Investigating the organizational decision making responsible for corporate social responsibility initiatives
Abstract
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI--COLUMBIA AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is evolving into an essential component of brand strategy. The way consumers interact with brands is changing, prompting modern consumers to have higher expectations for the companies they give their business to. This study will explore how organizations decide upon one or more corporate social responsibility initiative(s) to pursue. Corporate social responsibility can be defined as any action a company takes that furthers some social good beyond the interests of the firm. This research will use satisficing theory, which allows management to weigh decisions using a cost/benefit structure and the Symbiotic Sustainability Model to evaluate how corporate/nonprofit relationships create value for each respective organization. Examining CSR within this context allows for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of how firms can gain social capital while improving societal affairs. The ethics inherent in CSR decisions will also be examined. Analyzing the decision-making processes and ethical reasoning behind CSR initiatives will provide new insight on the field of CSR. This study will build upon extant literature and use semi-structured interviews with company executives to reveal a clearer picture of why firms choose to engage in one CSR strategy over another.
Degree
M.A.
Thesis Department
Rights
Access to files is restricted to the University of Missouri--Columbia