Postface and Conclusion: Current Challenges and Forward-Thinking Perspectives on Responsibility in Organizations

This chapter provides a synthesis of the key ideas studied in the chapters of this book and articulates perspectives for the future that Responsible Organizations are likely to face in the managerial, ethical, cultural, and socio-economic domains. The opening Keynote Lecture on Business and Society Approached Inclusively and Historically was presented by Professor Andrew Pettigrew from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, UK. Professor Pettigrew defined corporate social responsibility (CSR) from a historical perspective and how CSR has evolved within the context of power, legitimacy, responsibility, governance, regulation, and interconnectedness with the rapid development of digital technology and the emergence of big data. Furthermore, the meaning of privacy in society was discussed and how cybersecurity posed a major threat to organizations and nations. The keynote was followed by a Q&A with business and institutional leaders, who addressed the question What does responsibility mean to an organization? Several dimensions of CSR, such as internal management processes, continuous improvement, human resource policies, and leadership skills, emerged as key priority areas for Responsible Organizations in the twenty-first century.