School of Communication Arts 2.0

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Unit Purpose and Aims

The purpose of this unit is;

This unit will enable the learner to fully understand the importance of corporate social responsibility and how it can be a force for good in a  creative business.

Learning Outcomes

The learner will;

1. Understand what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is.

Learners can;

1.1 Explain what CSR is.

1.2 Summarise the historical forces driving the growth in importance of CSR

1.3 Explain how a company can communicate and report its CSR activities

2 Be able to describe the potential business benefits of good CSR

2.1 Explain how CSR can aid human resources

2.2 Show how CSR can help with business risk management

2.3 Demonstrate how CSR has helped with brand differentiation using an existing company as an example

Learning Tools, Resources & Links

Things that will help the learner develop understanding of this unit;

Mentors – please add your ideas, examples, case studies, links to articles, videos, etc. here.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR), also known as corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, responsible business, sustainable responsible business (SRB), or corporate social performance, is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model. Ideally, CSR policy would function as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby business would monitor and ensure its adherence to law, ethical standards, and international norms. Business would embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees, communities, stakeholders and all other members of the public sphere. Furthermore, business would proactively promote the public interest by encouraging community growth and development, and voluntarily eliminating practices that harm the public sphere, regardless of legality. Essentially, CSR is the deliberate inclusion of public interest into corporate decision-making, and the honoring of a triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit.

The practice of CSR is subject to much debate and criticism. Proponents argue that there is a strong business case for CSR, in that corporations benefit in multiple ways by operating with a perspective broader and longer than their own immediate, short-term profits. Critics argue that CSR distracts from the fundamental economic role of businesses; others argue that it is nothing more than superficial window-dressing; others yet argue that it is an attempt to pre-empt the role of governments as a watchdog over powerful multinational corporations. Corporate Social Responsibility has been redefined throughout the years. However, it essentially is titled to aid to an organization’s mission as well as a guide to what the company stands for and will uphold to its consumers.