Research the drivers that are pushing organisations to take an increasing interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and business ethics. Give examples from your own and other organisations of the organisational responses to these drivers and make recommendations to move the organisation, or your part of it forward in relation to these two topics.
Abstract
This paper examines the drivers of environmental aspects of CSR and the role that TfL has in driving CSR and business ethics. It considers the roles that public and private organisations as well looking at recent and future trends.
Contents
Definition
Business Ethics CSR
The Drivers
Research and the need
Transport for London
Trends
The future
Bibliography
Learning Review
Appendix
Definition
In order to discuss a paper, a clear definition of business ethics and CSR needs to be considered.
Business Ethics
There are many definitions of “ethics”. Chambers English dictionary defines it as “a system of morals” and “rules of behaviour”, Connock and Johns (1995) define business ethics with the following three elements:
- Fairness
- Deciding what is right and wrong
- The practices and rules which underpin responsible conduct between individuals and groups
An understanding from the reading material suggests that business ethics can therefore be defined as written and unwritten codes of principles and values that govern decisions and actions within a company. An organisation’s culture sets standards for determining the difference between good and bad decision making and behaviour. Therefore in the most basic terms, a definition for business ethics boils down to knowing the difference between right and wrong and choosing to do what is right. The phrase 'business ethics ' can be used to describe the actions of individuals within an organisation, as well as the organization as a whole.
CSR
The Confederation of British Industry defines CSR as ‘the
Bibliography: CONNOCK, S AND JOHNS, E (1995); Ethical Leadership; Cromwell Press, England. Behrman, J (1988); Essays on Ethics in Business and the Professions; Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs Bowie, N (1999); Business Ethics, A Kantian Perspective; Blackwell. Hartman, L (2004); Perspectives in Business Ethics; IL: McGraw-Hill Cannon, T (1994) Corporate Responsibility Pearson Education, Harlow Essex Moon, J (2002) Corporate Social Responsibility: On Overview’ International Directory of Corporate Philanthropy Europa Publications, London 3M: