Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) 企业社会责任

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) 企业社会责任

1.      What is CSR?

CSR refers to responsibilities borne by corporations, besides those for the owner, stakeholders and other interest group; business should also embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees and communities. In other words, corporations should not only focus on the business performance and pursuing profits, but concern the welfare of their employees, protect the environment and contribute to the communities in which they are located.

Well, I guess those definitions may sound a little bit boring to you, let me just give you an example. Do you like drinking coffee? Do you often hang out with your friends in Starbuck? Well, Starbuck is a model in observing CSR. As a matter of fact, CSR is one of their mission statement. They support many foundations, from protecting the wildlife to helping poor children go to school. For instance, they make donations to Conservation International, together they want to protect life on earth and demonstrate that human societies will thrive when in balance with nature.

2.   Why has CSR been emphasized unprecedentedly in recent years?

   First of all, I’d like to say CSR is definitely not a new product. It was proposed by some western scholars in early 20^th century, though merely within the academia. So why does CSR become a hot topic now? As we all know, the rapid social and economic development was achieved at the heavy expense of the environment. Some severe social problems also emerged. Corporations, as the creator of wealth, have gain huge benefits from the society and the environment. So now they must shoulder more responsibility. What I mean is that it’s time for businesses to provide returns for employees, society and environment. In recent years, with the help of governments, consumers’ organizations, trade unions, environmental organizations and many other non-governmental organizations from Western countries, some of the multinational corporations set out to release social responsibility reports and formulate production codes as well as other principles, proposals and standards. Now more and more corporations have put CSR high on their agenda. Actually, corporations could also benefit from observing CSR, because by doing so, they gain social recognition and enjoy good reputation. So they can obtain more market shares and recruit better employees.Now suppose there are two companies. One is always contributing to the community in which it’s working and trying to reduce its carbon footprint, while the other considers nothing but the profits. Which one do you want to work for?As far as I can see, CSR will create a win-win result for both corporation and the society.

CSR refers to responsibilities borne by corporations, besides those for the owner, stakeholders and other interest group; business should also embrace responsibility for the impact of their activities on the environment, consumers, employees and communities. In other words, corporations should not only focus on the business performance and pursuing profits, but concern the welfare of their employees, protect the environment and contribute to the communities in which they are located.

Well, I guess those definitions may sound a little bit boring to you, let me just give you an example. Do you like drinking coffee? Do you often hang out with your friends in Starbuck? Well, Starbuck is a model in observing CSR. As a matter of fact, CSR is one of their mission statement. They support many foundations, from protecting the wildlife to helping poor children go to school. For instance, they make donations to Conservation International, together they want to protect life on earth and demonstrate that human societies will thrive when in balance with nature.

2.   Why has CSR been emphasized unprecedentedly in recent years?

   First of all, I’d like to say CSR is definitely not a new product. It was proposed by some western scholars in early 20^th century, though merely within the academia. So why does CSR become a hot topic now? As we all know, the rapid social and economic development was achieved at the heavy expense of the environment. Some severe social problems also emerged. Corporations, as the creator of wealth, have gain huge benefits from the society and the environment. So now they must shoulder more responsibility. What I mean is that it’s time for businesses to provide returns for employees, society and environment. In recent years, with the help of governments, consumers’ organizations, trade unions, environmental organizations and many other non-governmental organizations from Western countries, some of the multinational corporations set out to release social responsibility reports and formulate production codes as well as other principles, proposals and standards. Now more and more corporations have put CSR high on their agenda. Actually, corporations could also benefit from observing CSR, because by doing so, they gain social recognition and enjoy good reputation. So they can obtain more market shares and recruit better employees.Now suppose there are two companies. One is always contributing to the community in which it’s working and trying to reduce its carbon footprint, while the other considers nothing but the profits. Which one do you want to work for?As far as I can see, CSR will create a win-win result for both corporation and the society.

Well, I guess those definitions may sound a little bit boring to you, let me just give you an example. Do you like drinking coffee? Do you often hang out with your friends in Starbuck? Well, Starbuck is a model in observing CSR. As a matter of fact, CSR is one of their mission statement. They support many foundations, from protecting the wildlife to helping poor children go to school. For instance, they make donations to Conservation International, together they want to protect life on earth and demonstrate that human societies will thrive when in balance with nature.

2.   Why has CSR been emphasized unprecedentedly in recent years?

   First of all, I’d like to say CSR is definitely not a new product. It was proposed by some western scholars in early 20^th century, though merely within the academia. So why does CSR become a hot topic now? As we all know, the rapid social and economic development was achieved at the heavy expense of the environment. Some severe social problems also emerged. Corporations, as the creator of wealth, have gain huge benefits from the society and the environment. So now they must shoulder more responsibility. What I mean is that it’s time for businesses to provide returns for employees, society and environment. In recent years, with the help of governments, consumers’ organizations, trade unions, environmental organizations and many other non-governmental organizations from Western countries, some of the multinational corporations set out to release social responsibility reports and formulate production codes as well as other principles, proposals and standards. Now more and more corporations have put CSR high on their agenda. Actually, corporations could also benefit from observing CSR, because by doing so, they gain social recognition and enjoy good reputation. So they can obtain more market shares and recruit better employees.Now suppose there are two companies. One is always contributing to the community in which it’s working and trying to reduce its carbon footprint, while the other considers nothing but the profits. Which one do you want to work for?As far as I can see, CSR will create a win-win result for both corporation and the society.

2.   Why has CSR been emphasized unprecedentedly in recent years?

   First of all, I’d like to say CSR is definitely not a new product. It was proposed by some western scholars in early 20^th century, though merely within the academia. So why does CSR become a hot topic now? As we all know, the rapid social and economic development was achieved at the heavy expense of the environment. Some severe social problems also emerged. Corporations, as the creator of wealth, have gain huge benefits from the society and the environment. So now they must shoulder more responsibility. What I mean is that it’s time for businesses to provide returns for employees, society and environment. In recent years, with the help of governments, consumers’ organizations, trade unions, environmental organizations and many other non-governmental organizations from Western countries, some of the multinational corporations set out to release social responsibility reports and formulate production codes as well as other principles, proposals and standards. Now more and more corporations have put CSR high on their agenda. Actually, corporations could also benefit from observing CSR, because by doing so, they gain social recognition and enjoy good reputation. So they can obtain more market shares and recruit better employees.Now suppose there are two companies. One is always contributing to the community in which it’s working and trying to reduce its carbon footprint, while the other considers nothing but the profits. Which one do you want to work for?As far as I can see, CSR will create a win-win result for both corporation and the society.

   First of all, I’d like to say CSR is definitely not a new product. It was proposed by some western scholars in early 20^th century, though merely within the academia. So why does CSR become a hot topic now? As we all know, the rapid social and economic development was achieved at the heavy expense of the environment. Some severe social problems also emerged. Corporations, as the creator of wealth, have gain huge benefits from the society and the environment. So now they must shoulder more responsibility. What I mean is that it’s time for businesses to provide returns for employees, society and environment. In recent years, with the help of governments, consumers’ organizations, trade unions, environmental organizations and many other non-governmental organizations from Western countries, some of the multinational corporations set out to release social responsibility reports and formulate production codes as well as other principles, proposals and standards. Now more and more corporations have put CSR high on their agenda. Actually, corporations could also benefit from observing CSR, because by doing so, they gain social recognition and enjoy good reputation. So they can obtain more market shares and recruit better employees.Now suppose there are two companies. One is always contributing to the community in which it’s working and trying to reduce its carbon footprint, while the other considers nothing but the profits. Which one do you want to work for?As far as I can see, CSR will create a win-win result for both corporation and the society.

3.      CSR’s development in China?

    I’m sure CSR is highly valued in China. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the Chinese government and people from all walks of life are giving more importance to CSR. More and more seminars about CSR have been held in China. It is stipulated in the revised edition of Corporation Law that: “Any corporation in its business shall abide by the law, administrative regulations, conform to social and commercial morality, and stick to the principle of honesty and trust. A corporation is also subject to supervision from the government and the public and shall shoulder social responsibilities.” This is the first time that China definitely demands in the law that corporations should shoulder social responsibilities and to observe regulations and social morality. I think it’s a breakthrough.

    There are many Chinese enterprises emphasize on CSR, let me give you an example, Zhejiang’s geely holding group, its Chinese name is JILI. Geely has always been active in social charities, especially in educational field. It has donated 50 million yuan to China Education Development Foundation, to help those college students who couldn’t afford the tuition. At the same time, geely advocated more enterprise to devote themselves to the social course.

   Progresses there are, problems still exist in some enterprises. For example, some employers refuse to sign legal contracts with migrate workers, ignoring employees’ safety and health, using heavy polluted machine and so on. I think government should do more work in this regard. For me and other common people, we can serve as monitors. We can choose to use the products from corporations who do a good job in CSR. We should raise our own awareness of CSR.

Why do you choose this topic?

Well, firstly, I think it’s an interesting and important topic. Corporation is an indispensible part of everyone’s life, mine included, of course. CSR now is an unavoidable responsibility for business. You know, I’m a postgraduate student now, and I’ m going to join a company in one year. I hope I can work for a company valuing CSR. A company valuing CSR will concern its employee’s welfare and social impact. If I can work in such a company, I will feel proud. So I think, why not learn more about CSR? So I choose this topic as for the exam, at the same time, I learn further about CSR during my preparation. I hope you will be interested in this topic after my introduction.

Why do you choose this topic?

Well, firstly, I think it’s an interesting and important topic. Corporation is an indispensible part of everyone’s life, mine included, of course. CSR now is an unavoidable responsibility for business. You know, I’m a postgraduate student now, and I’ m going to join a company in one year. I hope I can work for a company valuing CSR. A company valuing CSR will concern its employee’s welfare and social impact. If I can work in such a company, I will feel proud. So I think, why not learn more about CSR? So I choose this topic as for the exam, at the same time, I learn further about CSR during my preparation. I hope you will be interested in this topic after my introduction.

Well, firstly, I think it’s an interesting and important topic. Corporation is an indispensible part of everyone’s life, mine included, of course. CSR now is an unavoidable responsibility for business. You know, I’m a postgraduate student now, and I’ m going to join a company in one year. I hope I can work for a company valuing CSR. A company valuing CSR will concern its employee’s welfare and social impact. If I can work in such a company, I will feel proud. So I think, why not learn more about CSR? So I choose this topic as for the exam, at the same time, I learn further about CSR during my preparation. I hope you will be interested in this topic after my introduction.