Groundhog

Corporate social responsibility is defined as the responsibility that businesses have to the societies within which they operate. The European Commission defines CSR as “a concept whereby companies decide voluntarily to contribute to a better society and a cleaner environment.” The idea behind corporate social responsibility is that companies have multiple responsibilities to maintain. These responsibilities can be arranged in a pyramid, with basic responsibilities closer to the bottom. As a business meets lower-level responsibilities that obligate it to shareholders and the law, it can move on to the higher level responsibilities that benefit society.
If a company is able to meet all of its other responsibilities, it can begin meeting philanthropic responsibilities. Philanthropic responsibilities are responsibilities that go above and beyond what is simply required or what the company believes is right. They involve making an effort to benefit society -- for example, by donating services to community organizations, engaging in projects to aid the environment or donating money to charitable causes.

The social web model views business as a citizen of the society in which it operates and, like all members of a society, business must conform to the normal ethical duties and obligations that we all face. While producing goods and services and creating wealth and profits are among business responsibilities, they do not trump the other ethical responsibilities that equally bind all members of a society.

The Integrative model of CSR is for some business firms, social responsibility is fully integrated with the firm’s mission or strategic plan. Of the three alternative models I think that philanthropic model would be most beneficial. Philanthropy encompasses those corporate actions that are in response to society’s expectation that businesses be good corporate citizens. This includes actively engaging in acts or programs to promote human welfare or goodwill.