Offered here is a conceptual model that comprehensively describes essential aspects of corporate social performance. The three aspects of the model address major questions of concern to academics and managers alike: (1) What is included in corporate social responsibility? (2) What are the social issues the organization must address? and (3) What is the organization's philosophy or mode of social responsiveness?

A Three-Dimensional Conceptual Model of Corporate Performance

There is an impressive history associated with the evolution of the concept and definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR). In this article, the author traces the evolution of the CSR cons...

Corporate Social Responsibility: Evolution of a Definitional Construct

This study aims to trace the conceptual evolutionary path of theories on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and to reflect on the implications of the development. The retrospection has revealed that the trend has been a progressive rationalization of the concept with a particular focus on tighter coupling with organizations’ financial goals. Rationalization involves two broad shifts in the conceptualization of CSR. First, in terms of the level of analysis, researchers have moved from the discussion of the macro-social effects of CSR to organizational-level analysis of CSR's effect on profit. Next, in terms of theoretical orientation, researchers have moved from explicitly normative and ethics-oriented arguments to implicitly normative and performance-oriented managerial studies. Based on the retrospection, the limitations of the current state of CSR research that places excessive emphasis on the business case for CSR are outlined, and it is suggested that future research needs to refocus on basic research in order to develop conceptual tools and theoretical mechanisms that explain changing organizational behavior from a broader societal perspective.

A review of the theories of corporate social responsibility: Its evolutionary path and the road ahead

Two studies were conducted investigating the relationship between high-performance work systems (HPWS) and occupational safety. In Study 1, data were obtained from company human resource and safety directors across 138 organizations. LISREL VIII results showed that an HPWS was positively related to occupational safety at the organizational level. Study 2 used data from 189 front-line employees in 2 organizations. Trust in management and perceived safety climate were found to mediate the relationship between an HPWS and safety performance measured in terms of personal-safety orientation (i.e., safety knowledge, safety motivation, safety compliance, and safety initiative) and safety incidents (i.e., injuries requiring first aid and near misses). These 2 studies provide confirmation of the important role organizational factors play in ensuring worker safety.

/pdf/high-performance-work-systems-and-occupational-safety-5amdacpbyl.pdf

High-Performance Work Systems and Occupational Safety.

A growing number of studies have investigated the various dimensions of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the literature. However, relatively few studies have considered its impacts on employees. The purpose of this study is to analyze how CSR affects the organizational commitment of employees based on the social identity theory (SIT). The proposed model was tested on a sample of 269 business professionals working in Turkey. The findings of the study revealed that CSR to social and non-social stakeholders, employees, and customers were the significant predictors of organizational commitment. However, there was no link between CSR to government and the commitment level of employees.

How Corporate Social Responsibility Influences Organizational Commitment

Corporate social responsibility is defined as the serious attempt to solve social problems caused wholly or in part by the corporation. The problem concept is operationally defined, and social problems are distinguished from non-social problems. A method of social problem solution, based on the principles of applied behavior analysis, is demonstrated using an industrial accident reduction example.

Achieving Corporate Social Responsibility

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention package (feedback, competition, and incentives) in reducing the accident rate of urban transit operators. Results showed a 24.9 percent red...

Reducing Accident Rates with Organizational Behavior Modification

This paper discusses the philosophy of computer-furthered instruction (CFI), the design of a particular CFI system used in the required undergraduate course in probability theory and statistics taught in the School of Business at the University of Kansas, and performance and process tests of the effects of introducing the CFI system. The purpose of CFI systems is not to replace traditional methods used in teaching (i.e. lectures, discussions, reading assignments, homework exercises, etc.) but rather to take advantage of some of the unique attributes of real time computing to allow the students to see and perform assignments otherwise impossible. After contrasting CFI and CAI systems, we discuss the course in its standard format, the traditional problems usually encountered in teaching this course, and the package of programs used. Some sample CFI conversations are included. Statistical tests of performance and process changes induced by the CFI system are presented; their significance and implications are examined.

H. Gordon Fitch

Papers

Achieving Corporate Social Responsibility

Reducing Accident Rates with Organizational Behavior Modification

Design and tests of computer-furthered instruction