The role of CSR in an organization's performance Dissertation

The role of CSR in an organization's performance - Dissertation Example 303). It therefore follows that corporate social responsibility has a significant role to play in the organization’s performance. This study conducts a review of the literature relative to stakeholder theory and its emergence as a core driver of corporate social responsibility and thus creates tension between stakeholder and shareholder theories of corporate governance. In doing so, the research analyses the literature relative to the conceptualization of the role of corporate social responsibility in organization performance and the manner in which organizations structure corporate governance to resolve the tensions between stakeholder and shareholder models. In order to test this conceptualization or hypothesis that corporate social responsibility has a significant role to play in organization performance and creates tension between shareholder and stakeholder theory, an empirical research study is conducted. The empirical research study involves a survey of ten for profit o rganizations. The survey is a questionnaire which is designed to determine views on corporate social responsibility, shareholder primacy and how these organizations prioritize their performance. Conclusion: This research study concludes that corporate social responsibility is important to organizations, yet organizations tend to focus more sharply on maximization of profits for the benefit of shareholders. Contents Abstract 2 Contents 3 Chapter One 5 Introduction 5 Background 6 Key Definitions 7 Corporate Social Responsibility 7 Shareholder primacy 8 Stakeholder Theory 8 Aims and Objectives 9 Significance of the Study 9 Research Questions 10 Research Methodology and Design 10 Research Methods 11 Qualitative Analysis 11 Quantitative Analysis 12 Organization of the Study 13 Chapter Two 15 A Review of the Literature 15 Introduction 15 I.Corporate Social Responsibility 15 A.Organizations 15 B. Corporate Social Responsibility Theories 19 i.Neoliberalism 19 ii.Neo-Keynesianism Theories of Corporate Social Responsibility 21 C.History of Corporate Social Responsibility 24 II.Shareholder Primacy Theory 31 III.Stakeholder Theory 39 Conclusion 44 Chapter Three 45 Methodology 45 Introduction 45 Research Methodology 46 Qualitative Analysis 48 Quantitative Analysis 48 Ethical Issues 51 Strengths of the Research 51 Limitations of the Research 52 Chapter Four 53 Analysis and Results 53 Chapter Five 60 Conclusion 60 Size of Organization: (a) Large (b) Medium (c) Small 63 References 69 Chapter One Introduction The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be traced back to the 1950s with definitions of the term expanding over the course of the 1930s (Okoye 2009, p. 613). By the 1990s, CSR has come to be synonymous with corporate social performance, stakeholder and business ethics theories (Carroll 1999, p. 268). Cumulatively, the development of CSR has come to mean that organizations have an implicit duty to advance social interests and not merely the organizationâ⠂¬â„¢s interest and that which is legally required (McWilliams and Siegel 2001, p. 117). Regardless, CSR not only conflicts with organizational interests, but also presents a number of conflicting interests among the wider group of stakeholders. For instance, CSR requires that organizations take account of the interests of a variety of groups such as consumers, government, employees, community organizations and other stockholders (McWilliams and S