Corporate social responsibility now touches upon most aspects of the interaction between business and society. The approaches taken to research in this area are as varied as the topics that are researched; yet this is the first book to address the whole range of methods available. The Handbook identifies the methods available, evaluates their use and discusses the circumstances in which they might be appropriate. The design of a research project is an essential part of undertaking research, as is choosing appropriate methods for investigation and analysis. In addition, business and management research raises theoretical and practical problems that are not encountered in other fields. The chapters address this challenge over distinct parts. Part I on methodology planning is concerned with various aspects of planning the research project, including secondary data and ethics in the research process. Parts II and III outline quantitative and qualitative methods respectively, covering the vast majority of relevant approaches. Part IV provides forward-thinking guidance from experienced academics on the future directions of research in the area. Aimed specifically at researchers, this comprehensive and in-depth Handbook provides and essential resource for anyone working at the forefront of CSR research. Contributors include: K. Abadi, G.K. Amoako, A. Behl, S. Bhattacharya, C. Boachie, N. Capaldi, J.G. Clavel, J. Claydon, D. Crowther, F. de Paiva Duarte, M. Green, J. Gunawan, M.A. Islam, R. Kalinauskaite, H.Z. Khan, Md.R. Khan, L.M. Lauesen, S. Moggi, E. Ortiz, I. Oruc, D.E.R. Ospina, J.F.M. Ospina, L. Raimi, J.D. Rendtorff, F. Robertson, M. Samy, S. Seifi, H. Semeen, M. Sethi, H.J. Shaw, J.J.A. Shaw, L. Tauginiene, D. Turker, V.G. Venkatesh, K. Yekini, V. Zydziunaite

Corporate social responsibility now touches upon most aspects of the interaction between business and society. The approaches taken to research in this area are as varied as the topics that are researched; yet this is the first book to address the whole range of methods available. The Handbook identifies the methods available, evaluates their use and discusses the circumstances in which they might be appropriate. The design of a research project is an essential part of undertaking research, as is choosing appropriate methods for investigation and analysis. In addition, business and management research raises theoretical and practical problems that are not encountered in other fields. The chapters address this challenge over distinct parts. Part I on methodology planning is concerned with various aspects of planning the research project, including secondary data and ethics in the research process. Parts II and III outline quantitative and qualitative methods respectively, covering the vast majority of relevant approaches. Part IV provides forward-thinking guidance from experienced academics on the future directions of research in the area. Aimed specifically at researchers, this comprehensive and in-depth Handbook provides and essential resource for anyone working at the forefront of CSR research. Contributors include: K. Abadi, G.K. Amoako, A. Behl, S. Bhattacharya, C. Boachie, N. Capaldi, J.G. Clavel, J. Claydon, D. Crowther, F. de Paiva Duarte, M. Green, J. Gunawan, M.A. Islam, R. Kalinauskaite, H.Z. Khan, Md.R. Khan, L.M. Lauesen, S. Moggi, E. Ortiz, I. Oruc, D.E.R. Ospina, J.F.M. Ospina, L. Raimi, J.D. Rendtorff, F. Robertson, M. Samy, S. Seifi, H. Semeen, M. Sethi, H.J. Shaw, J.J.A. Shaw, L. Tauginiene, D. Turker, V.G. Venkatesh, K. Yekini, V. Zydziunaite

CSR is a fragile concept if conceived only at the organizational level or driven only by leadership will. Many writers deal with aspects of social responsibility, but most deal with it as this kind of organizational and voluntary initiative. Few address the wider policy agenda. The contributors to Territories of Social Responsibility - researchers and practitioners from four continents - all participated in an international workshop co-ordinated by Patricia Almeida Ashley as part of her role as Chair in Development and Equity at the International Institute of Social Studies. They form a policy network contributing to studies on the concept of a multi-actor, multilevel and territorial approach to social responsibility and governance, oriented towards global, regional or local development and equity goals. This book introduces a new conceptual framework and promotes a research and policy agenda relating to it. A new model sees CSR embedded in institutional and legal frameworks, communicated and understood through a vector of communication and knowledge influencing situated culture and social values, and classified into three levels of ethical challenges. All of this can be expressed into the social processes of education, governance, the development of civil society, and policy making - a renovation of the existing perspectives on the concept of social responsibility. This ground breaking book integrates conceptual and empirical contributions and opens a research and policy agenda for the future. It will appeal to academics, higher level students, policy makers, and to leaders of and advisors to organizations affected by social responsibility issues.

In the critically acclaimed first edition of A Social Critique of Corporate Reporting, David Crowther examined the perceived dialectic around traditional and environmental reporting to show it to be a false dialectic. Corporate reporting continues to change rapidly to incorporate more detail and especially environmental and social information. At the same time the mechanism for reporting has changed and the internet now enables more information to be provided to an ever wider range of stakeholders and interest groups. The perceived conflict between financial performance representing the needs of investors and other dimensions of performance representing the needs of other stakeholders still however continues to exist. In this updated edition, this perceived conflict is re-examined along with the wider purposes of corporate reporting. These are examined in the context of web based reporting and a greater concern for all stakeholders. The conclusion is that, although recent developments have produced changes, the essential conflict is still professed to exist, but remains a largely imaginary one. The analysis in this book makes use of both statistics and semiotics and in so doing develops a semiology of corporate reporting that offers an alternative to other research that is largely based on econometrics. Researchers, higher level students and others with an interest in or responsibility for corporate reporting, corporate social responsibility, accounting research, or semiotics will find this book essential reading.

The management of organisations continues to evolve as new priorities emerge and new approaches are developed. Thus, it is clear that research into business and management will also continue to evolve. This will be in terms of both what is researched and in terms of the techniques and methods used to conduct research. Such development will continue into the future and this book highlights evolving areas. It also suggests new topics which are emerging and new techniques to conduct such research – topics and techniques that will be of benefit to researchers. The unique focus on the future of research methods in management, the emergence of topics in contemporary management and sustainability research and practices, such as sustainability and circular economy, will set this volume apart. With coverage of new and emerging subjects in management studies such as sustainability, zero carbon, green market, and circular economy, and the international collaboration with contributors from all around the globe, this major interdisciplinary reference volume will be of interest and great value to researchers, academics, and advanced students in the fields of business and management research and appropriate methodologies.

The last few decades have seen significant changes in the structure of business organizations, including downsizing, outsourcing and flattened management structures. The effects on employees have been considerable. In this context the importance of the psychological contract between employer and employee has been overlooked, and there is uncertainty about what can be done to bring about changes to this contract and ultimately the future of organizations. This important book considers the psychological aspects of organizational life, particularly in the context of firms' ethical behaviour and its implications for corporate social responsibility. The authors consider the effects of corporate activity and change on individuals, not just in their working lives, but also in their family and social lives. They address a diverse number of topics from a variety of theoretical standpoints in an ongoing attempt to redress this neglected field of research.

This title was first published in 2002: This text is concerned with the role of corporate reporting in UK public limited companies. It is a common assumption that the most significant part of any corporate report is the accounting information contained within. This book, however, takes a different view. The central argument is that the purpose of corporate reporting has changed from one primarily of stewardship and accountability to shareholders to a more outward- and forward-looking perspective. The author argues that one of the driving forces for this change in orientation is the discourse of environmental accounting, along with other forces. The book is essentially explorative. The author is concerned with looking at different aspects of the changes in corporate reporting and taking different perspectives in the development of the argument.

This title was first published in 2002: This text is concerned with the role of corporate reporting in UK public limited companies. It is a common assumption that the most significant part of any corporate report is the accounting information contained within. This book, however, takes a different view. The central argument is that the purpose of corporate reporting has changed from one primarily of stewardship and accountability to shareholders to a more outward- and forward-looking perspective. The author argues that one of the driving forces for this change in orientation is the discourse of environmental accounting, along with other forces. The book is essentially explorative. The author is concerned with looking at different aspects of the changes in corporate reporting and taking different perspectives in the development of the argument.

CSR is a fragile concept if conceived only at the organizational level or driven only by leadership will. Many writers deal with aspects of social responsibility, but most deal with it as this kind of organizational and voluntary initiative. Few address the wider policy agenda. The contributors to Territories of Social Responsibility - researchers and practitioners from four continents - all participated in an international workshop co-ordinated by Patricia Almeida Ashley as part of her role as Chair in Development and Equity at the International Institute of Social Studies. They form a policy network contributing to studies on the concept of a multi-actor, multilevel and territorial approach to social responsibility and governance, oriented towards global, regional or local development and equity goals. This book introduces a new conceptual framework and promotes a research and policy agenda relating to it. A new model sees CSR embedded in institutional and legal frameworks, communicated and understood through a vector of communication and knowledge influencing situated culture and social values, and classified into three levels of ethical challenges. All of this can be expressed into the social processes of education, governance, the development of civil society, and policy making - a renovation of the existing perspectives on the concept of social responsibility. This ground breaking book integrates conceptual and empirical contributions and opens a research and policy agenda for the future. It will appeal to academics, higher level students, policy makers, and to leaders of and advisors to organizations affected by social responsibility issues.

In the critically acclaimed first edition of A Social Critique of Corporate Reporting, David Crowther examined the perceived dialectic around traditional and environmental reporting to show it to be a false dialectic. Corporate reporting continues to change rapidly to incorporate more detail and especially environmental and social information. At the same time the mechanism for reporting has changed and the internet now enables more information to be provided to an ever wider range of stakeholders and interest groups. The perceived conflict between financial performance representing the needs of investors and other dimensions of performance representing the needs of other stakeholders still however continues to exist. In this updated edition, this perceived conflict is re-examined along with the wider purposes of corporate reporting. These are examined in the context of web based reporting and a greater concern for all stakeholders. The conclusion is that, although recent developments have produced changes, the essential conflict is still professed to exist, but remains a largely imaginary one. The analysis in this book makes use of both statistics and semiotics and in so doing develops a semiology of corporate reporting that offers an alternative to other research that is largely based on econometrics. Researchers, higher level students and others with an interest in or responsibility for corporate reporting, corporate social responsibility, accounting research, or semiotics will find this book essential reading.

Good governance is good PR, it is important in every sphere of society, whether it be the corporate environment, the political, or wider society. When resources are too limited to meet the minimum expectations of the people, it is a good governance level that can help to promote the welfare of society. Enlightened companies recognise that there is a clear link between governance and corporate social responsibility and make efforts to link the two. Unfortunately this is too often no more than making a claim that good governance is a part of their CSR policy as well as a part of their relationship with shareholders. Corporate Governance and CSR are significant issues in all parts of the world, huge amounts of time and energy are devoted to its global interpretation. Most analysis however is too simplistic to be helpful as it normally resolves itself into simple dualities: rules based v principles based or Anglo-Saxon v Continental. The editors of this book argue that this is not helpful - that the reality is far more complex. They show that Corporate Governance and CSR cannot be understood without taking geographical, cultural and historical factors into account. It is necessary, they say to understand the concerns of people in different parts of the world. Therefore, by using a wealth of case studies, theoretical models, and drawing on the knowledge and perspective of experts from around the world, the editors have produced this valuable book. Global Perspectives on Corporate Governance and CSR discusses issues such as regional and cultural similarities and differences, the contexts of differing legal frameworks and governance codes, differences between large companies and SMEs, governance in new environments (companies and economies) versus stable environments, and the changing environment affecting corporate social responsibility around the world. The editors then synthesise this in a way that will be helpful to business people as well as to academics.

Sustainability is normally considered to be about choices for the future being limited by decisions made in the present, and is frequently portrayed as concerning environmental issues alone. The Durable Corporation rejects both of these notions to argue that sustainability is a more complex concept that involves balancing many factors. It explores the nature, value and role of sustainability in business and maintains that resource utilization must be based upon the twin pillars of equity and efficiency rather than attempting to ensure that our choices in the future are not reduced. The authors of The Durable Corporation propose a new model of sustainability and a fresh approach to managing resources. They extend this to the development of difference strategies for achieving sustainability and an alternative approach to managing for the future. These features make it essential reading for all those with responsibility for the sustainability or durability of the enterprises in which they are engaged or in the study of the issues at stake.

Plastics have long been considered useful, providing such economic advantages as reduced cost and social benefits like increased hygiene and the preservation of food. However, plastic products have greatly contributed to climate change. Half of all plastic produced is single use. The discarded plastics are dumped into landfills and find their way into bodies of water, causing serious environmental pollution and health hazards. Addressing this paradoxical situation, Socially Responsible Plastic answers the question: can using plastic ever be socially responsible? While humanity is threatened by the environmental pollution caused by plastic, some countries are implementing and accepting environmentally friendly behaviour, while others are still falling behind. More specifically, adopting environmentally friendly behaviour is still in its infancy in developing nations. The authors look at socially responsible plastic in countries ranging from China, Malaysia, Pakistan, Spain, Australia and India to Sri Lanka, Nigeria and Bangladesh, with research covering tourism, waste management, the food and drink industry, and the possible advantages of responsible plastic use. Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility offers the latest research on topical issues by international experts and has practical relevance to business managers.

Over the last decade of the 20th century, the question of the relationship between organisations and society was subject to much debate, often of a critical nature. The decade saw protests concerning the actions of organizations, exposures of corporate exploitation and unfolding accounting scandals. At the same time, ethical behaviour and a concern for the environment have been shown to have a positive correlation with corporate performance. The nature of corporate social responsibility is therefore a topical one for businesses and academics. corporate social responsibility and how this might be applied within organizations. This book explores some of these perspectives, based upon the experiences of people in different parts of the world. The authors involved are respected academics from a variety of disciplines and from a number of different parts of the world. The contributions to this book investigate theoretical perspectives on the topic, the application in practice of socially responsible behaviour and the ethical dimension of such behaviour.

Social entrepreneurs greatly differ from other forms of entrepreneurs in terms of judgment capacity, pro-activeness, innovativeness, entrepreneurial virtue. They are often associated with social innovation and ascribed as transformational leaders due to their contribution in finding and initiating the positive change in solving any social problem. In recent years, the whole world is facing different aspects and levels of social problems. This has led to social entrepreneurs becoming more desired and attracting significant research attention. However, the discussion on such topic is still at its infancy with ongoing debates on its definition, characteristics, and roles. Social Entrepreneurs: Mobilisers of Social Change works to fill this gap in the literature, exploring the notion of social entrepreneurs, their role, facets, and implications to address the social problems. Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility offers the latest research on topical issues by international experts and has practical relevance to business managers. This is the only book series endorsed by the Social Responsibility Research Network.

The three pillars of sustainability - Environmental protection, Social sustainability, and Economic sustainability - are well known since the Brunndtland Commission report. However, these pillars are meant to be approached and treated as equal counterparts, yet this rarely happens as individuals, corporations, businesses, and institutions will weight one pillar with more importance than the others. The Equal Pillars of Sustainability works to redress this problem and to look at what action is taken or might be taken to achieve equality. It is investigated whether this equality can be achieved in all circumstances or what alternatives need to be considered. It might be argued that Brundtland was wrong, and these three pillars are not the centrepiece of sustainable development. In this book we consider these views and actions to arrive at a view which will inform debate and guide future action. Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility as a series offers the latest research on topical issues by international experts and has practical relevance to business managers. This is the only book series endorsed by the Social Responsibility Research Network.

This is the ideal companion for those needing guidance when carrying out a research project in a management or a business-related subject. The text is succinct and concise, written with modular courses in mind for the reader to quickly gain an overall perspective of the fundamental areas and identify the key points that need to be addressed. This clear and practical book also covers the requirements of more general areas of business research and consultancy. New to this edition is a chapter devoted to the analysis of qualitative data - an area many students find they want to focus on. A new accompanying student website also gives practical guidance on some of the problems students face: assistance with writing a research proposal; the structure of a dissertation; collecting data - how much is enough; citing references; links to other resources. Dissertations and projects form an integral part of many MBA and degree programmes and this text is invaluable when tackling this area for the first time. The authors approach the research task in a step-by-step manner, covering areas such as data collection, observational methods, and data analysis.

Isolationism is an approach that many governments are increasingly beginning to take, which has consequences for both ordinary citizens and businesses. The research in this sixteenth volume of Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility examines isolationism at global, regional and local levels around the world to analyse this impact. In CSR in an age of Isolationism, David Crowther and Farzana Quoquab gather contributions from academics around the world who discuss the implications of isolationism on corporate social responsibility and society itself. This is achieved by looking at a mixture of regional changes together with case studies within several industries in order to develop a theoretical understanding and analysis. For its contributions towards an understanding of changes which do not yet seem to be widely recognized, this book is an essential read for researchers and postgraduate students of corporate governance and responsibility.

Both firms and governments are increasingly taking steps to address sustainability, and at the same time the issue of governance has become more prominent due to the numerous problems in public and business life which have manifest failures in governance. As initiatives for sustainability increase in importance and prominence, so has the need for governance of sustainability plans and actions. This volume of Developments in Corporate Governance and Responsibility responds to that need and focuses on the relations between governance and sustainability. The book looks at what has been happening in various locations around the world, identifying varying approaches and examining whether and how a best practice could be developed. Gathering contributions that are varied in scope and produced by authors from around the world, it provides a rich picture of the progress (or lack of progress) being made in a wide array of contexts. For its depth and broad scope, Governance and Sustainability is a must-read for researchers, students, and practitioners interested in sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

This book explores the concepts of sustainability and governance in relation to the governance of corporations - hence the ubiquity of the term corporate governance - and other bodies. It examines how these concepts are regularly used by politicians and by the media. The two concepts are however largely treated as being separate and discrete, and given equal coverage. The argument in this book is that the two concepts are inter-related and that good governance is a prerequisite for sustainability. The focus of the book therefore is different from most, as it seeks to integrate these two important issues. The approach used in this book is based on the tradition of the Social Responsibility Research Network - a worldwide body of scholars that, over its 20-year history, has sought to broaden the discourse and to treat all research as inter-related and business-relevant. The book examines diverse aspects of the changes to corporate and institutional behaviour that have recently manifested by focusing on these two aspects of sustainable development. Thus, the authors explore engagement and partnership between organisations, in order to consider the extent to which the focus has changed so much that we need to think about new approaches to our understanding of sustainability and differing effects in practice. The international mix of authors makes this an original contribution, sharing some of the best ideas from around the world.

The current economic situation has highlighted deficiencies in corporate governance while also showing the importance of stakeholder relations. It has also raised the profile of the debates regarding corporate social responsibility and shown the inter-relationship with governance. And the two together are essential for sustainable business. The social and environmental contexts of business are generally considered to be as significant as the economic and financial contexts and good governance will address all of these aspects. The combination of these aspects offers long term benefits for a firm, such as reducing risk and attracting new investors, shareholders and more equity as well as sustainable performance. Written by experts from all over the world, A Handbook of Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility is the most authoritative single-volume guide to the relationship between good governance and social responsibility and the reality of managing both. In addition to the theory and practice of governance and CSR, the book includes case studies from large and small organizations and NGOs to highlight examples of good and bad practice, and to show international and cultural similarities and differences while at the same time furthering the debate regarding the relationship between good governance and social responsibility.

It is apparent that all forms of organisation have governance requirements and procedures but too often we just consider governance in a corporate environment. Equally it is accepted that the concept of governance is concerned with the relationship between the organisation and all of its stakeholders but is too often interpreted as a concern for the relationship between a corporation and its investors. Still this is essentially true as far as most corporations are concerned. Such narrow views are unrealistic and are inappropriate in the modern global world which we inhabit and many would blame problems with governance for the economic and financial turmoil which the world has experienced during the last decade. Much analysis has been undertaken about governance but little in the way of change is manifest and few seem to recognise both the need to consider radical changes in the modern global environment and the opportunities and possibilities presented by the current environment. In this book therefore we take a broad (and possibly radical) approach and consider governance requirements in the modern world - not just for corporations but for all forms of organisation.

The practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been growing in attention, importance, significance, and acceptance in recent decades. CSR has been included in multiple debates, comments, theories, studies and research around the world. In the last decade, Ibero-America (including Brazil, Portugal, and Spain), has grown in economic terms, and corporate responsible practices have played a key role. A CSR approach in community-based experience has emerged in the last years in this region. This is due to the support of multilateral agencies that have served as a link between government, private sector and society. However, there are still many inequalities in this region. Therefore, this edited book focuses on how CSR and Corporate Governance in Ibero-America have been employed, analyzed, and examined in different sectors and scenarios (companies, NGOs, higher educational institutions, government). It does so from theoretical (theory development), conceptual, methodological, and empirical approaches. It takes a trans-regional approach unlike most research which has been focused on studying specific initiatives or experiences in a particular country.

Although much consideration has been given to the relationship between a corporation and its stakeholders, less attention has been given as to who those stakeholders might consist of. Nevertheless in this globalised world the effects of the actions of a corporation can been seen to extend far beyond the boundaries of the organisation and far beyond the countries in which that corporation is domiciled or operates. Indeed not only can a butterfly flapping its wings cause a hurricane in another part of the world but also a minor decision by a corporation can have a dramatic social, economic or geopolitical impact in other parts of the world. Thus the stakeholder community of a corporation must be considered as far greater than its voluntary stakeholders, far greater than its internal stakeholders and far greater than its supply chain and value chain. This has considerable implications for the corporation and its approach to both its operations and its sense of corporate responsibility. Too often this is not considered or even recognised so in this book we take the widest definition of stakeholders and consider aspect of the corporation's responsibility to this community.

Probably since the mid-1980s, corporate governance has attracted a great deal of attention from corporate managers and investors' protection has become a much more important issue for all financial markets after recent firm failures and scandals. Especially important for all with an interest in how organizational governance is formed around socially responsible and accountable ways of leadership and management, this book provides new insights into various issues regarding business management and governance, and points to ways for businesses to make a real change for the betterment of the world, especially in the aftermath of the recent financial crisis 2007/2008.