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The Paradox of Corporate Social Responsibility Standards

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  • Simone de Colle
  • Adrian Henriques
  • Saras Sarasvathy

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a constructive criticism of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) standards. After pointing out a number of benefits and limitations in the effectiveness of CSR standards, both from a theoretical point of view and in the light of empirical evidence, we formulate and discuss a Paradox of CSR standards: despite being well-intended, CSR standards can favor the emergence of a thoughtless, blind and blinkered mindset which is counterproductive of their aim of enhancing the social responsibility of the organization. We analyze three problems that might underlie the Paradox—namely the problem of deceptive measurements; the problem of responsibility erosion and the problem of blinkered culture. We apply the philosophical tradition of American Pragmatism to reflect on these issues in relation to different types of existing standards, and conclude by suggesting a number of considerations that could help both CSR standards developers and users to address the Paradox. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014

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  • Simone de Colle & Adrian Henriques & Saras Sarasvathy, 2014. "The Paradox of Corporate Social Responsibility Standards," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(2), pages 177-191, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:125:y:2014:i:2:p:177-191
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1912-y
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    5. Anna Dos, 2017. "Multi-criteria decision methods for CSR management – literature review," Managerial Economics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Management, vol. 18(1), pages 63-86.
    6. Witkowska Janina, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsability: Selected Theoretical and Empirical Aspects," Comparative Economic Research, Sciendo, vol. 19(1), pages 27-43, March.
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    9. Changhee Lee & Dan Palmon & Ari Yezegel, 2018. "The Corporate Social Responsibility Information Environment: Examining the Value of Financial Analysts’ Recommendations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 279-301, June.
    10. Tiina Onkila & Marjo Siltaoja, 2017. "One Rule to Rule Them All? Organisational Sensemaking of Corporate Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 5-20, August.
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    13. Claudia Kitsikopoulos & Ute Schwaibold & Douglas Taylor, 2018. "Limited progress in sustainable development: Factors influencing the environmental management and reporting of South African JSE‐listed companies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1295-1301, December.
    14. Journeault, Marc & Levant, Yves & Picard, Claire-France, 2021. "Sustainability performance reporting: A technocratic shadowing and silencing," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    15. Irene Marcuzzi & Matteo Podrecca & Marco Sartor & Guido Nassimbeni, 2023. "Out of social accountability: Reasons and alternative paths for SA8000 decertification," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 3140-3158, November.
    16. Regina F. Bento & Lasse Mertins & Lourdes F. White, 2017. "Ideology and the Balanced Scorecard: An Empirical Exploration of the Tension Between Shareholder Value Maximization and Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(4), pages 769-789, June.
    17. Céline Bérard & Christelle Bruyere & Séverine Saleilles, 2015. "Les PME axées sur la durabilité et à forte croissance : une approche par les paradoxes. 28(3-4), 195-223," Post-Print hal-02127814, HAL.
    18. Céline Bérard & Christelle Bruyère & Séverine Saleilles, 2015. "Les PME axées sur la durabilité et à forte croissance : une approche par les paradoxes," Post-Print hal-04010385, HAL.
    19. Julien Boucher & Clotilde Jenny & Zara Plummer & Gerhard Schneider, 2018. "How to Avoid Pigeonholing the Environmental Manager?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, July.
    20. Filippo Vitolla & Nicola Raimo & Elbano De Nuccio, 2021. "Integrated Reporting: Development and State of Art —The Italian Case in the International Context," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(11), pages 233-233, July.
    21. Michael A. Sartor & Paul W. Beamish, 2020. "Private Sector Corruption, Public Sector Corruption and the Organizational Structure of Foreign Subsidiaries," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 167(4), pages 725-744, December.
    22. Federica Murmura & Laura Bravi, 2020. "Developing a Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy in India Using the SA 8000 Standard," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, April.
    23. Zhihong Wang & Tien‐Shih Hsieh & Joseph Sarkis, 2018. "CSR Performance and the Readability of CSR Reports: Too Good to be True?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(1), pages 66-79, January.
    24. Jean-Marie Courrent & Sonia Chassé & Waleed Omri, 2018. "Do Entrepreneurial SMEs Perform Better Because They are More Responsible?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 317-336, December.

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