The Oxford Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility

Citation

Ritch, E.L. (2011), "The Oxford Handbook of Corporate Social Responsibility", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 108-111. https://doi.org/10.1108/03090591111095772

1 Book synopsis

This book is a collection of 28 papers on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) written and edited by leading figures in the field of CSR and business ethics. Part I consists of a thorough introduction to CSR, exploring its origins along with the contrasting views on the purpose and relevance of CSR. The complexity of CSR results in concepts which are difficult to define, and therefore, “for the purposes of this handbook, CSR is best understood not as a concept [] but as a field of scholarship” (p. 6). Additionally, this section explores the breadth of CSR across business, organisations and academia, from a global perspective.

Part II expands upon the origins of CSR through exploring emerging definitions of CSR in greater depth, while outlining the social responsibilities of organisations, such as philanthropy and providing an in‐depth discussion of the historical development of the CSR concept covering the opposing arguments of maximising profits or minimising the impact upon the environment. A full chapter is devoted to examining CSR theories: this chapter provides an overview of the development of the concept and looks at both the strengths and weaknesses of CSR. The chapter concludes that CSR theories offer a philosophical foundation and describe various CSR practices of organisations globally – however, further philosophical developments are required to ensure standardisation. Subsequent chapters in this section seek to describe how CSR can be implemented in a business and the beneficial consequences of adopting CSR approaches. Part III begins with analysing Fieldman's critique of CSR and this continues with a discussion of the global dominance of multi‐national organisations and the concurrent reduction in the power base of national governments. Successive chapters examine CSR from a critical theory context, exploring how critical theory can provide a unique perspective on CSR.

Part IV moves direction to look at CSR stakeholders, beginning with the importance of top managers. Such managers are pivotal for effective CSR leadership and to negotiating the practicalities of CSR within the organisational practice of investment. Through the use of an index summarising the social record of organisations in comparison with financial performance, the authors seek to link profitability with CSR. Additionally, consumer' involvement in seeking ethically produced goods is explored as a driver for differentiation in a saturated market as well as appeasing consumer guilt of supporting organisations which behave unethically. The final chapter in the section considers the role and influence of governments in supporting CSR initiatives. Part V begins with an examination of the role and responsibilities of corporate governance concluding that consideration of shareholders interest will impact positively upon the corporation's responsibility assurance. Subsequent chapters examine the supply chain, an area of business which has changed dramatically due to globalisation and outsourcing and relies upon voluntary engagement between suppliers and buyers, as well as reporting of CSR.

Part VI investigates CSR within the context of globalisation, examining the process by how global economies and global production systems have emerged. It looks at the increasing power of multinational organisations over individual governments and the growing role of non‐governmental organisations. Finally, part VII, contrasts origins, differences and strengths of American and European approaches to CSR and looks to the future of CSR, through education and leadership. The book concludes that a lack of consensus on the definition of CSR adds to its complexity; however, the breadth of perspective and opinion offered throughout the book is likely to satisfy those with differing opinions on CSR.

2 Evaluation

As a handbook, there is an expectation that this book should encompass the wide range of opinion regarding CSR: from the origins of the concept to present day studies, and this makes reading this handbook essential to understanding how CSR can be applied within organisations. Opposing views are presented and discussed thoroughly and the array of contributors offers not only varying perspectives, but different styles of writing and presentation and this diversity is not only interesting, but allows each of the chapters to remain fresh. The inclusion of the epistemological and ontological stance of CSR in chapter four is particularly helpful for novice researchers developing a research project on CSR and this chapter is elegantly written and provides a rich description of how to link theories to business contexts.

The handbook mainly takes the perspective of the business agenda and will be of interest to academics, practitioners and consumers. The strength of the book is in developing theoretical concepts. Increasingly consumers are said to expect organisations to engage with CSR initiatives (Carrigan and de Pelsmacker, 2009) and yet, as described within this book, these initiatives are often difficult to define and measure, and success is reliant upon profit generation. Chapter six introduces the concept of symbolic gestures of CSR, which are arguably prominent on organisational websites where CSR actions are often unsubstantial, leading to claims of “greenwash” (Yates, 2009). However, it is useful to consider how organisations may view CSR and what motivations exist for implementing CSR.

The issue of globalisation is also discussed in depth and is an important trend internationally due to technological advancements enabling outsourcing to developing countries to take place and where production costs are lower (Morgan and Birtwistle, 2009). Further, the issues of governance, regulation and developing countries desire to encourage inward investment by multinational organisations all pose ethical questions, especially where organisations are considered more powerful than governments and CSR provides consumers with an opportunity to express ethical values through consumption (Moisander et al., 2010). While many of the chapters overlap in content, this is necessary to set the scene in context for the varying opinions.

The depth of information within this book is substantial, and it works well as a handbook, where information can be gathered from within the chapters to suit different purposes. The book is thought‐provoking through discussing opposing and variable perspectives and well‐rounded in its approach: the book encapsulates all aspects of CSR and is enhanced through the diversity of the contributors. This book is not only a good introduction to CSR, but also an excellent ongoing resource, which is useful at various levels, for example researchers, business leaders and as a teaching resource. Therefore, this book is a necessity for those interested in CSR and sustainability.

3 In the authors' own words

This Handbook is an attempt to try and make sense of these interweaving, yet disparate strands of literature in so far as they help us to understand the messy and multifaceted reality of CSR. We do not seek as much as to clear up the confusion that characterises the field, but more to identify the core areas of research activity and establish the key themes, arguments, and findings that may be relevant to those areas. The book is intended to be a milestone in setting out where the CSR literature has come from, and where it is (or could be) going in order to provide some kind of coherent overview or orientation fro scholars working in this field (p. 14).

A Reviewer's details

Elaine L. Ritch is currently undertaking a PhD at Queen Margaret University, exploring consumer perception of ethical issues surrounding the fashion industry. Previously, Elaine worked for ten years as a retail manager for a number of high street retailers in the UK. Her retail interests include sustainability, consumer behaviour, fashion marketing, fashion consumption and ethical consumption. Elaine L. Ritch can be contacted at: eritch@qmu.ac.uk