CSR strategies

Background. In a world where environmental impact plays a more important role than
ever in customers' purchasing practices, we can also detect a rise in green advertising that is
misleading.
Previous Research. Many studies have focused on analyzing how organizations use the
greenwashing method as a disinformation tool in their communication practices, rather than
actually changing their business model and products to be more environmentally friendly.
Previous research demonstrated that companies use up to 10 different methods of misleading
customers to believe that they are environmentally friendly. Previous research only focused on
product characteristics and not on analysing the communication style of companies.
Methodology. This paper, focused on analyzing the data and information communicated
through a fashion company’s advertisements, website and Sustainability Performance Report
through thematic content analysis.
Findings and Implications. This paper’s results confirm previous findings that the use
of ambiguous concepts is one of the key factors in misleading customers. On the other hand, this
study found that in contrast to previous studies, creating false certifications and labels is not a
main factor of misleadingness for the fashion industry. The main key factors of misinformation
in the fashion industry are the use of ambiguous and vague words, the omission of important
information, questionable leadership claims and the use of scientific terms. Other misinformation
types were found(ex: outright false claim, green imagery, etc), but they were not prevalent and/or
significant in the thematic content analysis. This paper found that misinformation in green
advertising is continuously changing and adapting to the response of consumers and proposes
four new types of misinformation: the use of Asterix, shifting the Blame to the consumer,
Comparing apples to oranges and Cherry picking information.
Future. This paper proposes further research to validate the four new types of
misinformation in the fashion industry, as well as further thematic analysis using different
fashion companies as their case study.

Explores the relationship between responsible business and CSR and considers their contribution to employment and skills development, national challenges, social entrepreneurship and investment, and puts the case for more creative, joined-up and collaborative responses. Responsibility can be demonstrated by action to reach and include groups such as the digitally excluded and those afflicted with leprosy who still face economic, social and legal discrimination in certain countries. Published in a book of papers for the 10th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility as: Coulson-Thomas, Colin (2016), Responsible Business and Corporate Social Responsibility, in Ahluwalia, J S (Editor), Embedding CSR Mandate into Corporate Strategy, New Delhi, IOD Publishing, February, pp 26-39 [ISBN 978-81-930987-9-0]

The aim of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is to restore one of the most critical resources for businesses’ sustainability: trust. However, the current practice of CSR begs the question whether CSR initiatives restore trust or simply relieve mistrust in the marketplace. Because people do not really understand what trust implies, they often use CSR activities as publicity stunts, trying to please the public. In particular, they perceive trust as a means of supporting organisational activities rather than a goal of its own. Following Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman, we trust those who fully commit to their goals and are ready to take responsibility for all consequences. Trust is a voluntary and altruistic act and independent of society. Trust, ethics and leadership are interlinked. Leadership requires choosing between two good options according to our Theta-Lambda worldview. Thetas are socially-motivated and seek affiliation and security whereas Lambdas are personally-motivated and seek challenge and achievement. Pursuing these worldviews helps us get closer to the ethical truth, and it is this self-investment in pursuing truth which builds trust.A review of various CSR theories shows that organizational CSR seeks a similar outcome, that is to demonstrate the responsibilities which the organisation is ready to assume.

This paper presents an overview of corporate social responsibility drivers within international supply chains, following a multiple perspective of the different players involved.
The study focused on the relationship between European large retailers and small-medium manufacturers in the food sector. In particular, the effects of the retailers’ CSR initiatives on the supply chains in which small suppliers are involved were examined

The government of India has been giving high priority to rural development with the objective to achieve rural-urban integration in growth processes. The focus of development is to include disadvantaged sections of society i.e. it includes" equality in growth" and "equality of opportunity to all. This paper presents a review of the various study made by different investigators, researchers, and agencies regarding implications of ICT Tools on rural societies of India, significance and role of ICT in Rural Development; Rural Community development and after knowing the observations made by various researcher, investigator and experts concluded that ICTs play a major role in environmentally sustainable rural development and rural community development. ICTs have remarkable contribution towards improvement of economic and social development of societies in rural India. In developing country like India, to create information rich societies, to empower poor people, to reduce digital divide, sustainable development of rural community"s dissemination of ICT in grassroots level of rural villages is necessary.

With mankind facing a number of inter-related challenges, and imminent tipping points after which it may be too late to avoid catastrophe, we may have reached an inflection point in relation to a board’s strategy for maximizing impact and achieving responsible and sustainable bottom-line growth. There may also be an opportunity to articulate a shared purpose that could align and unify hitherto contending aims, interests and priorities. There are many questions in various areas for directors and boards to address.

If business leaders can restore trust and build confidence and credibility with a shared purpose that embraces strategy and execution, they might create opportunities for collaboration, cooperation and partnerships with complementary enterprises, Governments, regulators, public bodies and other stakeholders. Working with their peers and supporters to address common challenges and create and build economies with responsible and sustainable businesses could benefit wider society, future generations and the natural environment.

Theme papers do not necessarily represent a corporate view of India’s Institute of Directors (IOD). They are designed to encourage questioning ahead of the Institute’s international conferences. Further information on the 16th International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility which is organised by IOD can be found from the Institute’s website, and in particular: https://newsite.iodglobal.com/upcoming_events/details/16th-international-conference-on-csr

Purpose: - To identify the CSR practices, analyze their underlie components and study them for similarities/differences across Private Indian Companies (PC), Multinational Companies (MNC) and Public Sector Companies (PSCS).

Design/methodology/approach:  -  The  study  is  based  on  primary  data constituting  a  sample  of  145  companies  including  65  Private  Indian Companies  (PICs),  51  Multinational  Companies  (MNCs)  and  29  Public Sector Companies (PSCs) working in India in various sectors. The data thus generated was analyzed with the help of factor analysis.

Findings: - The study finds that there is no major difference in components of CSR practices of PICs, MNCs and PSCs. The identified CSR factors emerged from PICs are Employee Welfare, Environmental and Natural Resources Protection, Community Development and Community Affairs. The identified CSR  factors  emerged  from  MNCs  are  Community  Welfare,  Employee Development  &  Safety,  Environmental  and  Natural  Resources  Protection, Working  under  law  and  compliance,  Employment  Generation  and Community  Supported  that  of  PSCs  are  Employee  Welfare  and  Social Support, Sustainable Development, Community Development and Heath & Scholarship Program. The difference lies only in priority/preference to follow CSR practices.

Research/limitations/implications: - It is a starting-point for further research in Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives. The paper is of value to the researcher and practitioners of corporate social responsibility.  The study would help others companies who yet to start CSR and to actualize their CSR interventions.

Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, CSR Trends, CSR Practices, Community Welfare, Sustainability, CSR India, CSR Initiatives

Current weather and climate trends are presenting a grim outlook ahead of us. An increasing number of communities are facing dramatic events and changing environmental settings. This new global challenge has probably contributed to the fortunes of the resilience paradigm, which has now spread to a countless number of scientific areas. However, a clear trend in resilience to climate change and weather extremes is the growing focus on communities as the real protagonists of this process. Nonetheless, a very limited and partial view of the community is often used, as the term translates to government, civil society, and individuals. But why are business actors always left out of the picture? Is business resilience not a real matter? Why are business and community resilience treated separately? If system thinking is a key to fight climate change and navigating through extreme weather events, then we must include all stakeholders in the picture.

Little is known about the role of management control systems (MCS) in managing the strategic processes that underpin Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). To enhance our understanding of this phenomenon, this study employs Simons’ (1995) levers of control framework to explore how organizations leverage MCS in different ways in order to drive strategic renewal and trigger organizational change while simultaneously supporting society’s broader sustainability agenda. Drawing on data gathered from France’s largest listed companies – members of the CAC 40 – we provide insights into the structures and processes that companies employ to design, implement and monitor their CSR strategy. In doing so, we provide evidence of the way that organisations seek to attain their CSR objectives, and of the relationship between the management of CSR and other business processes. Of particular interest is the role of the levers of control in enabling managers to identify and manage threats and opportunities associated with CSR strategy, thus forming risk management processes that support organisations in their attainment of strategic objectives. Furthermore, the study provides evidence suggesting the use of MCS has the potential to contribute to society’s broader sustainability agenda through processes that enable innovation, communication, reporting, and the identification of threats and opportunities.