scholarly journals Corporate social responsibility and the UK housebuilding industry

Author(s):  
M. John Foster

AbstractIn essence firms or companies are usually thought to exist to make products for or provide services of some sort to third parties, other companies or individuals. The philosophical question which naturally arises then is ‘to the benefit of whom should a firm’s activities be aimed?’ Possible answers include the owners of the firm, the firm’s employees or wider society, the firm’s local community or their host nation. It is because of firms’ location within a wider society that the issue of corporate social responsibility arises. The issue is do they contribute in a positive way to the fabric of society. In this paper we conduct an exploratory investigation whose research questions, broadly, are whether there is public evidence of corporate social responsibility activity by firms listed in the UK and to what extent, if any, such activities may amount to genuinely socially responsible management by the firms. We examined the most up to date annual reports of a split sample of 36 firms listed in the FTSE 350. The short answers to the two research questions above are: to some degree and no by some margin, based on data from the sample firms.


Author(s):  
Genevieve Dupont ◽  
Marianne Ojo ◽  
James Rossi

This chapter not only attempts to identify those variables which govern and impact the relationship and interplay between Corporate Social Responsibility and Foreign Direct Investment, but illustrate the conditions under which such variables are likely to be most susceptible to change and fluctuations – as well as consequences that are likely to be generated as a result of such fluctuations. In so doing it also contributes to the literature in highlighting why greater focus and priority should be accorded to Foreign Direct Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility, as tools for poverty alleviation. Further, as well as accentuating, under the conclusion section, why the UK Government strategy for building more plants after Hinkley Point, implies that the UK would not reap all benefits of the Project, the chapter expansiates on contributory factors which have resulted in the decision of the UK Government to delay its decision on the Hinkley Point Project. Contributory factors, which include among a notable few, the need for flexible generating capacity was also cited, since renewable energy cannot be easily converted at Hinkley Point.


Author(s):  
Genevieve Dupont ◽  
Marianne Ojo ◽  
James Rossi

This chapter not only attempts to identify those variables which govern and impact the relationship and interplay between Corporate Social Responsibility and Foreign Direct Investment, but illustrate the conditions under which such variables are likely to be most susceptible to change and fluctuations – as well as consequences that are likely to be generated as a result of such fluctuations. In so doing it also contributes to the literature in highlighting why greater focus and priority should be accorded to Foreign Direct Investment and Corporate Social Responsibility, as tools for poverty alleviation. Further, as well as accentuating, under the conclusion section, why the UK Government strategy for building more plants after Hinkley Point, implies that the UK would not reap all benefits of the Project, the chapter expansiates on contributory factors which have resulted in the decision of the UK Government to delay its decision on the Hinkley Point Project. Contributory factors, which include among a notable few, the need for flexible generating capacity was also cited, since renewable energy cannot be easily converted at Hinkley Point.


2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 566-586 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Walters ◽  
Richard Tacon

AbstractCorporate social responsibility (CSR) has become increasingly significant for a wide range of organisations and for the managers that work within them. This is particularly true in the sport industry, where CSR is now an important area of focus for sport organisations, sport events and individual athletes. This article demonstrates how CSR can inform both theoretical debates and management practice within sport organisations. It does so by focusing on stakeholder theory, which overlaps considerably with CSR. In this article, stakeholder theory is used to examine three major CSR issues: stakeholder definition and salience, firm actions and responses, and stakeholder actions and responses. These three issues are considered in the context of the UK football industry. The article draws on 15 semi-structured qualitative interviews with senior representatives from a number of different organisations. These include the director of a large professional football club; a chief executive of a medium-sized professional football club in addition to the supporter-elected director; and the vice-chairman of a small professional football club. Additional interviews were undertaken with five representatives from national supporter organisations, two board members at two large supporter associations, two representatives from the Football League, one representative from the Independent Football Commission, and a prominent sports journalist. The analysis of the interview data illustrates ways in which CSR can be implemented by sport organisations through stakeholder management strategies. The article concludes that stakeholder theory has both conceptual and empirical value and can be used to illuminate key issues in sport management.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Carminati

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer a critical and broad perspective on how transnational companies (TNCs) behave in the global context, focussing its attention on the controversial issue of tax avoidance in the UK. It pursues this aim by taking into account not only economic globalisation, mobility of capital and tax havens but also ethics and corporate social responsibility.Design/methodology/approachThis paper seeks to provide an interdisciplinary viewpoint drawing not only from well-established scholarly literature but also from real cases and evidence, such as the scandals involving corporate giants, such as Starbucks, Google and Amazon in the UK.FindingsThis paper highlights the fundamental interplay and mutual aid of ethics and international laws, underlining the increasing importance of corporate social responsibility principles in today’s business practices. However, it also emphasises the need of reinforcing these principles with either regional or universalistic legal approaches to tackle TNCs’ misconduct in the international arena.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests that by establishing and enforcing international business laws, increasingly aligned with ethical principles, the gap between ethics and legislation can be consistently bridged. Hence, TNCs’ behaviour could be more efficiently controlled.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature on modern economic globalisation by providing a comprehensive and integrative perspective on TNCs’ behaviour, accounting for the interplay of socio-ethical, legal and business principles.


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