Contents
Title Page Content Page 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 7.0 8.0 9.0 10.0 11.0 Executive Summary Introduction Background Literature Review Methodology and Research Justification Data Analysis/Interpretation Conclusion Research Limitations Recommendations and Further Research References Appendices: − 11.1 Appendix One – Questionnaire − 11.2 Appendix Two – Interview Sheet
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Michael Bowyer
Page 2 of 32
W12837265
1.0 - Executive Summary
How important is the use of Corporate Social Responsibility programs on brand image? In recent years CSR programs have become a marketer’s tool rather than the way a business should operate, with ethical trading in mind. These
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Michael Bowyer
Page 4 of 32
W12837265
3.0 - Background
CSR has become a large part of a businesses brand image, in the 1950s the primary focus was on businesses ' responsibilities to society and doing good deeds for society. In the 1980s, business and social interest’s became closer and firms became more responsive to their stakeholders. During the 1990s the idea of CSR became almost universally approved, finally in the 2000s, CSR became an important business strategic issue (Rosamaria et al. 2011).
Greenwashing, derived from the term "whitewashing," was created by the environmental activists to describe efforts by corporations to portray themselves as environmentally responsible, in order to mask environmental wrongdoings. The term "greenwashing" was originally used to describe misleading instances of environmental advertising, but as corporations ' efforts to portray themselves as environmentally friendly have diversified, so have charges of greenwashing. The term is now used to refer to a wider range or corporate activities, including: instances of environmental reporting, event sponsorship, the distribution of educational materials, and the creation of "front groups." However, regardless of this strategy employed, the main objective of greenwashing is to give consumers and policy makers the impression that the company is taking the necessary steps to manage its ecological
As defined in Samson and Daft (2012, p. 157) ethics is the code of moral principles and values that governs the behavior of a person or a group with respect to what is right or wrong. In today’s society when we are all environmentally conscious about the products that we buy and what the impact it has on the environment there has been a demand for green products which becoming growing problem in today’s current market place. Green washing as defined in business studies in action is the practice of making a misleading or deceptive claim about the environmental benefits of a product, business practice or technology in order to present a positive public image and according to a New York biologist Jay Westerveld and environmentalist, the term green washing in a 1986 essay organizations spend more time and money advertising that they are green than on actually putting into place environmentally friendly practices. The term green washing is now used to refer to all industries that adopt green acts with the sole purpose is to increase profits.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is something that affects all companies and should be an active factor in the company’s decision making. It is something all corporations need to care about. CSR is when business’ or corporations take part in an initiative or campaign for a cause that will benefit society and/or in some way make the world a better place (Taylor, 2015). Initially, Corporate Social Responsibility started to take shape around the 1950’s, but some say that it dates all the way back to the 1800s, the idea of CSR was seen (Carroll, 2007). One may think that because it is dated so long ago, it doesn’t have an important impact today nevertheless, it is proven that Corporate Social Responsibility is a pathway for entities to self benefit as they are in the process of benefitting society.
In today’s market, there is a constant battle for companies to attain the best products. Companies will do and say anything to persuade consumers to select their products over a competitors; they will even go to the extent of lying. Unfortunately occurring more and more frequently in today’s society, companies will comfortably tell their consumers that their product is “environment- friendly” or healthier for them than another product when it is in fact not. These dubious claims that companies are making are part of a marketing tactic called greenwashing, and many people have fallen victim to this corporate scheme. Greenwashing is when a corporation is being deceitful in the sense that they promote their product as safer for the environment or healthier for you than other similar products. Propel, like dozens of companies today, has jumped on the
Even though customers are a major key to success of any business, limiting CSR practices to an external group of stakeholder is insufficient. From the customers’ side, the focus is “on the corporate brand and its societal relationships with external constituencies.” (Lacey, Hensel 316). It is undeniable that implementation of CSR can attract the customers and lead them to be a significant are source of a financial gain. That is because CSR changes the way consumers behave in the market and alter their beliefs toward the company standards.” (Lacey, Hensel 316). Nevertheless, extensive focus on the social gains may cause the business to suffer financially. If that happened, the case is considered to be a failure of executing CSR. Again, this is a result of shifting all the business gears to benefit a sole group the stakeholders.
This recent reality, combined with globalization, is forcing companies to forge new kinds of relationships with buyers and countries. The financial valuation of companies are taking ever greater account of intangible elements, such as brands, patents and the company’s general image, with companies being bound to take account of these things in an effort to satisfy their shareholders. Environmental protection has become a highly motivating factor, and companies are being pressed to identify stakeholders with whom to team up. With brand value and reputation increasingly being seen as one of a company’s most valuable assets, CSR is now seen as building loyalty and trust amongst shareholders, employees and customers ( Tssa, (n.d.)).
In this day and age companies have mastered the technique of misleading customers by fabricating false claims about a green product or service that they swear to provide. This insincere display of information is called ‘Greenwashing’, a spin-off of ‘Whitewashing’. Greenwashing could be said to be a global phenomenon and it’s commonly seen in advertisements, on products packing, websites, emails, speeches, and videos (just to name a few). Greenwashing is a thought out process, a planned and typically well designed campaign. There is a wide range of reasons why companies are eager to partake in greenwashing; divert attention for regulatory change, to persuade critics or consumers, expand the company's
CSR is become more important in this society. Business activities will influence the sustainable development and played a centre role in the sustainable development. Business should focus on the world trend and being responsible because it’s important to lead a business to success as “competitive conditions
THE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) MOVEMENT has grown in recent years from a fringe activity by a few earnest companies, like The Body Shop, and Ben & Jerry’s, to a highly visible priority for
The report is aimed at CSR initiatives that have been and continues to be the subject of contentious debate in recent years. Such initiatives entail that businesses do their bit, beyond what the law may require them to do, to give back to the society in which they operate and make profits from. These initiatives often do not
There is a change in the expectation of employees, customers and shareholders which makes CSR more favorable in doing business today. It is a more sustainable way of doing business and those organization which are more involved in corporate social responsibility will most likely reap the rewards in the longrun.In today’s fast speed and digital world, each business despite its size need to have CSR program in place. Those without CSR programs must implement it as fast as possible otherwise they will lose valuable stakeholders in the long run.
Unfortunately many corporations do not give back to the community in which they do business in. Also in different cultures, CSR is viewed differently both on a cognitive and emotional level. The data is taken from surveys and marketing research conducted with corporations and other organizations.
Companies are used to utilising such approach in the form of voluntary CSR to communicate some features and characteristics to their stakeholders such as society and the market in connection with their social responsibility. Under such responsibility, companies demonstrate publicly a clear representation of their philanthropic performances in the society and create a positive subjective image (McWilliams et al., 2006) to make their customers satisfied of the company
With the spread of social marketing and CSR in the world, organizations tend to not only consider the consumers’ demands and the companies’ profit, but also take the consumers’ and societies’ long-term benefit into account. Hildebrand,D,et,al (2011) demonstrated that the CSR activities can make up the central, special and core characteristics of the company identity, the identification of the corporate can also be aroused due to CSR activities. Moreover, Porter and Kramer (2006) highlighted that CSR can aid companies create the ability to achieve corporate resource so as to build a sustainable and defensible competitive position. So the companies should consciously undertake corporate social responsibility.
In the recent years, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained lots of attentions among public, and plenty of companies invest more efforts on the CSR activities (Hur, Kim and Woo, 2013). At the same time, companies can undertake their social responsibility in different ways, namely, CSR has some classifications, and most of scholars accept that there are three main classifications of CSR, which are related to social, economic and environmental issues. The reason why companies do CSR activities is that the pressure of the economy, society and environment enforce the company to take economic, social and environmental consequences of their business into account (Alsmadi & Alnawas, 2012). What’s more, companies are able to gain benefits by undertaking social responsibility from the CSR activities. Positive brand image is the most vital benefit of CSR since it provides competitive advantage by having consumer commitment, which will give consumers’ high purchase intention and willingness to pay higher price for product or service (Mohr and Webb, 2005; S.M.M. et al, 2013). Ghosh and Das (2013) find out that companies are trying continuously to maintain and improve their brand image, because the positive brand image contributes to the competitive advantages and superior market share. And the positive brand image can influence customers’ purchasing behaviors since consumers prefer to choose the companies that have the good brand image (Maignan and Ferrell 2001). For instance,
CSR can assist in shaping customer loyalty built on ethical principles. Some companies are committed to CSR and use it as their main positioning instrument. Strategic tactics are used to gain public backing, helping them to gain competitive advantage by using their CSR initiatives as another form of advertising. These practices create a differentiation in products and services from its competitors.