Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility
A Holistic Approach to Responsible and Sustainable Business
- Debbie Haski-Leventhal - Macquarie University, Australia, Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University, Australia
With the changing expectations of consumers, employees and regulators, being best in the world is no longer enough. Businesses are now also expected to be best for the world: to be socially and environmentally responsible, sustainable and ethical.
Based on the idea that strategic CSR offers the most holistic and effective approach to corporate social responsibility, the author presents the key concepts, theories and philosophical approaches to CSR, along with the practical tools needed to implement this knowledge in the real world.
The book is split into three parts; the first part provides the theoretical background of CSR, the second part examines various CSR approaches and how they can be implemented, and the third part discusses measuring and communicating CSR. New this edition is also a chapter titled ‘The S in CSR: Social and Global Issues’.
Each chapter contains questions for reflection & discussion, exercises, and case studies from globally recognised brands such as Ben & Jerry's, Google, H&M, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé, Patagonia, Puma, Unilever and Whole Foods.
The book is complemented by chapter specific lecturer PowerPoint slides, a draft syllabus and an instructor's manual.
Suitable reading for students on Corporate Social Responsibility modules.
Supplements
One of those books that will become something of a timeless anchor point. Quite simply, Debbie Haski-Leventhal has written the best textbook on CSR I’ve ever seen, one I’ve been waiting for without quite knowing it, for a long time. This book is Drucker-like - it is transcendent; it is about the biggest business opportunity of the 21st century; and it is a book written with such grace and relevance that learners and educators will love it.
Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility provides a comprehensive and integrated overview of the field of CSR that brings today's tools and standards to the fore, and should prove an invaluable classroom asset. The book provides a thorough grounding in all of the relevant topics, as well as practice in dealing with social issues through the lens of cases that learners can grapple with to bring the concepts alive.
Well suited for course
This book, while providing a good background of strategic CSR and responsible business in general, is much too optimistic for the purpose of my course. I was looking for a book that is able to paint a much more nuanced picture of how companies can contribute to sustainability. This book focuses a lot on the small "positive steps in the right direction" while ignoring the fact that most companies (whether or not they work with CSR) contribute with a net negative impact on sustainability.
