7.1 What is CSR? Please describe the idea behind CSR and explain the reasons why it might make sense, also from a competitive point of view
Milton Friedman 1970
Corporate Social Responsibility
use resources
engage activity designed to increase profits
THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS IS BUSINESS
focus on ethical behaviour
social + ecological
impact a company has on society (incl economic view)
WHY?
CSR not only as a burden, but also as an opportunity
7.2 Milton Friedman stated that the task of the company is to gain profits and not to invest in ethical issues. Please discuss the pros and cons of the statement.
Shareholders own company —> management= agent of shareholders —> GOAL: satisfy shareholders
if manager spends money on social purpose = spending somebody else´s money
reduce return to shareholder
raise price to customer
lowers wages
critical
for me: if everybody would du CSR in private —> friedman is right
BUT
people do not act altroistic
A company is designed to gain money —> I agree
in a wider sense
7.3 What is the core idea of the "triple bottom line"?
classical concept
bottom line = profit
Social issues: society
Environmental
economic
7.4 What is the difference between the shareholder and the stakeholder approach and what role does profit play within the two?
Shareholder: US POV
firm acts in favor of the owners / Sharehoders
value = Share price * number of shares should be maximized
sociatal concerns= distraction / irritation
Stakeholder
pursuing interests of multiple groups
often different and conflicting goals
must pursue profits “optimizing not maximizing”
fair to employees
7.5 Explain the four major conceptual approaches to CSR (Altruistic, Strategic, etc.)
Altruistic:
in line with Milton
seperate earning money and investing it
Bill Gates
invests seperately from microsoft
even in Microsoft changes Behaviour
Warren Buffet
invests in Start-Ups (that seem to make money in future)
Strategic:
change business model to be fit for future
opposite of altruistic
Frosch - only sustainable
create value from it
combinde profit and environment
Ethical:
mix
react / avoid external effects
build wall to protect from sound emmissions —> keep license
meet (minimal) guidelines
Tactical
because company is forced
(even if by customer —> Shitstorm)
change business model
KIK —> Child labour
LAW
CSR reporting
global supply chain
7.6 What internationally accepted guidelines for CSR do you know?
Broad spectrum
UN, OECD, EU, ISO…
suggested:
reporting-guidelinnes
voluntary self-obligation
operational guidelines
discussion papers
mebership
different goals
different history / organisation in background
7.7 Pharmaceutical firms I often criticized for not giving away HIV drugs for free in Africa? What is your view about that? Please state arguments for both sides
difficult
always easy to say yes
innovating process very expensive
can not be sure if product really reaches people
if it´s necessary / expected to give it away —> all companies have to do —> stop of investing
soccer players earn more
Last changed2 years ago