Saudi Aramco Oil Company Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

Saudi Aramco Oil Company - Dissertation Example The scope of Business Social Responsibility (BSR) includes production and company operation. Moon’s (2002) concept of BSR expands to financial contributions to community and governmental causes. BSR focuses on the social responsibility of business while CSR is a general term that encompasses many aspects of CSR. CSR’s general concept is about the community, the employees, the environment, human rights, and so on. BSR is appropriate in the study of social responsibility of Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas industry since it focuses on governmental and public causes that include environmental protection and cause-oriented projects. This chapter scrutinizes the past and current issues on CSR and how they could be related in the context of the aim and objectives of this dissertation. 2.2 Definition of corporate social responsibility The term corporate social responsibility refers to a corporate framework consisting of economic, environmental and social issues (Tokoro 2007, p. 148) that are incorporated into the responsible performance of the firm. CSR is sometimes referred to as a corporate duty and responsibility to the community and the environment. CSR practices of firms emphasise environmental protection without financial consideration in return (Huang 2010, p. 642). The World Business Council defines CSR as an obligation to provide economic development and improvement of employees’ quality of life and the community they belong. CSR includes an interaction with the community and the different stakeholders. Some aspects of CSR aim for sustainable development. Sustainable development involves ‘systematic and long term use of natural resources’ (Huang 2010, p. 643) with the primary objective of having it available for the present and the future generation; meaning, CSR is meeting the needs of the present generation without disregarding the future generation. It may also refer to the necessities of development and progress for coun tries without damaging environmental resources. Sustainable development refers to development wherein the environmental indicators have the same significance with economic indicators. Sustainability involves long-term goals that concern ecological, political, economic and societal ramifications. (Huang 2010, p. 643) Many authors conclude that there is no universal definition for CSR. A common definition failed because CSR is a socially constructed concept. There are components in the different definitions that are common, for example voluntary, the stakeholder, legal obligation, economic, social, human right, etc., which when understood will lead to greater insight of what CSR is in the nation that is being practiced and the world at large. 2.2.1 Theories of CSR Social Responsibilities of the Businessman was an article written by Bowen in 1953 which shifted the social responsibility of business to CSR. Since then the study of CSR has grown bringing into the fore terminologies, theor ies and practices in the different fields. Topics on CSR have also evolved that included society and business, social issues management, stakeholder management, corporate accountability, and much more. Recently, authors added the topics on corporate citizenship and corporate sustainability. (Garriga & Mele 2004, p. 51) Popular concepts relate CSR theories with the environment (which relate to resources and economics), goal attainment (linked to politics), and social