social responsibility needs to be carried out in an effective and efficient manner.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Corporate Social ResponsibilityIt is the notion that corporations have an obligation to constituent groups in society other than stockholders and beyond that prescribed by law or union contract.In other terms, it is the idea that business has social obligations above and beyond making a profit.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Desktop\fig13.JPGCorporate Social ResponsibilityI find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. CoveyFigure 5.1. Carrolls Global Corporate Social Responsibility Pyramid

Corporate Social ResponsibilityFrom the previous figure, global and transnational companies have four main areas of responsibility: economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Corporate Social ResponsibilityWorking from bottom to top, this means that the global corporation should:Make a profit consistent with expectations for international businessesObey the law of host countries as well as international lawBe ethical in its practices, taking host-country and global standards into considerationBe a good corporate citizen, especially as defined by the host countrys expectations

I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

CSR Requires Voluntary ActionI find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. CoveyAn implicit feature of the above definition and perspective is that an action must be voluntary to qualify as socially responsible.

All businesses should commit to the triple bottom linea measure of corporate success that takes int oaccount not just profit and loss but also social and environmental impact.-Paul Dolan, True to Our Roots: Fermenting a Business Revolution

What is the Role of Business in Society?Much of the disagreement over what social responsibility involves can be traced to a fundamental debate about the exact purpose of a business.Is business an economic entity responsible only for making a profit for its stockholders? Or is it a socioeconomic entity obligated to make both economic and social contributions to society?I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

The Classic Economic ModelAccording to Adam Smith, father of the classic economic model, an invisible hand promoted the public welfare.Smith believed the efforts of comepting entrepreneurs had a natural tendency to promote the public interest when each tried to maximize short-run profits.In other words, Smith believed that the public interest was served by individuals pursuing their own economic self-interests.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

The Socioeconomic ModelAccording to the socioeconic model proposed as an alternative to the classical economic model, business is just one subsystem among many in a highly interdependent society.Advocates of this model point out that many groups in society besides stockholders have a stake in corporate affairs. Companies using this model should conduct a stockholder auditthe identification of all parties that might be affected by the organization.


The Stockholder Audit for Wal-Mart

Arguments For Social ResponsibilityBusiness is unavoidably involved in social issues.Business has the resources to tackle todays complex societal problems.A better society means a better environment for doing business.Corporate social action will prevent government intervention.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Arguments Against Social ResponsibilityProfit maximization ensures the efficient use of societys resources.As an economic institiution, business lacks the ability to pursue social goals.Business already has enough power.Because managers are not elected, they are not directly accountable to the people.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Toward Greater Social Responsibility

The Iron Law of ResponsibilityIs it inevitable that management will assume greater social responsibility? Some scholars believe so. It has been said that business Is bound by an iron law of responsibility, which states that in the long run, those who do not use power in a way that society considers responsible will tend to lose it.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

The Continuum of Social ResponsibilityI find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Social Responsibility Strategies Reactive Social Responsibility Strategydenying responsibility and resisting changeDefensive Social Responsibility Strategyresisting additional responsibilities with legal and public relations tacticsAccomodative Social Responsibility Strategyassuming additional responsibilities in response to pressureProactive Social Responsibility Strategytaking the initiative with new programs that serve as models for the industry


Who Benefits from Corporate Social Responsibility?Is it accurate to say of social responsibility what used be said about home medicine, It has to taste bad to be good? In other words, does social responsibility have to be a hardship for the organization? Those who answer yes believe that it should be motivated by altruism, an unselfish devotion to the interests of others.This implies that businesses that are not socially responsible are motivated strictly by self-interest.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Who Benefits from Corporate Social Responsibility?On the basis of evidence alone, one would hard pressed to say that social responsibility pays. But research paints a brighter picture:A study of 243 companies for two years found a positive correlation between industry leadership in environmental protection/pollution control and profitability. The researchers concluded, It pays to be green.A second study found agood reputation for corporate social responsibility to be a competitive advantage in recruiting talented people.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Who Benefits from Corporate Social Responsibility?Enlightened self-interest, the realization that business ultimately helps itself by helping to solve societal problems, involves balancing short-run costs and long-run benefits. Advocates of enlightened self-interest contend that social responsbility expenditures are motivated by profit.Research into corporate philanthropy, the charitable donation of company resources ($12.7 billion in US in 2006), supports this contention.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

An Array of Benefits for the OrganizationIn addition to the advertising effect, other possible long-run benefits include:Tax-free incentives to employees.Retention of talented employees by satisfying their altruistic motives.Help in recruiting talented and socially conscious personnel.Swaying public opinion against government intervention.Improved community living standards for employees.Attracting socially conscious investors.A nontaxable benefit for employees in which company funds are donated to their favorite causes.


The Ethical Dimension of Management

The Ethical Dimension of ManagementEthics is the study of moral obligation involving the distinction between right and wrong.Business ethics, sometimes referred to as management ethics or organizational ethics, narrows the frame of reference to productive organizations.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Practical Lessons from Business Ethics ResearchEthical Hot Spots. In a survey of 1,324 US employees from all levels across several industries, 48 percent admitted to having performed at least one illegal or unethical act from a list of 25 questionable practices. The list included everything from calling in sick when feeling well through cheating on expense accounts, forging signatures, and giving or accepting kickbacks, to ignoring violations of environmental laws.I find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

Practical Lessons from Business Ethics ResearchThe top ten workplace hot spots responsible for triggering unethical conduct are:Balancing work and familyPoor internal communicationsPoor leadershipWork hours, workloadLack of management supportNeed to meet sales, budget, or profit goalsLittle or no recognition of achievementsCompany politicsPersonal financial worriesInsufficient resourcesI find a universal belief in fairness, kindness, dignity, charity, integrity, honesty, quality, and patience.-Stephen R. Covey

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Management's Social and Ethical Responsibilities