Thesis Final Draft
Thesis Final Draft
Thesis Final Draft
Illyria J. Brunner
Abstract
The increasing importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the modern interconnected
world is undeniable. CSR entails the implementation of ethical principles that encompass both
financial performance and reputation. This text delves into the impact of CSR on energy,
technology, and consumer product companies within the framework of globalization. Its
objective is to examine whether these companies prioritize their practices, profitability, or the
enhancement of their image and whether the utilization of CSR is justified by the potential
16 February 2024
Part I: Introduction
We live as an ant hill steady and calm till the hot water comes to make us turn frenzy in every
direction much left behind in the aftermath, and in a way, our economy is much the same. We for
the most part have a visible structure of economic order composed and efficient enough to keep the
hill running till hot water floods it ( The depression, Stokes market crash foreign-treated calamity,
etc..) CSR entails the consistent adoption of ethical practices that encompass financial performance
and reputation. By delving into the influence of CSR on energy, technology, and consumer product
companies about globalization, we will examine the extent to which they prioritize practice, profit,
or enhancing their image and whether or not using CSR is worth the payout that it may or may not
produce.
The behavior of consumers has a significant impact on globalization, as their choices in consuming
Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental and social impacts of the products they
consume and hold on a larger scale whether that has to do with how companies package and
distribute their goods or what goes into the actual creation of the products themselves. Despite
being attentive, consumers remain doubtful about the intentions of big corporations. A significant
majority, of the population nearly three-quarters, believe that when these corporations donate to
charities or engage in community projects, they do so primarily to enhance their image rather than
genuinely help those in need. Consumers are not easily convinced by corporate claims of social
responsibility, “(with only 9% stating that they believe these claims "all the time," while another
67% believe them some of the time. new studies show 70% of participants want to know what
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companies are doing to address social and environmental issues). Implementing CSR practices can
improve a company's reputation, build trust and loyalty among consumers, and contribute to
sustainable development. But there's a lot to be done by companies between claiming CSR and
using CSR to engage consumers strengthen relationships and enhance brand loyalty before it can
Imagine you live in a small town and in that town is a field of greenery that no one owns but
everybody has access to one day the farmer starts bringing his sheep to graze there, and this goes
on for a while and eventually that Greenery is now ruined forming patches of brown for from
where the sheep have started to eat away at all the grass, and now the townspeople come to him
and tell him that he there has to stop bringing his sheep there or figure out a different way to fix it
he says it is not his problem for he does not own that patch of land but he does own the sheep that
have caused the damage; this is the Tragedy of the Commons. A story that is often used to help
people understand the basics of economic ownership. In a globalized world, the farmer of our story
is the corporation, sheep the drive for profit, growth damage of the common space (working
conditions, environment, etc.) in today's economy a space used by everybody but claimed by
This crash course provides a concise explanation of economics and the impact it has on the
that have significant environmental effects. In particular, it highlights the issue of large carbon
footprints in emerging markets where decision-makers and factory owners are not directly
affected. However, the chain reaction caused by these impacts can have long-term consequences.
CSR aims to address these issues and reduce our negative impact on the environment. As these
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concerns gain more attention in the media, consumers become more conscious of the origins of
their goods and services and the broader implications they have.
The term "globalization" was introduced by Theodore Levitt, a professor at Harvard Business
School, in 1983. Levitt observed how companies like Coca-Cola and McDonalds had created a
sense of uniformity across regional markets. Globalization has advantages such as allowing
businesses to access resources and labor at the lowest prices worldwide. This benefits consumers
by enabling them to purchase more affordable goods. It also benefits workers and farmers in the
poorest countries, as they can sell their products on the global market.
But globalization, despite its benefits, has its drawbacks too. Opponents of globalization claim that
it results in cultural homogenization, with multinational corporations taking over the global market
pressing issue, with nations prioritizing industrial expansion and monoculture agriculture, leading
Despite globalization's advantages and disadvantages, it is a natural progression from earlier stages
of global influence and trade. The exchange of ideas and trade has existed throughout human
history. Modern globalization can be traced back to various points in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Globalization allows for increased access to resources and affordable goods, but it also leads to
cultural uniformity and environmental concerns. The concept of globalization has roots in earlier
stages of global influence and trade, and its development has been enabled by technological
advancements.
The concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has a long history, dating back over a
century. It originated in the late 1800s when businesses began to reconsider their production
models due to the combination of increasing philanthropy and deteriorating working conditions.
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Business tycoons started donating to community causes, and some business owners reluctantly
made improvements to factory conditions and reduced working hours. These actions laid the
However, it wasn't until 1953 that the term "Corporate Social Responsibility" was coined by
American economist Howard Bowen in his book "Social Responsibilities of the Businessman."
Bowen recognized the significant power held by corporations and acknowledged that their actions
had a tangible impact on society. He argued that businessmen must pursue policies that benefit the
common good.
Since its inception, the concept of CSR has undergone significant changes. Initially, it focused on
narrow issues such as charitable giving and reducing working hours. However, over time, the
scope of CSR has expanded to encompass a broader range of issues and impact various aspects of
business decision-making. It has transformed the way businesses operate and influences every
This transformation began in the 1960s when scholars started viewing CSR as a response to the
emerging problems of modern society's rapid economic growth. Businesses began implementing
CSR practices in response to these societal challenges. However, even during this period, CSR was
still seen through a relatively narrow lens. Many scholars argued that companies were only
responsible for addressing the direct consequences of their decisions and actions, rather than larger
social problems. Therefore, while progress was made in the CSR movement during the 1960s, it
did not fully reflect the comprehensive approach seen in our current understanding of CSR until a
Simply put CSR can be broken down into three essentially things practice, profit, and image.
Corporations that partake in CSR or claim to follow these three guidelines to ethical events
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whether that is environmental such as environmental impacts and reducing carbon footprint or the
image and reputation of the organization based on where they put their resources and how they use
their profit and what advantages come from the action that follow, and from there the image they
CSR and globalization are topics that become interchangeable when bringing up one or the other
and in today's world of globalized economy you cannot talk about globalization without talking
about the practices of businesses in corporations and you cannot talk about the behavior in which
corporations hold themselves and partake in without discussing how it affects people on a global
scale, globalizations involvement with CSR has both benefits and drawbacks that come from and
depend specifically on how it is used. The perfect use of CSR would both benefit the environment
and the corporation in which is being implemented, but the applications of CSR are seldom found
to thrive in both categories, this is where the consumer starts to get involved whether or not
consumers are aware of it globalization and CSR benefit and impact them daily from the roads
they drive to get to work and school to the gas they put in their cars, the clothes they wear every
day and, the food they consume all of these things at one point in their manufacturing and
First, look at the interconnectedness that goes on between CSR and globalization, CSR is built off
three main principles practice profit, and image an organization that typically participates in CSR
is one that considers all three of these factors when making decisions for their company image that
is going to be produced by their actions, the produces they introduce to the globe market, the
environment in which it's goods and services are created, from the workers to the factories to the
safety codes and manufacturing standers; and finale the profit that comes from each of those arae
suspific choice. From their globalization starts to get involved the profit organizations depend on,
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also depend heavily on how they are perceived by their consumers if they appear to have a clean
environmentally, and socially friendly company by doing charitable work creating safe work
consumers and if that is the case then the better their image looks the higher their profit goes and
then you put that into the global framework and you start to see the interconnectedness between
globalization and CSR the mass production of products within a global scale and hundreds of
markets comes from supply and demand. The positive image and organization's presentation, along
with the quality of their products, contribute to building demand. This demand is driven by the
company's profit motive, but sometimes, the actual practice is neglected. Utilizing CSR within an
organization can enhance profitability through a reputable image. However, merely claiming to
Globalization facilitates the rapid and widespread movement of goods and services, making it easy
for consumers to overlook its impact. However, the influence that Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) holds over consumers far outweighs the influence that individual consumers have on
globalization. It becomes challenging for one person to make a significant difference, particularly
in a rapidly growing economy and in today's globalized world where products and services can
reach any location within days. The question arises as to when the individual becomes significant
in the context of the collective and at what point the balance shifts, giving consumers the power to
The intersection of CSR and globalization plays a significant role in determining the impact
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on the economy. CSR affects you daily as a consumer whether or not you are aware of it, from the
roads you drive to get to work and school to the gas you pump into your car to the clothes you
wear and the food you consume all of these things were influenced by CSR and globalization.
When examining this intersection, “In fact, steady consumer spending in 2023 contributed to
surprisingly strong 2.5% economic growth that’s generally credited for staving off a recession”
This link between consumer behavior and corporate organizations' economic action, gives us a
starting point to begin delving deeper into the specific aspects of CSR and globalization, we can
The perception of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its impact on consumer buying
behavior in the process of globalization have been subjects of study. Nadanyiova (2021) highlights
the importance of understanding how CSR is perceived by consumers and its influence on their
purchasing decisions. In a globalized world, where consumers have access to a wide range of
products and services, their choices are increasingly influenced by ethical considerations.
Companies that engage in CSR activities, such as promoting sustainability, supporting social
causes, or ensuring fair labor practices, are more likely to attract socially conscious consumers.
This alignment between consumer values and CSR initiatives can have a positive impact on the
Furthermore, Menichini and Rosati (2014) emphasize the strategic impact of CSR on
consumer-company alignment. They argue that when companies align their CSR initiatives with
consumer values, it leads to increased consumer trust, loyalty, and positive brand perception. This
alignment can result in higher sales and market share for companies, contributing to economic
growth. Conversely, companies that neglect CSR or engage in unethical practices may face
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consumer backlash, damaging their reputation and financial performance. Therefore, the
intersection of CSR and globalization is crucial in shaping consumer behavior and, consequently,
the economy.
The intersection of CSR and globalization has a significant impact on consumers and the economy.
Understanding the direct links between consumers and the economy, influenced by the behavior of
organizations, is essential. By examining the specific aspects of CSR and globalization, such as
consumer perception and alignment with company values, we can gain insights into their
globalization, and CSR, and their effects on the consumer and the economy.
The effects that CSR can have on individuals, which in turn helps us comprehend its impact on
globalization. This implies that by studying how CSR affects individuals, we can gain insights into
its broader implications on a global scale. For instance, when companies engage in CSR activities
can foster a sense of goodwill and trust towards the company. This positive perception can then
extend to the company's global image, as individuals share their experiences and opinions with
The main argument highlights the significance of CSR in the context of globalization. It suggests
that the impact of globalization can be either amplified or minimized depending on how effectively
CSR is implemented within corporations. To assess the alignment between a company's CSR
This account comprises the company's disclosed commitment (DC), consumers' perceived
commitment (PC), and the required commitment (RC) expected by stakeholders. By comparing
these dimensions, it becomes possible to identify areas of alignment and misalignment between the
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company and its consumers. This concept of commitment aligns with the earlier notion of practice
To evaluate these commitment variables, various methods can be employed. Firstly, the company's
Sustainability Report can be analyzed to determine the level of disclosed commitment. This report
provides insights into the company's CSR initiatives and their impact on economic, environmental,
and social factors. Secondly, stakeholder surveys can be conducted to gauge the required
commitment expected by stakeholders. These surveys help identify the expectations and demands
of stakeholders, which can influence the company's CSR strategies. Lastly, additional stakeholder
surveys can be conducted to measure consumers' perceived commitment. This involves assessing
how consumers perceive the company's CSR efforts and whether they align with their
understanding of their CSR performance and make informed decisions to enhance their alignment
The theory of international strategy and its relationship with globalization highlights four
main strategic approaches employed by multinational companies. These approaches are developed
in response to the dynamic interplay between the pressures for integration and the pressures for
responsiveness. The first approach, known as the international strategy, primarily relies on
exporting and does not consider the unique conditions prevailing in different countries. This
approach is similar to what we observe in emerging markets, but the consequences differ
significantly. In the international strategy, there is a lack of adaptation to local conditions, and the
subsidiaries are not integrated into the overall operations of the company.
In contrast, the multinational strategy allows for adaptation to local markets. Subsidiaries are
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granted autonomy, and products and services are tailored to meet the specific demands of local
consumers. Decision-making authority is decentralized, and crucial functions are also established
in the respective local countries. This approach recognizes the significance of customizing
On the other hand, the global strategy emphasizes achieving cost advantages through economies of
scale. Key assets, resources, and responsibilities are centralized at the headquarters, and
standardized products and services are offered on a global scale. This approach aims to leverage
the benefits of a centralized structure and uniformity across markets. For instance, a resource
provided by the company in America would be identical to the one provided in Bulgaria. In
contrast, the multinational strategy allows for variations within a product to better align with the
Lastly, the transnational strategy recognizes the need to simultaneously address local differences
and capitalize on global economies of scale. Responsibilities, resources, and capabilities are
distributed worldwide, with certain locations serving as hubs. This approach strikes a balance
between adapting to local contexts and harnessing the advantages of global-scale operations.
Organization: AT&T/Tech
AT&T has solidified itself as a leading member of the global electronics industry, by establishing
itself as a major player in technology; but what did AT&T do to get there?
In 1877, after Alexander Graham Bell's groundbreaking invention of the telephone, Bell
established Bells Telephone Co., and subsequently, in 1885, American Bell incorporated the
American Telephone and Telegraph Co., which later adopted the name "AT&T." This subsidiary
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played a pivotal role in the expansion of the telephone network, starting with its initial
implementation in New York. This is just a glimpse at AT&T's history, but it is enough to start
painting a pitch of how long they’ve been around and where they got their start. AT&T has
telecommunications.
But being at the forefront of your field makes it hard to take advantage of your power without
inevitably getting caught and that's exactly what they did. AT&T was first busted for adding failure
charges related to their “unlimited data plan” for self-profit by the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) in 2014, although the FTC claims this began in 2011.”The FTC alleged that, despite
AT&T’s unequivocal promises of unlimited data, it began throttling data speeds in 2011 for its
unlimited data plan customers after they used as little as 2 gigabytes of data in a billing period.
AT&T’s alleged practices affected more than 3.5 million customers as of October 2014, according
to the FTC complaint (FTC. gov/Nov. 5 2019) and if you go a little deeper it wasn’t just their
failed “unlimited data” but a wide myriad of charges also known as mobile cramming, where
unauthorized charges were added to customers' bills without their consent. These charges included
subscriptions for various services such as ringtones and text messages containing horoscopes and
love tips. The FTC accused AT&T of retaining approximately 35 percent of these charges, which
had significant repercussions for affected consumers. As it was estimated that this started around
2011 the FTC had AT&T as part of their settlement pay up to $60 million deposited into current
and former customers (before 2011 ) as well customers were not required to submit any kind of
claims to receive their refunds former customers were issued checks wall current one received
The initial action taken to restore their customers' trust and reputation was just the beginning, as
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AT&T was deleing with the restoration of their image and settlement distribution one of the
questions felt for them was how to stop this from happening again and what way they could go
about it that would also restore their image, AT&T has consistently relied on CSR as their PR
savior sense 2014, and this remains true even after several years since the public fallout. CSR has
consistently played a pivotal role in their public relations strategy. By actively addressing their
clients' needs and ensuring that their solutions align with CSR objectives, AT&T showcases a
proactive approach that underscores their dedication to CSR principles. This approach not only
fosters trust but also nurtures enduring partnerships based on shared values and mutual trust. it
allowed them to fill in the gaps that were previously present in the organization.
Patagonia's engagement in CSR did not happen overnight. It was a deliberate and conscious
decision that stemmed from a desire to make a positive impact on the environment and society.
The organization recognized the need to change its practices and began to engage in CSR by
implementing various initiatives. These initiatives were prompted by a growing awareness of the
environmental challenges faced by the planet and a recognition of the role businesses can play in
The benefits of Patagonia's adoption of CSR are twofold. Firstly, it aligns with the organization's
values and mission, allowing it to operate in a manner that is consistent with its commitment to
environmental sustainability and social responsibility. This enhances their brand reputation and
strengthens their relationship with environmentally conscious consumers who value ethical
business practices. Secondly, CSR initiatives can also yield tangible benefits for the organization,
such as cost savings through energy efficiency measures or improved employee morale and
productivity. By investing in CSR, Patagonia not only benefits themselves but also their customers.
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Upon analyzing Patagonia's involvement in corporate social responsibility (CSR), it is evident that
the company has wholeheartedly embraced this ideology and integrated it into its operational
framework. Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia, has offered invaluable perspectives on the
sustainability and social accountability. This dedication is further demonstrated through the
company's sustainability endeavors, including its active measures to diminish carbon emissions
Saudi Aramco Energy is one of the world's largest leading conglomerates in gas and oil. Aramco
Gas has no notable history of using CSR. In their business endeavors up to 2019, under the
guidance of CEO Amin bin Hasan Al-Nasser, Aramco reported sales of $329.8 billion in 2020
according to Forbes. In 2019, a small portion of Aramco, constituting 1.5%, was listed on the
Saudi Arabian stock exchange, generating $25.6 billion and valuing the company at around $1.7
trillion - positioning it as the largest company globally. Aramco, the Saudi Arabian state-owned oil
and gas company, is recognized as the largest corporate emitter of greenhouse gasses on a global
scale. “Since 1965, it has been estimated that Aramco is responsible for more than 4% of the total
worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. The Saudi Arabian government, which holds a 98.5% stake
in Aramco, has a well-documented track record of opposing efforts aimed at combating climate
change”(ClientEarth).
In 2019, it forecasts that Saudi Aramco planned to produce and sell carbon dioxide (Carbon
molecules in which a single carbon atom is covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms.) which
would be equivalent to 27 billion tonnes between 2018 and 2030. This amount represents a
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significant share, accounting for 4.7% of the global total "carbon budget" that the IPCC had
estimated the world had left in 2018 to have a 50% chance of meeting the 1.5°C target outlined in
the Paris Agreement. The IPCC also highlighted that achieving a 66% chance of success would
Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis reveals the presence of ethical dilemmas within Saudi
Arabia, particularly concerning the activities of Saudi Aramco/Energy. These ethical challenges
have been extensively scrutinized in a research investigation carried out by Woodman et al. (2022),
which conducts a systematic review and bibliometric analysis of ethical issues in Saudi Arabia
spanning the period from 2010 to 2021. The outcomes of this study emphasize the existence of
notable ethical concerns that demand attention and resolution within the organizational framework.
Furthermore, addressing the ethical challenges reported in Saudi Arabia is of utmost importance
for the organization's reputation and long-term sustainability. The evidence presented by
Clientearth.org (2024) in their complaint regarding Saudi Aramco underscores the need for
enhanced ethical practices within the organization. This evidence can serve as a valuable resource
in informing the proposed solutions and changes, guaranteeing that ethical considerations are taken
Part V : Conclusion
Wall there's still important in international strategy Emerging Markets none other
non-government-owned organizations and so much more within the economic Global world the
tangible representation of corporate social responsibility helps consumers and organizations Better
understand the expectations of both sides and by utilizing strategic approaches through CSR
initiatives multinational corporations can navigate the complexities of our ever-growing globalized
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landscape, and if we as a society can start moving in the direction of sustainability positivity then
the continued use and talk of CSR with an organizations will help corporations evolve and adapt a
within the environments they are formed both Environmental Financial and physical leaving them
prepared to meet the demands found in the global market through responsive customer economic
relations.
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-arabian-oil-company.pdf. Accessed 7 Feb. 2024
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