Social Responsibilities of the Businessman

Description

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) expresses a fundamental morality in the way a company behaves toward society. It follows ethical behavior toward stakeholders and recognizes the spirit of the legal and regulatory environment. The idea of CSR gained momentum in the late 1950s and 1960s with the expansion of large conglomerate corporations and became a popular subject in the 1980s with R. Edward Freeman'sStrategic Management: A Stakeholder Approachand the many key works of Archie B. Carroll, Peter F. Drucker, and others. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008-2010, CSR has again become a focus for evaluating corporate behavior. First published in 1953, Howard R. Bowen'sSocial Responsibilities of the Businessmanwas the first comprehensive discussion of business ethics and social responsibility. It created a foundation by which business executives and academics could consider the subjects as part of strategic planning and managerial decision-making. Though written in another era, it is regularly and increasingly cited because of its relevance to the current ethical issues of business operations in the United States. Many experts believe it to be the seminal book on corporate social responsibility.This new edition of the book includes an introduction by Jean-Pascal Gond, Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility at Cass Business School, City University of London, and a foreword by Peter Geoffrey Bowen, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver, who is Howard R. Bowen's eldest son. Contents Foreword to the New Edition Introduction to the New Edition Preface 1. Introduction 2. Economic Goals 3. Social Responsibilities and Laissez Faire 4. Social Aspects of Business Decisions in Present-Day Capitalism 5. Protestant Views of the Social Responsibilities of Businessmen 7. The Businessman's View of His Specific Responsibilities 8. Why Are Businessmen Concerned About Their Social Reponsibilities? 9. Why Are Businessmen Concerned About Their Social Responsibilities? (Continued) 10. The Doctrine of Social Responsibility: Some Criticisms 11. The law and the Doctrine of Social Responsibility 12. Toward Increasing the Effectiveness of Social Responsibility in Business Decisions 13. Proposals: Changes in Business Organization and Practice 14. Proposals: The Industry Council Plan 15. Other Proposals 16. Ethical Issues Relating to the Distribution of Income 17. Other Ethical Issues Facing Businessmen Appendix A: Bibliography of Protestant Views on the Social Responsibilities of Businessmen Appendix B: Sources on the Businessman's Conception of His Social Responsibilities Index of Subjects Index of Names