TY - CHAP
T1 - What CSR is not
T2 - Corporate social irresponsibility
AU - Clark, Timothy S.
AU - Grantham, Kristen N.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Purpose - By exploring what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not, its opposite termed Corporate Social Irresponsibility (CSI), we raise understanding and focus awareness on the material differences and associated arguments for and against. Approach - Background, context, and theory introduce the concept of a continuum between CSI and CSR, which is illustrated in a progression of graphic figures. Findings - Focus on the affirmation of CSR has distracted attention and resources from a more addressable concern: identification and denunciation of antisocial business behavior. Focusing instead on the opposite, defined here as CSI, avoids much of the ambiguity of CSR and presents a clarifying continuum between the two. Originality - Using engaging logic, uncommon connections are made between such erstwhile polar-opposites as Friedman and Carroll to reveal broad agreement that CSI is destructive and can be universally opposed. Implications - While promotion of CSR remains contentious, a broader range of business and thought leaders can find common ground by focusing on the CSI side of the continuum and uniting against it. Practitioners, academicians, and activists alike can agree that social benefits are greater from focusing on reduction of CSI rather than on promotion of CSR. Copyrightr
AB - Purpose - By exploring what Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is not, its opposite termed Corporate Social Irresponsibility (CSI), we raise understanding and focus awareness on the material differences and associated arguments for and against. Approach - Background, context, and theory introduce the concept of a continuum between CSI and CSR, which is illustrated in a progression of graphic figures. Findings - Focus on the affirmation of CSR has distracted attention and resources from a more addressable concern: identification and denunciation of antisocial business behavior. Focusing instead on the opposite, defined here as CSI, avoids much of the ambiguity of CSR and presents a clarifying continuum between the two. Originality - Using engaging logic, uncommon connections are made between such erstwhile polar-opposites as Friedman and Carroll to reveal broad agreement that CSI is destructive and can be universally opposed. Implications - While promotion of CSR remains contentious, a broader range of business and thought leaders can find common ground by focusing on the CSI side of the continuum and uniting against it. Practitioners, academicians, and activists alike can agree that social benefits are greater from focusing on reduction of CSI rather than on promotion of CSR. Copyrightr
KW - Antisocial business behavior
KW - Corporate social irresponsibility
KW - Corporate social responsibility
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84896379494&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84896379494&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/S2043-9059(2012)0000004010
DO - 10.1108/S2043-9059(2012)0000004010
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:84896379494
SN - 9781780529981
T3 - Critical Studies on Corporate Responsibility, Governance and Sustainability
SP - 23
EP - 41
BT - Corporate Social Irresponsibility
PB - Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
ER -