Providing a much-needed critique of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practice and scholarship, this book seeks to redress CSR advocacy, from a political and critical perspective. A strident approach backed up by extensive use of case studies presents the argument that most CSR-related activity aims to gain legitimacy from consumers and employees, and therefore furthers the exploitative and colonizing agenda of the corporation. By examining CSR in the context of the political economy of late capitalism, the book puts the emphasis back on the fact that most large corporations are fundamentally driven by profit maximization, making CSR initiatives merely another means to this end. Rather than undermining or challenging unsustainable corporate practices CSR is exposed as an ideological practice that actually upholds the prominence of such practices. As CSR gathers momentum in management practice and scholarship, students in the fields of CSR, business ethics, and strategy, will find this text a useful companion to counter received wisdom in this area.
The burgeoning field of marketing ethics looks at the moral issues and controversies surrounding marketing theory and practice. This four-volume set focuses on understanding marketing ethics from a management perspective, including articles that: provide ways of thinking about marketing ethics; offer a descriptive account of how marketers make decisions with ethical content; present normative guidance for marketing decision-making; and address specific ethical issues in marketing practice. The editors' introduction provides an overview of the literature included in the set as well as identifying directions for future research. Volume One: Foundations of Marketing Ethics provides a conceptualization of the field, including some of the earliest contributions on the topic. Volume Two: Positive Marketing Ethics looks at how managers make ethical marketing decisions. Volume Three: Normative Marketing Ethics focuses on normative marketing ethics, which is primarily concerned with the prescriptive considerations of how marketers should make decisions with ethical content. Volume Four: Ethical Issues in Marketing addresses the effects and possible solutions to the major ethical issues arising in the practice of marketing, both at the micro/firm level and at the more macro/systemic level.
'Today, Fair Trade finds itself at a crucial point in its evolution from alternative trading mechanism to a mainstream economic model. As the only certifier in the largest Fair Trade market in the world, TransFair USA has observed the explosive growth in consumer awareness and business interest in Fair Trade certification. New research into the progress of Fair Trade to date and, crucially, its key future directions is urgently needed. Fair Trade is therefore a valuable and timely contribution.The range and depth of the book is considerable. It is international in outlook and engages with a broad spectrum of theory and thinking. Its style is approachable yet rigorous. I would strongly recommend it to industry, academics, students, policy-makers and the interested reader in general' - Paul Rice, CEO, TransFair USA 'This work - a powerful study of the maelstrom of issues and cross currents in the Fair Trade and Development movements is long overdue. Through case studies, quantative analysis and reasoned arguement, this work makes its case with cogent force' - Hamish Renton, Product Manager Food You Can Trust, Tesco 'With the fair trade sector growing rapidly, it is vital that the concept is understood properly and the future potential mapped out. Fair Trade provides a comprehensive guide to all aspects of fair trade which make it a "must read" for everyone from casual buyer right through to seasoned producer. Here's your chance to see how you can easily change the world for the better' - Mel Young, editor-in-chief, New Consumer, Britain's only fair trade magazine, www.newconsumer.org. Fair Trade is at a crucial moment in its evolution from alternative trading mechanism to mainstream economic model. This timely and thoughtful book looks at the strategic future for Fair Trade. Each chapter spearheads a key area of Fair Trade thinking and theory and the political, legal and economic context of Fair Trade is given careful scrutiny. Difficult questions are tackled such as 'What is the role and value of corporate social responsibility?' and 'What is the brand meaning of Fair Trade?' Throughout, readers are supported by: - Revealing case studies and useful data analysis; - Concise histories of different Fair Trade organisations; - Chapter summaries and conclusions.
What does a truly global manager need to know to lead responsibly? How does he or she define and develop the core management competencies required to accomplish this? This book uses the UN Global Compact and its ten principles as an overarching framework for understanding the complex issues facing global business managers today. Contributors from different parts of the world discuss the intersection between business and the ethical issues of our time-human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption-and, most critically, how readers can address these issues in the day-to-day running of their multinational operations.
Introducing the key concepts in corporate social responsibility, the authors bring together the essential issues relevant to the responsible management of businesses, not-for-profit organizations and government. With detailed coverage and cross-referencing for each concept and over 50 concepts introduced, this guide to both the theory and implementation of CSR and sustainability, provides an indispensable reference for any student of the subject. Key concepts include: accountability; business ethics; corporate citizenship; corporate environmental reporting; definitions of CSR; ethical consumerism; human rights; NGOs; risk management; stakeholder theory and sustainable development.
'When two of the leading thought leaders in business ethics pick the best-of-the-best thinking in an area, it's time to listen up. Crane and Matten's striking collection delivers not only the accomplishments of business ethics' past, but the promise of its future' - Thomas Donaldson, Mark O. Winkelman Professor and Director of the Zicklin Center for Business Ethics Research, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania As problems such as corruption, financial scandals, food safety, human rights and pollution continue to hit the headlines, business ethics are becoming increasingly central to the global economy. In this four-volume set, two of the leading international figures in the field bring together the most critical and up-to-date academic research in business ethics as it continues to proliferate in new and exciting directions. Volume One: International Perspectives on Business Ethics, provides a comprehensive overview of business ethics in different parts of the world, acknowledging how, with the rise of countries such as Brazil, India, China and Russia as key global players, it is critical to capture the range of different ethical approaches represented by these different regions and cultures. Volume Two: New Theoretical Directions explores areas that business ethics scholars are now engaging with, including theories of moral imagination and pragmatism, business ethics as practices and virtues, critical and postmodern perspectives and political and contractarian theories of business ethics. Volume Three: Behavioural Business Ethics, explores how ethical decisions get made. This ranges from studies of psychological reasoning and cognitive moral development to neurobiological examinations of how the brain works when confronted with ethical dilemmas. Volume Four: Managing Business Ethics, for those who practice business ethics, focuses on how to manage ethics in the organization, marking an important new direction in business ethics research. This includes work on ethical leadership, codes of conduct, stakeholder management, and corporate governance.
From the authors of the best-selling books 'TeamWork' and 'When Teams Work Best'. Frank LaFasto, Susie Scott Krabacher and other contributors to the book in conversation at the World of Children awards, hosted by UNICEF, November 1st, 2011 in New York. "This short book gives me hope that giants continue to walk the earth, lending a hand to those in need of extraordinary help."-Dr. Matthew Goldstein, Chancellor, City University of New York "So many of us want to help, but don't know where to begin. The deeply moving stories of the remarkable people profiled in this book help point the way." -United States Senator Mark Udall "A powerful, moving, and substantive book that puts leadership in the hands of everyday people."-Peter G. Northouse, Western Michigan University, author of Leadership: Theory and Practice Susie Scott Krabacher, a former Playboy centerfold, devotes her life to helping women and children in the desperate slums of Haiti. Ryan Hreljac, at age 6, launches an organization to build wells in countries where water is scarce. Larry Bradley, a U.S. army major in Iraq, mobilizes an international effort to save the life of one local boy. Victor Dukay, himself orphaned at a young age, builds a center in Tanzania for children who have lost parents to AIDS. Inderjit Khurana, a teacher in India, creates a network of train "platform schools" to educate impoverished street children. How do seemingly ordinary people come to take such extraordinary action? Best-selling authors Frank LaFasto and Carl Larson embarked on a 5-year quest to find out. In this book, they offer a fascinating look into the origins of humanitarian leadership in the lives of 31 individuals. Based on their groundbreaking research, LaFasto and Larson trace a path of 7 pivotal choices. The path begins with connecting deeply and personally with the needs of others and culminates in leading the way for more people to get involved. The first 7 chapters of this book tell the stories of this remarkable group of leaders and describe their choices. The final 3 chapters explore the impact of 31 people on the world's problems, the relationship between helping and personal happiness, and practical advice for getting started in a helping effort. In this inspiring book, LaFasto and Larson show how each of us can translate our own good intentions into good deeds--and enrich our own lives along the way.
Designed for courses in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, corporate strategy, and organizational behaviour, this text will also be an indispensible companion text for business students to use throughout their full programme of study. This text provides objective coverage of key issues in corporate social responsibility, the obligation of companies to various stakeholder groups, the contribution of business to society and culture, and the relationship between organizations and the quality of the environment. Business Ethics in Brief is divided into eight sections which contain important keywords that relate to those sections: Ethics and the Individual; Theories of Ethics; Understanding Global Ethics; Ethics of Management and Business; Employee and Human Resources Issues; Consumer Issues; Ethics of Advertising, Marketing, and PR; and Environmental Issues in Ethics. Key features of the text include the following: - Keyword entries featuring comprehensive essays on such crucial topics as strategic corporate social responsibility, consumer rights, and ethical decision making - A listing of suggested readings for each entry, so that readers can find more information on topics of particular interest. - Three appendices: An appendix of "problematic practices" that highlights key corporations and industries and the ethical issues they faced; an appendix with key ethics institutes and organizations; and an appendix listing key business ethics periodicals
This guide to corporate social responsibility (CSR) provides discussion of key concepts in a short, easy-to-use format. It is divided into sections on key terms, the global stage, corporate governance, corporate social responsiveness, public relations and philanthropy, and implications for corporate financial performance. It is an ideal supplement for business courses or as a reference for students and practitioners who would like to learn more about the basics of CSR.
