CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SUPPLY CHAINS

Annotation

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) currently is in vogue. For various reasons, organizations voluntarily choose to behave in a more responsible manner, beyond what the law stipulates. Some of these reasons appear defensive, whereas others are strategic or even altruistic. From a defensive perspective, organizations deliver profits to shareholders but also frequently respond to broader stakeholder interests and the need to demonstrate a balanced business perspective. As a result, they increasingly define their roles in society and apply social, ethical, and responsible standards to their businesses. A prominent driver of organizations' increasing focus on CSR, however, is the conviction that strategic CSR is as good for business as it is for society. According to this perspective, CSR represents a source of increased corporate goodwill and a potential basis for developing positive consumer and employee attitudes and behaviors. Engaging in CSR thus offers a way to take care of an organization's interests by building a better reputation, managing risks, and gaining a competitive edge. Finally, the altruistic perspective suggests that the reason for CSR entails intrinsic caring for the organization's ecological and social environment, irrespective of whether the organization derives financial gains from its CSR commitments. The eight articles selected for this e-book illustrate various ways in which organizations have sought to implement CSR in supply chains.