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Business & Society
A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility & Ethics
Ninth Edition
- O.C. Ferrell - Auburn University, USA
- Debbie M. Thorne - Florida Gulf Coast University
- Linda Ferrell - Auburn University, USA, University of Massachusetts Global
Other Titles in:
Business Policy
Business Policy
December 2025 | 600 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Formerly published by Chicago Business Press, now published by Sage
Business & Society: A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility & Ethics integrates business and society into organizational strategies to showcase social responsibility as an actionable and practical field of interest, grounded in sound theory. In corporate America today, social responsibility has been linked to financial performance and is a major consideration in strategic planning. This innovative Ninth Edition ensures that business students understand and appreciate concerns about philanthropy, employee well-being, corporate governance, consumer protection, social issues, and sustainability, helping to prepare them for the social responsibility challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their careers.
This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
Instructors, see how Vantage works!
Take a brief self-guided tour with our interactive demo
Business & Society: A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility & Ethics integrates business and society into organizational strategies to showcase social responsibility as an actionable and practical field of interest, grounded in sound theory. In corporate America today, social responsibility has been linked to financial performance and is a major consideration in strategic planning. This innovative Ninth Edition ensures that business students understand and appreciate concerns about philanthropy, employee well-being, corporate governance, consumer protection, social issues, and sustainability, helping to prepare them for the social responsibility challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their careers.
This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
Instructors, see how Vantage works!
Take a brief self-guided tour with our interactive demo
Preface
Chapter 1: Social Responsibility Framework
Chapter 2: Strategic Management of Stakeholder Relationships
Chapter 3: Corporate Governance
Chapter 4: Business, Government, and Regulation
Chapter 5: The Impact of Business on Government and the Political Environment
Chapter 6: Business Ethics and Ethical Decision-Making
Chapter 7: Strategic Approaches to Improving Ethical Behavior
Chapter 8: Employee Relations
Chapter 9: Consumer Relations
Chapter 10: Community Relations and Strategic Philanthropy
Chapter 11: Technology Issues
Chapter 12: Sustainability and the Environment
Chapter 13: Social Responsibility in a Global Environment
Case 1: The Heart Behind the Duck: Aflac Ethics in Action
Case 2: Crypto Crash and Burn: Inside the FTX Fallout
Case 3: The EV Industry Races Toward a Sustainable Future
Case 4: A Bitter Pill for Johnson & Johnson
Case 5: Chevron Puts More Energy Into Sustainability
Case 6: Shein Shifts Fast Fashion into Overdrive
Case 7: Silicon Valley Breaks the Bank
Case 8: Big-Box Retailer Walmart Sets Big ESG Goals
Case 9: Google Searches for an Edge in the AI Race
Case 10: Ground for Celebration: Sustainable Innovation at illycaffè
Case 11: Mattel Gets Dolled Up for a Greener Future
Case 12: Toshiba: From Tech Titan to Turmoil
Case 13: How Cisco Hard-Coded Conscious Culture
Case 14: Climbing Higher: Patagonia’s Path to Purpose-Driven Profits
Case 15: From Basement Brews to Better Business: The New Belgium Way
Glossary
Notes
Index
Supplements
Instructor Resource Site
Instructor Resources
Online resources included with this text
The online resources for your text will be available here upon publication, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides.
For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.
Instructor Resources
Online resources included with this text
The online resources for your text will be available here upon publication, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides.
For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.
Ferrell, Thorne, and Ferrell's Business and Society text has worked very well to support our emphasis on sustainability and the future of business here at Portland State University. The text matches our students’ abilities to consider a variety of frameworks to understand the role of business in society. It is up to date and issues helpful examples from today’s business settings to show the relevance of the frameworks throughout the text.
Portland State University
This text is well organized, clearly focused, and is replete with relevant examples and case studies that students should find engaging.
Heller College of Business, Roosevelt University
The book's content is well-structured and provides students with relevant examples and case studies for hands-on application of the concepts.
Western Kentucky University
Ferrell's Business and Society is an excellent, well organized, and easy-to-understand option for teaching students ethical approaches for businesses and corporations.
Hirram College
In-depth text with excellent case studies.
Albright College