Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategy

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate sustainability represent the way companies achieve enhanced ethical standards and a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives addressing the concerns and expectations of their stakeholders. Corporate governance reflects the way companies address legal responsibilities, and therefore provides the foundations upon which CSR and corporate sustainability practices can be built to enhance responsible business operations.

Operational uncertainties and difficulties are compounded by recent observations of ‘company anxiety’ regarding CSR communications. Over-promising or declarations of rightness and good intentions could cause the mistrust of consumers and stakeholders, creating the opposite effects from those expected. Companies are recognizing that corporate responsibility communications should be low tone and straightforward, reflected in the actual behaviour of every member of the company, which is extremely difficult to achieve before CSR is integrated into the company’s bloodstream.