Social Responsibilities of the BusinessmanCorporate social responsibility (CSR) expresses a fundamental morality in the way a company behaves toward society. It follows ethical behavior toward stakeholders and recognizes the spirit of the legal and regulatory environment. The idea of CSR gained momentum in the late 1950s and 1960s with the expansion of large conglomerate corporations and became a popular subject in the 1980s with R. Edward Freeman's Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach and the many key works of Archie B. Carroll, Peter F. Drucker, and others. In the wake of the financial crisis of 2008–2010, CSR has again become a focus for evaluating corporate behavior. First published in 1953, Howard R. Bowen’s Social Responsibilities of the Businessman was the first comprehensive discussion of business ethics and social responsibility. It created a foundation by which business executives and academics could consider the subjects as part of strategic planning and managerial decision-making. Though written in another era, it is regularly and increasingly cited because of its relevance to the current ethical issues of business operations in the United States. Many experts believe it to be the seminal book on corporate social responsibility. This new edition of the book includes an introduction by Jean-Pascal Gond, Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility at Cass Business School, City University of London, and a foreword by Peter Geoffrey Bowen, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver, who is Howard R. Bowen's eldest son. |
Contents
1 Introduction | 3 |
2 Economic Goals | 8 |
3 Social Responsibilities and Laissez Faire | 14 |
4 Social Aspects of Business Decisions in PresentDay Capitalism | 22 |
5 Protestant Views of the Social Responsibilities of Businessmen | 31 |
7 The Businessmans View of His Specific Responsibilities | 54 |
8 Why Are Businessmen Concerned About Their Social Reponsibilities? | 69 |
9 Why Are Businessmen Concerned About Their Social Responsibilities? Continued | 84 |
Changes in Business Organization and Practice | 151 |
The Industry Council Plan | 164 |
15 Other Proposals | 177 |
16 Ethical Issues Relating to the Distribution of Income | 193 |
17 Other Ethical Issues Facing Businessmen | 207 |
Bibliography of Protestant Views on the Social Responsibilities of Businessmen | 231 |
Sources on the Businessmans Conception of His Social Responsibilities | 235 |
| 241 | |
Some Criticisms | 106 |
11 The law and the Doctrine of Social Responsibility | 125 |
12 Toward Increasing the Effectiveness of Social Responsibility in Business Decisions | 135 |
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Common terms and phrases
accepted achieve actions activities American attitudes become Bowen capital Christian Company competition concept concern Conference consider consumers Corporate Social Responsibility costs directors distribution doctrine of social economic stability economic system economists effect employees employment enterprise executives factors factors of production firms Ford Motor Company freedom functions George Goyder goals Harper & Brothers Harvard Harvard University human relations incentives income increasing individual industry council plan influence institutions inthe J. M. Keynes labor labor unions laissez faire large corporations leadership ment moral nessmen nomic ofthe organization participation point of view policies Preface to Morals President principles problems production profit motive proposals Protestant pure profits R. H. Tawney regard responsibilities of business self-interest sense social control social interest social responsibility society stockholders suggested sumers thinking tion tothe wages welfare workers York