[Challenges that UK organisations face with regard to the concept and practice of CSR]

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible

Declaration

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University

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Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of corporate social responsibility in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on corporate social responsibility and its relation with CSR The research also analyzes many aspects of corporate social responsibility and tries to gauge its effect on CSR. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “topic” and tries to describe the overall effect of corporate social responsibility in UK company.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background of the study1

Problem Statement2

Purpose of the study3

Rationale of the study3

Significance of the study4

Defining corporate social responsibility5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW6

Emergence of the CSR agenda6

The triple bottom line and CSR7

Putting the 'R' into CSR11

Drivers towards CSR13

Theory of CSR16

Spirit of transparency18

People of integrity20

CSR implementation mechanisms23

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY25

Methodology25

The East India Company (EIC)25

The Industrial Revolution (IR), 1750-183029

The slave trade and altruistic CSR31

The Quaker movement32

Reporting CSR33

CHAPTER 4: DISCUSSION36

Discussion36

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION37

Conclusion37

REFERENCES39

Chapter 1: Introduction

Background of the study

The study aims to explore corporate social responsibility challenges faced by UK organisations. “The last few decades have witnessed extensive coverage of issues relating to the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in several countries around the globe both in literature and the media (Idowu, 2009b). There is similarly a significant increase in the number of advocates and supporters of the field, which has understandably led to a corresponding increase in corporate activities in the field. There is evidence to support these claims. For instance, scholars and researchers in the field are suggesting that a significant increase in socially responsible activities is taking place. Vogel (2010) found 30,000 sites for CSR on Google and a similar search by this author reveals 1,790,000 CSR sites. Vogel (2010) also noted that there were more than 15,000,000 pages on the worldwide web addressing dimensions of CSR, including more than 100,000 corporate websites (this author notes that these are now 20,400,000 and 364,000, respectively). Kotler and Lee (2010), from a survey of the Global Fortune Top 250 companies, note a constant increase in the number of American companies reporting on corporate responsibility. The United Nations, in an attempt to alleviate the adverse impacts of past corporate and individual actions on the environment and make our world a better place for this generation and future ones, has organised several Climate Change Conferences - Rio (1992), Kyoto (2008), Johannesburg (2011), Bali (2008) and Copenhagen (December 2009). Idowu (2009b) notes that 81 per cent of the Financial Times Stock Exchange (FTSE) 100 (UK largest listed companies) are now ...