Non-Governmental CSR: An Agenda for Research

NOGS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Guler Aras, David Crowther, eds., Emerald, 2010

Posted: 17 Aug 2011

See all articles by David Crowther

David Crowther

De Montfort University

Guler Aras

Yildiz Technical University

Date Written: 2010

Abstract

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) seems to have become ubiquitous and to be understood all around the world. Not only has it become ubiquitous but it has become seen as a positive aspect of corporate behavior. It seems therefore to have become generally accepted by businesses and their managers, by governments and their agencies, and by the general public that there is considerable benefit in engaging in CSR (Crowther & Seifi 2010). Consequently every organization is increasingly going to have its CSR policy which will have been translated into activity. Despite the fact that many people remain cynical about the genuineness of such corporate activity, the evidence continues to mount that corporations are actually engaging in such socially responsible activity, not least because they recognize the benefits which accrue. It seems therefore that the battle is won and everyone accepts the need for CSR activity – all that remains for discussion is how exactly to engage in such activity and how to report upon that activity. Even this has been largely addressed through such vehicles as GRI and the forthcoming ISO 26000.

There is a considerable need for continuing research into CSR practice around the world, as well as an ongoing need to theoretical developments. This applies to profit seeking organizations and the agenda has recently expanded to incorporate SMEs as well as multi-nationals (see for example Aras & Crowther 2009a, 2009b). More recently the concern for CSR has expanded to include governmental organizations and NGOs. In this chapter we have raised some current issues regarding CSR research and considered whether or not these apply in the same way to NGOs, our concern in this book. Really however we are seeking to illustrate that there is much further research to do concerning an understanding of how CSR is applied in NGOs and that a whole new research agenda is opening up. It is necessary to understand the extent to which the theory currently developed applies to these organizations and the extent to which our theoretical understanding needs to be developed and even the extent to which new theory in necessary. The various chapters in this volume both start the process and illustrate that much more is needed. Accordingly we finish by baldly stating that there is a new research agenda which need to be addressed.

Keywords: NGOs, corporate social responsibility, globalisation, social performance, social marketing

JEL Classification: M14, L31, L33, A13

Suggested Citation

Crowther, David and Aras, Guler, Non-Governmental CSR: An Agenda for Research (2010). NOGS AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, Guler Aras, David Crowther, eds., Emerald, 2010 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1911136

David Crowther (Contact Author)

De Montfort University ( email )

Milton Keynes, MK7 6HP
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.davideacrowther.com

Guler Aras

Yildiz Technical University ( email )

Istanbul
Turkey
+90 212 3832515 (Phone)
+90 212 2594202 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://guleraras.com

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