Toward a Theoretical Framework of Corporate Social Irresponsibility: Clarifying the Gray Zones Between Responsibility and Irresponsibility

2021 ◽  
pp. 000765032110159
Author(s):  
Cynthia E. Clark ◽  
Marta Riera ◽  
María Iborra
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Conceptual Clarity ◽  
Corporate Social Irresponsibility ◽  
Corporate Social

In this conceptual article, we argue that defining corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) as opposite constructs produces a lack of clarity between responsible and irresponsible acts. Furthermore, we contend that the treatment of the CSR and CSI concepts as opposites de-emphasizes the value of CSI as a stand-alone construct. Thus, we reorient the CSI discussion to include multiple aspects that current conceptualizations have not adequately accommodated. We provide an in-depth exploration of how researchers define CSI and both identify and analyze three important gray zones between CSR and CSI: (a) the role of harm and benefit, (b) the role of the actor and intentionality, and (c) the role of rectification. We offer these gray zones as factors contributing to the present lack of conceptual clarity of the term CSI, as a concept in its own right, leading to difficulties that researchers and managers experience in categorizing CSI acts as distinct from CSR.

scholarly journals Maqasid al-Shari`ah, Maslahah, and Corporate Social Responsibility

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki ◽  
Nurdianawati Irwani Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
The Public ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Conceptual Clarity ◽  
The Many ◽  
Business In Society ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
A Company

The doctrine of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which has emerged and developed rapidly as a field of study, is a framework for the role of business in society. It sets standards of behavior to which a company must subscribe in order to impact society in a positive and productive manner while abiding by values that exclude seeking profit at any cost. Despite the many attempts to construe CSR initiatives, it remains open to wide criticism for its inherent problems via-à-vis justification, conceptual clarity, and possible inconsistency. These problems are more acute when it comes to implementing and operationalizing CSR on the ground, especially in a situation that involves trade-offs. This paper offers an instructive understanding of CSR from an Islamic perspective. In particular, the implication of maqasid al-Shari`ah (the Shari`ah’s objectives) and the application of maslahah (the public good) to CSR are discussed in detail to shed light on how Islam’s holistic and dynamic perception of CSR take into consideration reality and ever-changing circumstances. These principles also provide a better framework that managers can use when faced with potential conflicts arising from the diverse expectations and interests of a corporation’s stakeholders.

scholarly journals Corporate Social (Ir)responsibility and Corporate Hypocrisy: Warmth, Motive and the Protective Value of Corporate Social Responsibility

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 486-524
Author(s):  
Zhifeng Chen ◽  
Haiming Hang ◽  
Stephen Pavelin ◽  
Lynda Porter
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Prior Record ◽  
Corporate Social Irresponsibility ◽  
Corporate Social

ABSTRACTThis article examines how a firm’s prior record on corporate social responsibility (CSR) influences individual stakeholders’ perceptions of corporate hypocrisy in the wake of a corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) event. Our research extends extant corporate hypocrisy literature by highlighting the role of individual stakeholders’ inferences about a genuine CSR motive in their judgments of corporate hypocrisy. This can serve to differentiate perceived corporate hypocrisy from inconsistency that arises because of a lack of ability and/or resources. Our research further identifies a source for such perceptions: individual stakeholders’ perceptions of firm warmth generated by a firm’s prior record of CSR. In addition, we find that when CSR and CSI are in the same (vs. different) domains, it can strengthen perceptions of hypocrisy. This provides direct evidence to explain why markets react differently when CSR and CSI events occur in the same domain (vs. different ones).

scholarly journals Maqasid al-Shari`ah, Maslahah, and Corporate Social Responsibility

2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-45
Author(s):  
Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki ◽  
Nurdianawati Irwani Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
The Public ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Conceptual Clarity ◽  
The Many ◽  
Business In Society ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
A Company

The doctrine of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which has emerged and developed rapidly as a field of study, is a framework for the role of business in society. It sets standards of behavior to which a company must subscribe in order to impact society in a positive and productive manner while abiding by values that exclude seeking profit at any cost. Despite the many attempts to construe CSR initiatives, it remains open to wide criticism for its inherent problems via-à-vis justification, conceptual clarity, and possible inconsistency. These problems are more acute when it comes to implementing and operationalizing CSR on the ground, especially in a situation that involves trade-offs. This paper offers an instructive understanding of CSR from an Islamic perspective. In particular, the implication of maqasid al-Shari`ah (the Shari`ah’s objectives) and the application of maslahah (the public good) to CSR are discussed in detail to shed light on how Islam’s holistic and dynamic perception of CSR take into consideration reality and ever-changing circumstances. These principles also provide a better framework that managers can use when faced with potential conflicts arising from the diverse expectations and interests of a corporation’s stakeholders.

The Ethics of Petroleum

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathon W. Moses ◽  
Bjørn Letnes
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Host Country ◽  
Corporate Citizenship ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Oil Companies ◽  
Corporate Social ◽  
Oil Company

This chapter considers the role of international oil companies (IOCs) as global political actors with significant economic and political power. In doing so, we weigh the ethical costs and benefits for individuals, companies, and states alike. Using the concepts of “corporate social responsibility” (CSR) and “corporate citizenship” as points of departure, we consider the extent to which international oil companies have social and political responsibilities in the countries where they operate and what the host country can do to encourage this sort of behavior. We examine the nature of anticorruption legislation in several of the sending countries (including Norway), and look closely at how the Norwegian national oil company (NOC), Statoil, has navigated these ethical waters.

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