The Body Shop, Corporate Social Responsibility
MA Management
Corporate Social Responsibility
Assignment
Corporate Social Responsibility Analysis of The Body Shop
Date 29 January 2010
Word Count 5477
Grade 75%
Table of Contents
Preamble 1 Introduction 1 Corporate Social Responsibility 2 Opposition to Animal Testing 3 Support for Community Trade 6 Environmental Protection 9 Evaluation 11 Conclusion 13 References 16 Appendix 1 20
Preamble
The objective of this piece of work is to undertake a critical analysis of the cosmetics company The Body Shop, in terms of its philosophy, business practices and other activities and assess the extent to which the organisation can legitimately be regarded as a socially responsible corporate entity. The concept of corporate social responsibility will necessarily be outlined and discussed to provide a theoretical framework within which the subsequent analysis will itself be located. The study will then explore the organisation’s opposition to animal testing, its support for community trade and commitment to environmental protection. The chosen areas represent three of the five core values that underpin The Body Shop’s mission statement (Appendix 1) the other two being the activation of self-esteem and the defence of human rights, which will not be addressed specifically. It is anticipated that the structure of the study will allow the company’s history, achievements, strengths and limitations in each defined area to be evaluated within a holistic paradigm (Campbell & Kitson, 2008). The values which the company has defined and set for itself will ultimately be used as benchmark criteria against which the organisation will be assessed. Evaluation will therefore be an ongoing and integral part of the analysis, rather than a process that is separate and distinct from it, although the main themes and issues will be drawn together to expose areas of concern and signpost future courses of action.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Assignment
Corporate Social Responsibility Analysis of The Body Shop
Date 29 January 2010
Word Count 5477
Grade 75%
Table of Contents
Preamble 1 Introduction 1 Corporate Social Responsibility 2 Opposition to Animal Testing 3 Support for Community Trade 6 Environmental Protection 9 Evaluation 11 Conclusion 13 References 16 Appendix 1 20
Preamble
The objective of this piece of work is to undertake a critical analysis of the cosmetics company The Body Shop, in terms of its philosophy, business practices and other activities and assess the extent to which the organisation can legitimately be regarded as a socially responsible corporate entity. The concept of corporate social responsibility will necessarily be outlined and discussed to provide a theoretical framework within which the subsequent analysis will itself be located. The study will then explore the organisation’s opposition to animal testing, its support for community trade and commitment to environmental protection. The chosen areas represent three of the five core values that underpin The Body Shop’s mission statement (Appendix 1) the other two being the activation of self-esteem and the defence of human rights, which will not be addressed specifically. It is anticipated that the structure of the study will allow the company’s history, achievements, strengths and limitations in each defined area to be evaluated within a holistic paradigm (Campbell & Kitson, 2008). The values which the company has defined and set for itself will ultimately be used as benchmark criteria against which the organisation will be assessed. Evaluation will therefore be an ongoing and integral part of the analysis, rather than a process that is separate and distinct from it, although the main themes and issues will be drawn together to expose areas of concern and signpost future courses of action.
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