In Good Company: Reflections on the Changing Nature of the Contemporary Business Enterprise and its Embedded Value Systems

The way in which the business enterprise operates in the global market has become the subject of a lively debate in Western society. Trying to redefine the role of organizations, and particularly the business enterprise, is a crucial element of this debate. The concept generally relates to the need for more responsible behaviour, increased social commitment and greater environmental care — in short, corporate social responsibility (CSR). On the surface the debate is supported by growing awareness of the need to protect the environment, concern about the depletion of natural resources and awareness of social inequality around the world. More fundamentally CSR is about organizations taking greater social responsibility and becoming good corporate citizens. The central notion is that organizations should act beyond their traditional business boundaries, their purpose no longer restricted to generating profit but extended to include a contribution to the cohesion of society and consideration of the social and ecological environment. This challenges the firmly established belief in Anglo-Saxon economies that social issues are secondary to the priority challenges of corporate management.