David Crowther - Böcker

Recent corporate failures have attracted the attention of managers, governments and the general public to the role of governance and social responsibility. Ranging from managerial behaviour and reward systems, to environmental protection and human rights, governance and social responsibility encompasses a variety of thought provoking business issues. In Governance and Social Responsibility, Aras and Crowther bring together the considerable debates about what exactly it is, and how it can be applied to business.Key Features:- Written by leading governance and social responsibility experts- International coverage and orientation- Comprehensive coverage of CSR issues and debates- Excellent pedagogy, including case studies, reflective questions and further readingFirmly grounded in academic research, Governance and Social Responsibility is an ideal companion for CSR courses at all levels.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Over the last decade the question of the relationship between organizations and society has been subject to much debate, often of a critical nature. The decade has seen 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. There are, however, many different perspectives upon what is meant by corporate social responsibility and how this might be applied within organizations. The authors involved are respected academics from a variety of disciplines from around 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.

In recent years the term corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained prominence both in business and in the media, not least because of the rise in power of the transnational corporation in an increasingly globalized world. It is one of the most debated management issues, yet there is a lack of consensus on what the concept means, what it entails, why it should be embraced and how. This Research Companion brings together a team of scholars from around the world to offer their view of the key issues in corporate social responsibility research. Each author is concerned with different aspects of CSR, providing a variety of theoretical lenses and a wide range of perspectives from different countries and experiences. It presentrs scholars and graduate students with a valuable guide to current thinking and a comprehensive reference to this increasingly important field.

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.

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 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 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.

The issue of human rights, in the context of corporate social responsibility, is normally taken to relate to concern about exploitation in the supply chain - child labour, slavery in developing countries, and similar evils; but of course, human rights are engaged in relation to the treatment of employees in any work situation. Indeed, as Human Dignity and Managerial Responsibility illustrates, the handling of employees is increasingly recognised as an important ingredient of sustainable enterprise - evidence shows that ethical and socially responsible behaviour is increasingly and successfully being engaged in many large corporations. Much has been written about the responsibilities of managers. Since employees are claimed by all organisations to be among their most important stakeholders it is ironic that research finds that the behaviour of many managers towards employees is often inappropriate. The editors and contributors of Human Dignity and Managerial Responsibility argue that there is a clear connection between maintaining the dignity of the workforce and corporate performance and sustainability. Their multiple perspectives on the workplace examine the position of the employee as a stakeholder, together with issues about managing employees in relation to social responsibility and sustainability. They discuss diversity in the broadest sense, filling a gap in the research-related literature essential to a more rounded understanding of CSR. Human Dignity and Managerial Responsibility will appeal to a wide audience amongst those with an academic or professional interest in CSR, sustainability, governance and stakeholder management, human rights, diversity, human resource management, and organisational development.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The issue of human rights, in the context of corporate social responsibility, is normally taken to relate to concern about exploitation in the supply chain - child labour, slavery in developing countries, and similar evils; but of course, human rights are engaged in relation to the treatment of employees in any work situation. Indeed, as Human Dignity and Managerial Responsibility illustrates, the handling of employees is increasingly recognised as an important ingredient of sustainable enterprise - evidence shows that ethical and socially responsible behaviour is increasingly and successfully being engaged in many large corporations. Much has been written about the responsibilities of managers. Since employees are claimed by all organisations to be among their most important stakeholders it is ironic that research finds that the behaviour of many managers towards employees is often inappropriate. The editors and contributors of Human Dignity and Managerial Responsibility argue that there is a clear connection between maintaining the dignity of the workforce and corporate performance and sustainability. Their multiple perspectives on the workplace examine the position of the employee as a stakeholder, together with issues about managing employees in relation to social responsibility and sustainability. They discuss diversity in the broadest sense, filling a gap in the research-related literature essential to a more rounded understanding of CSR. Human Dignity and Managerial Responsibility will appeal to a wide audience amongst those with an academic or professional interest in CSR, sustainability, governance and stakeholder management, human rights, diversity, human resource management, and organisational development.

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.

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.

This volume examines the word that's on everybody's lips in business, in government and in society - sustainability. There are of course many aspects of sustainability which might be considered to reflect Brundtland's three pillars of economic, environmental and social sustainability. Others of course have different definitions which include such things as governance or supply chain management. Nevertheless business has recognised the significance of the concept and is responding by developing strategies to cope, although some would say that this is little more than window dressing. The debate continues however as to just what is meant by the term sustainability as far as business is concerned and how can this be achieved. This book is designed to address this debate and set it within the context of the global business and societal environment.

Corporate social responsibility is becoming rapidly embedded into the strategic planning and operational processes of all organizations, while at the same time our understanding of what is meant by this phenomenon continues to develop and to be extended beyond the domain of the corporate into that of all other organizations. Academics have responded to this by embedding CSR into the curricula of their respective institutions. Practice, however, differs throughout the world and this book is designed to explore these different practices in order to develop suggestions about what might be best practice and to consider the respective benefits of develop the curriculum in this manner.

The relationship between economic or social or political activity and risk is widely recognised at a societal level, a market level and a business level, and equally widely discussed. The relationship between governance and risk at all of these levels is equally widely recognised but much less widely discussed. But the consequences of poor governance in this arena have been exposed to all in the recent financial and economic crisis as financial institutions and even countries have collapsed or come close to collapsing. The relationship between governance and risk is particularly important in the global environment in which we operate and needs to be more fully discussed and theorised. This book is designed to address important aspects of this topic and set it within the context of the global business and societal environment.

The public downfall of giant companies and an increase in corporate scandals and corporate crimes worldwide has drawn the attention of many in the business world. Growing economic activities that focus on increasing profits at the expense of social and environmental matters have led to self-centred, narrow-focused business planning and decisions. At a time of increasing globalisation and inter-connected economic systems, such a phenomenon is a concern for business practitioners in every country in the world. Consequently, shareholders and other stakeholders have encouraged firms to place issues of accountability at the centre of their activities, recognising the vital importance of an ethical firm culture, transparent governance issues and the adoption of more socially responsible business practices. This book is comprised of academic work on key current issues pertaining to the areas of ethics, governance and corporate crimes. Showcasing some of the current effort being made in addressing these crucial issues, the book provides a platform for researchers to publish their work, articulate their concerns and offer critical perspectives on what they see happening around them.

Over the past half century, corporate social responsibility has become an important concept in management, marketing and communication literature. In the past twenty years a visible shift has been made into what was written about CSR: a move away from the financial benefits derived from such activities towards reputational impact, stakeholder relationships and communication with a wide range of audiences being noted. With social and digital media reshaping the way in which business is conducted, and with the number of companies embracing the new social medium for their marketing and communication programmers, this book re-examines CSR practices from a digital perspective. In doing so, it revisits some of the theoretical discussions about CSR while inquiring whether and how CSR can be applied online. This book examines key conceptual insights about corporate social responsibility and digital and social media, and explores best practices for online CSR. In this way, the volume explores the impact and influence of the new 'social' on responsibility and its feasibility, measurability and success in a boundary-less world.

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

It is now 20 years since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, better known as the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro. An important achievement of the conference was an agreement on the Climate Change Convention which in turn led to the Kyoto Protocol. Another was agreement to 'not carry out any activities on the lands of indigenous peoples that would cause environmental degradation or that would be culturally inappropriate'. Recently we have seen an updated and revised conference in Rio where the same issues were again discussed. Since then ideas about sustainability have changed considerably and to some extent they have merged with ideas about corporate social responsibility and about governance, determined by the economic and political fortunes of the actors involved. It is now time therefore to re-examine the concept of sustainability in the aftermath of this conference and to consider what issues are now considered pertinent around the world. This book therefore takes different positions concerning different aspects of this vital topic.

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.