The concept of corporate social responsibility arises from debates for more than 100 years about the purpose of business and the responsibilities that arise as a consequence of its purpose.
Despite longstanding debates about CSR, until now there has been little agreement over its definition, due to:
- differences in national and cultural approaches to business
- differences in espoused motivation for CSR – doing it because it is morally correct or doing it because it makes good business sense
- differences in disciplinary backgrounds, perspectives and methods of scholars engaged with CSR
Although hundreds of definitions of corporate social responsibility have been published the one we think says it the best has been developed by the International Organization for Standardization as part of its work on the new Guidance Standard on Social Responsibility, ISO 26000. It says:
“Social responsibility is the responsibility of an organisation for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, through transparent and ethical behaviour that
- contributes to sustainable development, including the health and the welfare of society
- takes into account the expectations of stakeholders
- is in compliance with applicable law and consistent with international norms of behaviour; and
- is integrated throughout the organization and practised in its relationships.”
An authentically Australian approach to CSR integrates strategic approaches with social needs.