What are four dimensions of social responsibilityWhat impact do they Essay

What are four dimensions of social responsibilityWhat impact do they have on marketing decisions - Essay Example to economic development while improving the quality of life of the work force and their family as well as the community and society at large†Ã‚  (cited in Sims, 2003). Again, Wartick and Cochran frames CSR as â€Å"a business organization’s configuration of principles of social responsibility, processes of social responsiveness, and policies, programs, and observable outcomes as they relate to the firm’s societal relationships†(Wartick and Cochran, 1985). CSR is however the most aptly defined by the World Business Council as â€Å"The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large† (Holme and Watts, The World Business Council for Sustainable Development). One idea comes out very clearly from the above definitions, and that is, CSR is a duty to be performed by corporations towards all its stakeholders, and not simply the shareholders. CSR can be divided into 4 basic dimensions. These are The four afore-mentioned dimensions form the pyramid of social responsibilities, and are referred to as the Carroll’s CSR pyramid. As Carroll himself frames it â€Å"corporate social responsibility involves the conduct of a business so that it is economically profitable, law abiding, ethical and socially supportive. To be socially responsible then means that profitability and obedience to the law are foremost conditions when discussing the firm’s ethics and the extent to which it supports the society in which it exists with contributions of money, time and talent† (Carroll, 1983, p.608). At the very base is the economic dimension that forms the foundation for all the other aspects. Next, above the economic dimension, comes the legal aspect, where the mantra is to follow and play strictly by the rules of the game. The law clearly demarcates what is right and what is wrong, and the legal dimension simply