Description
Corporate social and environmental responsibility has become a major contemporary focus
of business, government and community attention globally. With this increased attention
and activity have come debates ranging across corporate authenticity, legislative necessity,
and the scope of appropriate strategies. Through an historical analysis of four leading
British industrialists of the 19th and early 20th centuries, this paper addresses the question
of how corporate social accountability can be shaped and implemented by industrial leaders.
It finds that while they may be motivated by a mix of business case agendas and their
personal philosophical and religious beliefs, their accountability orientation reflects the
latter. Social accountability in these cases, emerges as accountability rendered through
action, reflecting organisational leaders’ moral responsibility and their connecting their
personal beliefs with action for the common good.
doc_562246489.pdf
Corporate social and environmental responsibility has become a major contemporary focus
of business, government and community attention globally. With this increased attention
and activity have come debates ranging across corporate authenticity, legislative necessity,
and the scope of appropriate strategies. Through an historical analysis of four leading
British industrialists of the 19th and early 20th centuries, this paper addresses the question
of how corporate social accountability can be shaped and implemented by industrial leaders.
It finds that while they may be motivated by a mix of business case agendas and their
personal philosophical and religious beliefs, their accountability orientation reflects the
latter. Social accountability in these cases, emerges as accountability rendered through
action, reflecting organisational leaders’ moral responsibility and their connecting their
personal beliefs with action for the common good.
doc_562246489.pdf