Social responsibility - Research Paper Example

Usually social responsibility measures are assigned to a small group or an individual, often within the human resources management department. Employees tasked to carry out this responsibility have to focus on social subject matters in three primary domains (Anderson 15): 1. Total compliance with international, federal, state, and local legislative laws and acts; 2. Moral and ethical standards and procedures under which the firm will operate; and 3. Philanthropic giving Most business organizations face challenges in developing and implementing socially responsible measures.

Still, all businesses should consider and participate in this area. To function without serious losses or disruptions, a business should always fulfill their legal obligations. It should formulate, execute, and monitor moral and ethical guidelines for all members of the organization. In the philanthropic domain, where there is greater freedom of activities in where, when, and how the company should plan about and resolve numerous issues before creating just and practical course of action (Clegg & Rhodes 57).

With more involved citizens and government, social responsibility has continued to receive much attention and popularity over the recent years (McShane & Steen 105). Social responsibility will keep on demanding more effort, time, and resources. Skilled and diverse management is needed in all the domains of social responsibility. Businesses, the government, and society should team up more strongly in the future if major developments are to be achieved in the area of social responsibility. What is Social Responsibility?

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is usually associated with related concepts like stakeholder management, corporate social responsiveness, and corporate citizenship. All these concepts refer to a company’s responsibilities outside its main purpose that involves generating a profit (Blackburn, Doran, & Shrader 195). A primary reason for the multifaceted nature of CSR is that it binds society and business. It requires no extensive study to understand the different debates over social responsibility occurring across society.

Two major concepts appear to be vital to the understanding of social responsibility, namely sustainability and responsibility (Clegg & Rhodes 53). Sustainability is a standard concept on the external and internal environment as regards intangible and tangible resources. Intangible resources, such as skills and knowledge, must be recognized and developed. Tangible resources, such as oil and raw materials, should be utilized with precise care and, preferably, substituted by alternatives and reused (Anderson 18-20).

It is in the interest of the company to thoroughly care for the pooled intangible and tangible resources and to manifest this in its operations. On the other hand, responsibility today implies not just economic, but also environmental and social responsibility. Companies are persuaded to surpass the economic perspective and consider a broader framework. This challenge may be viewed as indirect or direct societal demands to integrate environmental and social principles into business activities (Anderson 24).

In recent times, it has become somewhat widespread to define this responsibility as CSR.