Numerous management scholars argue that management theory is anthropocentric and considers humans as being separate from the environment. Further anthropocentrism does not enable theory and organisations to contribute to sustainable development. To counter this it is argued theory and organisations should embrace an environmental paradigm that does not separate humans and the environment. This exploratory research attempts to identify whether any organisations operate with an environmental paradigm. The research questions focus on paradigms and some of the tensions surrounding the human-environment debate, such as; sufficiency versus profit maximisation and quoted status, money as a means or an end and notions of boundaries between the organisation and the environment. The questions are explored with individuals from 23 environmentally focused, primarily for profit, organisations. The results indicate that the organisations operate with an environmental paradigm, do not perceive of boundaries between the organisation and the environment, do not pursue profit maximisation, can demonstrate sufficiency, view money as a means rather than an end and do not have a favourable view of quoted status. Furthermore, the interviewees do not separate their world into two realms, one social and one natural. Narratives that arise include the organisations operating to a mode of mission and money and that an aphorism of “altruistically selfish and selfishly altruistic” (Maturana & Varela, 1998:197) can be applied. In short, the results indicate some challenges to conventional management theory, in particular strategy and competitive advantage, and that the organisations interviewed could help to, some extent, enable sustainable development. To close, the hope of this study it that its narratives and the conceptual tool it has prompted, provide succour to students and managers who want to develop a ‘future normal’ of theories and organisations that better enable sustainability.

This study proposes a beyond modernist conceptual model for businesses' social engagement to address social development through public relations. This model is based on the premises that social thinking shifted towards beyond modernist thinking, that the same shift is evident in social development and that businesses' social engagement to address social development through public relations should be aligned with this shift in social thinking and in social development. The social shift towards beyond modernist thinking means that it is assumed that people are interdependent on one another for their future survival on earth, and that people and nature are, in the same way, interdependent. Accepting interdependency implies acceptance of 'multiplicity' and 'reciprocity'. This leads society to increasingly expect that businesses should be socially engaged. In developing countries this implies social development. This shift in society towards beyond modernist thinking is echoed in social development discourse: through an an equal-status relationship between benefactor and beneficiary beyond modernist social development enables members of a developing community to develop themselves. These shifts in social thinking and in the field of social development, has not matured to the same extent in the practice and theory of businesses' social engagement to address social development through public relations. The conceptual model proposed in this study addresses this concern. The proposed conceptual model formalises this shift in thinking on a theoretical/conceptual level, which indicates an ecological business-society relationship where the business regards itself as being part of society, where public relations should have a social orientation and where the businesses' social engagement through public relations should be directed towards the improvement of society. Based on this model, guidelines towards the practice of businesses' social engagement to address social development through public relations are deduced / Communication Science / D.Litt. et Phil. (Communication Science)

Submitted in full compliance with the requirements of the degree of Master of Technology: Dental Technology, Durban University of Technology, 2014. / This study investigated how corporate social responsibility (CSR) is understood within the KwaZulu-Natal dental technology industry, as an indication of the position of the industry nationally. The objectives of this study were to provide clarity regarding how the members of the dental technology industry in KwaZulu-Natal perceive CSR, to determine what is being practised in terms of CSR, and to provide possible insights into how the dental technology industry in KwaZulu-Natal might understand and consider CSR principles going into the future. This is a qualitative study conducted in the interpretive paradigm. The conceptual framework utilised for the study was Carroll’s CSR pyramid (1991) which was reviewed by Ferrell et al. (2010). For the purpose of this study CSR was understood to encompass the economic, legal and ethical aspects of running a business. It further extended into an understanding of philanthropy that goes beyond the primary purpose of a business. Simple random sampling was used to select participants for individual semi-structured interviews. The data collected was analysed using thematic content analysis. This study found that CSR is an unfamiliar term amongst dental laboratory owners and dental technicians. Dental laboratory owners and technicians failed to understand that CSR involves not only the basic aspects of running a business which are economic advancement but also compliance with legislation and ethics considerations. This study found that the poor understanding of CSR by dental laboratory owners and dental technicians stems from a poor understanding of basic business principles as was revealed in reported practices of the industry participants that lacked business ethical consideration. The perceived lack of participation in the industry by the South African Dental Technicians Council was seen to be a contributing factor to unethical behaviour within the industry. A degree of localised philanthropy was found to be practised by some in the industry. However, such practice was not generally accepted as a norm and that the industry should necessarily take cognisance of. The results generated by this study indicate that the dental technology industry’s lack of knowledge and understanding of CSR are such that industry should be informed and educated in CSR practices and that a coordinated approach to CSR practice by the industry is needed.

Dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Technology Degree: Public Relations Management, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / Corporate Social Responsibility (CSI) is an issue with a growing business value in South Africa. The increasing emphasis on CSI is affecting the relationship between organisations and their various stakeholders, such as investors, customers, vendors, suppliers, employees, communities and government. The stakeholders of an organisation play a vital role in the process of CSI planning and execution. There is a need to communicate CSI activities to stakeholders, as well as to monitor the flow and role of communication within the CSI context. While it is generally agreed that companies need to manage their relationships and communication with their stakeholders, the way in which they choose to do so varies considerably. Challenges in communicating corporate social responsibility do exist – for example, communication channels that are used in CSI, scepticism towards company messages and potentially hostile reactions from the media, complex community engagement processes, diversity of the audience, misunderstanding with special interest groups such as employees and government regulations. The diverse information requirements of different stakeholder groups also present special communication challenges, and these requirements are examined in turn. Given this background, the purpose of this study is to investigate communication in CSI practice. This study seeks to understand communication challenges facing CSI and communication channels that are used in CSI. Lastly, this study offers recommended best practices that can be applied in CSR communication. Although CSI is gaining a role as a strategic business function, however the literature review presented in this paper shows that CSI communication is still an area to be explored. One of the arguments presented in the literature review originate from Maignan & Ferrell (2004:17) that “Businesses cannot hope to enjoy concrete benefits from CSR unless they intelligently communicate about their initiatives to relevant stakeholders”. Communication challenges in CSI exist mainly in the process of transmission and receiving of messages from sender to receiver. The selection of the proper channels to disseminate information is also a challenge. These challenges arise mainly in rural and underdeveloped areas. In most instances, these communities lack infrastructure such as electricity and telecommunication which facilitate the dissemination of information. Commonly the communicator has to first do the necessary research in order to establish the most suitable medium for disseminating information to these communities. Illiteracy is also a major hurdle to communication in underdeveloped areas. This poses a challenge in that often messages have to be disseminated face to face, which can take time and requires expertise in communicating. The research method that was used to conduct this study is random sampling. A sample of thirteen organizations was drawn from the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) database of medium to large businesses that are actively involved in CSR programmes in South Africa. The findings in this study reveal that South African organisations are engaged in serious efforts to communicate and pro-actively integrate CSI as a strategic business phenomenon. These findings are significant to communications and CSI practitioners who wish to communicate with their stakeholders in CSI implementation. These findings will also benefit corporate executives who wish to engage in CSI communication. Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and community organisations that wish to engage in CSI activities with corporate organizations, can also benefit from this study. In summary, CSI has grown from an ideology to a business reality and is now acknowledged as an important dimension of modern business practice. It is important that organisation examine their CSI communication in the context of the ever-changing business environment.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the rise of the modern corporation in the late 19th century, the debate on the relationship between business and society has flourished, and the negative impact of businesses became evident as the number and scale of large corporations increased. As a result of the globalization of trade and economic activity, regulating and auditing multinational companies have become both more important and more problematic. Along with the new challenges to be met by companies operating in foreign countries, these factors have resulted in a greater demand for corporate social responsibility (CSR). Originating as an Anglo-American management idea, CSR has spread and become a well-established tool for businesses worldwide. In today’s global capitalist system, characterized by open markets, it is widely acknowledged that it is the role of the state to establish the preconditions for the proper functioning of markets by defining legal rules, establishing enforcement bodies, and providing public goods. However, many corporations choose to go beyond the required regulatory levels and voluntarily engage in CSR. Studies of CSR have long been dominated by business and economic scholars, usually with the aim to confirming or denying CSR as a tool for profit-maximization, and until the last decade, social and political scientists have shown little interest in CSR. From a political science view, the relation between the state, markets and corporations is of interest, but few studies have investigated how political institutions influence corporate behavior. This study has therefore researched the institutional determinants of CSR by analyzing the efforts and the role of the Norwegian government in promoting CSR in the shipping industry. The White Paper on CSR was used as guide to the government’s approach to CSR, and was analyzed in light of the specific CSR challenges faced in the shipping industry. For this purpose, a qualitative methodology and case study research design was adopted to provide in-depth information. New institutional theory and comparative political economy provided the theoretical framework for the study, and helped in answering the main research question: What is the role of the Norwegian government, as a political institution, in promoting CSR in the Norwegian shipping industry? as well as the sub-questions. The study identified both strengths and weaknesses in the government’s role as CSR promoter, and argued that the predominantly international focus of the White Paper is suitable for globally oriented industries, like shipping, while reducing its relevance for nationally oriented firms. The study further found that the government as institution provides the industry with CSR incentives, other than financial ones, as it sets the standards for what is perceived as modern and just corporate behavior. In addition, CSR in the shipping industry was found to take an explicit form, and to reflect the national institutional environment. The findings stand in contrast to the way in which the above-mentioned theories expect CSR to take shape in coordinated market economies. In broader sense, the findings affect the perception of the relationship between CSR as a management tool and strategy, and CSR as a political and regulatory tool that may be used actively by authorities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert die opkoms van die moderne korporasie in die laat 19de eeu, het die debat oor die verhouding tussen besigheid en samelewing floreer terwyl die negatiewe impak van besighede sigbaar geword het soos die aantal en omvang van groot korporasies toegeneem het. As gevolg van die globalisering van handel en ekonomiese aktiwiteit, het die regulerende en multinasionale ouditeringsmaatskappye beide belangrik en meer problematies geword. Tesame met die nuwe uitdagings wat maatskappye in vreemde lande moet ontmoet, het hierdie faktore aanleiding gegee tot ‘n groter vraag na korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid (KSV). KSV het sy oorsprong as ‘n Anglo-Amerikaanse bestuursidee gehad en het ‘n goed gevestigde hulpmiddel vir besighede wêreldwyd geword terwyl dit ook versprei het. In vandag se globale kapitalistiese sisteem wat deur oop markte gekenmerk word, word dit wydverspreid erken dat dit die rol van die staat is om voorwaardes vir die behoorlike funksionering van markte te vestig deur regsreëls te definieer, handhawingsliggame te vestig en publieke goedere te verskaf. Baie korporasies verkies egter om verder as die vereiste regulerende vlakke en vrywillige deelname in KSV te gaan. Studies van die KSV is vir lank oorheers deur besigheid- en ekonomiese geleerdes wat gewoonlik die doel gehad het om die KSV te bevestig of te ontken as ‘n hulpmiddel vir wins-maksimalisering, en tot en met die laaste dekade het sosiale en politieke wetenskaplikes min belangstelling in die KSV getoon. Uit die Politieke Wetenskaplike oogpunt is die verhouding tussen die staat, markte en korporasies van belang terwyl min studies al ondersoek het hoe politieke instellings korporatiewe gedrag beïnvloed. Hierdie studie het dus die bepalende faktore van die KSV nagevors deur die pogings en die rol van die Noorweegse regering in die bevordering van KSV in die skeepsvaart te analiseer. Die Witskrif op KSV is gebruik as ‘n gids vir die regering se benadering tot die KSV, en is ontleed in die lig van die spesifieke KSV uitdagings wat in die seevaart industrie in die gesig gestaar word. Vir hierdie doeleinde is ‘n kwalitatiewe metodologie en gevallestudie navorsingsontwerp aangeneem om in-diepte inligting te verskaf. Nuwe institusionele teorie en vergelykende politieke ekonomie het die teoretiese raamwerk vir die studie verskaf en het gehelp in die beantwoording van die hoof navorsingsvraag: Wat is die rol van die Noorweegse regering, as ‘n politieke instelling, in die bevordering van KSV in die Noorweegse seevaart industrie? Sowel as die sub-vrae. Hierdie studie het beide sterkpunte en swakpunte in die regering se role as KSV promotor identifiseer en het geargumenteer dat die oorwegende internasionale fokus van die Wit Skrif geskik is vir globaal georiënteerde industrieë soos seevaart, terwyl die toepaslikheid van nasionaal oriënteerde firmas verminder is. Die studie het verder bevind dat die regering as instelling KSV insentiewe aan die industrie anders as finansiële verskaf het, deur dat dit die standaarde stel vir wat gesien word as moderne en regverdige korporatiewe gedrag. Daar is verder bevind dat die KSV ‘n eksplesiete vorm aangeneem het in die seevaart industrie om die nasionale institusionele omgewing te vertoon. Die bevindings staan egter in teenstelling tot die manier waarop die bogenoemde teorieë van die KSV verwag om vorm aan te neem in gekoördineerde mark ekonomieë. In die breër sin beïnvloed die bevindings die siening van die verhouding tussen KSV as ‘n bestuur hulpmiddel en strategie en KSV as ‘n politieke en regulerende hulpmiddel wat aktief deur owerhede gebruik kan word.

The on-going global economic difficulties and the subsequent increases in unemployment have led the UK government to look at innovative ways of reintegrating unemployed people back into work. Nowhere is this more critical than in the area of youth unemployment, which in the UK is steadily rising for young people aged 16-24 years who are not in employment, education or training (NEET). As part of this strategy work-integration social enterprises (WISEs) have become providers of employment enhancement programmes (EEPs) that aim to improve the employability of NEETs, in part due to the 'added value' that WISEs are seen to bring to such programmes. However, this perception, along with the requirements of public funding contracts, creates a pressure on WISEs to demonstrate such 'added value' through rigorous evaluation procedures. However, there is little academic research that both attempts to measure WISE performance in relation to 'outcomes' and to understand how organisational type and structure affects this. This research study takes a comparative, multi-case study approach to study three separate work-integration organisations delivering EEPs to NEETs. Two of these organisations are WISEs and the other organisation is a 'for-profit' private company utilised in this study as a comparison group. In order to provide a rigorous measure of outcome, all participants completed three different self-efficacy scales and engaged in individual semi-structured interviews with researchers before and after engagement in their respective programmes (Time 1 & Time 2). Results from the qualitative analysis of the interviews and the statistical analysis of the questionnaire data are triangulated to evaluate the outcome from all three programmes, providing the participant perspective alongside changes in self-efficacy. In addition, semi-structured interviews and focus groups were held with the owners and staff at the organisations respectively, in order to elicit understanding of how the differing aims, values and structures present at each organisation impacted upon the delivery of the programmes and hence upon the outcome benefits experienced by the NEETs. The results of the research provide an opportunity to compare and contrast programmes delivered by social enterprises with that of a 'for-profit' company in order to give an insight into programme and outcome differences based upon the orientation of the delivery organisation. Results revealed no significant difference between the outcome benefits experienced by the NEETs at the WISEs and those NEETs present at the for-profit comparison group. However, analysis of the effect of the organisational aims, values and structures upon the delivery of EEPs, suggests that the 'added value' offered by WISEs, whilst not immediately evident in the outcome data, came from the induction policies that they operated and their willingness to work with more socially excluded individuals.

M. Tech. Business Administration / Mining is an economic activity that has the potential to develop areas that are impacted by its operations. However, mining operations may also negatively affect the surrounding communities as a consequence of certain undesired practices which either may damage the environment or disturb existing social structures such as tampering with graves. Despite this destabilisation, mining companies may offer either disproportionately low compensation, or, in some cases, engage in unequal distribution of corporate social benefits. If not planned in a sustainable way, mining activities can damage the landscape resulting in diminishing returns to the communities. Thus the research question is, what benefits accrue to the communities in the Sekhukhune District Municipality as a result of profitable mining operations? The objective of this study was to evaluate community programs driven by mining companies as well as obstacles inherent in the development of sustainable Local Economic Development (LED) projects in areas dominated by mining operations. In completing this research a qualitative method was followed. A case study of the Sekhukhune District Municipality in the Limpopo Province was conducted in order to ascertain the role of mining in contributing towards development of sustainable business ventures. Face to face interviews were conducted with all relevant stakeholders in the district in completing the work. The research revealed discrepancies in as far as mining contribution to the area is concerned. The respondents painted different pictures of the matter. Mining companies believe that they are contributing substantially to the communities in terms of sustainable business development and so forth, whereas the opposite is correct. The local municipalities do not have the capacity to deal with issues relating to community development and negotiating with mining companies. It is recommended that joint participation in the development of programs as well as LED projects by all stakeholders in the area be adequately appreciated and enhanced.

Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Corporate social responsibility is a subject that is of concern to most companies that operate on a large scale today. This assignment looks at corporate social responsibility to understand how this fits into a company today. There is a short overview of the history to better understand the underlying factors and to determine the importance of corporate social responsibility. Attention is given to the argument that the current approach of companies to adhere to corporate social responsibility is because of pressure. There is also a focus on the relationship between business and society to establish how business can view its responsibilities. The example of Shell is used to show how a company under immense pressure can develop sustainable practices to ensure that they remain profitable. After the main discussion some important points are mentioned in the conclusion to clarify the business case for corporate social strategy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Korporatiewe maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid is ‘n onderwerp wat van belang is vir meeste maatskappye wat grootskaals bedrywig is vandag. Hierdie opdrag ondersoek korporatiewe maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid om beter te verstaan hoe dit vandag in die maatskappy inpas. Daar is ‘n kort oorsig oor die geskiedenis om die onderliggende faktore beter te verstaan en om die belangrikheid van korporatiewe maatskaplike verantwoordelikheid te bepaal. Daar word ook aandag gegee aan die argument dat maatskappye verantwoordelik optree as gevolg van druk. Daar word ook gefokus op die verhouding tussen besigheid en die samelewing om te bepaal hoe besigheid sy verantwoordelikhede moet benader. Die voorbeeld van Shell word gebruik om te wys hoe ‘n maatskappy onder druk volhoubare gebruike kan ontwikkel om te verseker dat hulle winsgewend bly. Na die hoof bespreking word daar ‘n paar belangrike punte in die slotsom saamgevat om 'n besigheidsaak vir korporatiewe maatskaplike strategie uit te maak..

Thesis (MPhil (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Increasing inroads by the citizenry, at least in the Western paradigm for the past half millennium, has marked the history of the state as far as accountability is concerned. This process eventually culminated in the modern republican or associated form of democratic governance. Central to this evolutionary process was the notion of the ‘Social Contract’, famously nurtured by the late Enlightenment French philosophers. This concept relies on the notion that the state is crucial for civilized life, yet its power has to be curbed to avoid draconian excesses of power. An analogous process, it might be argued, exists in relation to the citizen-corporate social relationship: that this should come to be governed by what could be termed the ‘Socio-Corporate Contract.’ At present, the great majority of resources are mobilized by private entities, albeit at times in relation to the state, where the state plays a merely facilitating role (Cavanagh et al. 2003; Krasner 2001). This inherently goes to the core of any equity argument. The majority of resources on the planet that are mobilized by and transformed for human consumption: democratically viewed, the citizenry should have some or other governing say over the way in which the majority of resources are mobilized and the manner in which the accrued benefits are distributed (Sachs 2002). Marxist as it may sound, the foundation of such an argument could conceivably, and probably ironically, be traced back to the same type of philosophical foundations that spawned the libertarian republicanism upon which so many of our political Rechtstaat-values are inherently based. From this perspective such a ‘Socio-Corporate Contract’ seems essential, if not inevitable. The form that it would take, though, will probably continue to haunt our governors and rebels alike in the decades to come (Hutton 1995; Also see: The King Report on Corporate Governance in South Africa 2002).

77 leaves single side printed, preliminary pages i-v and numbered pages 1-72. Includes bibliography. / Thesis (MPhil (Sustainable Development Planning and Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores how to bring about change through innovation by using current power structures to move towards a more sustainable society. The type of change we are concerned with is the transformation from social structures, economic systems and institutions which diminish natural resources; to systems of production, institutions and social structures which affirm and interact productively with living systems, assuring their own sustainability. This change cannot be limited to address the social, environmental and economic consequences of the current system but should redefine the basic principles of society’s design and operation. One of the key actors in the current system are Multinational Corporations (MNCs) which have the capacity to mobilize natural resources, labour, and financial capital at a global scale. It is defined that to contribute proactively towards sustainability, the role of the corporation is to innovate in its core business, creating products and services that help to solve the current un-sustainability patterns of society. However, how effective are targeted innovation platforms within MNC’s in designing and implementing meaningful innovations for sustainability? How meaningful are these innovation efforts in terms of the broader CSR strategy of the company and its sustainability performance? What can we learn from business innovation platforms in terms of organization and entrepreneurship for sustainability? In order to answer these questions an action research method was used in which I reflect on my own experience of using the innovation platform from the Royal Dutch Shell Group (Shell) to develop sustainability innovations. Within this perspective, the notion of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is re-visited to highlight its potential to hinder or facilitate this process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Hierdie tesis ondersoek hoe verandering met innovasie te weeg gebring kan word deur gebruikmaking van huidige magstrukture om sodoende te beweeg na ’n meer volhoubare gemeenskap. Die verandering waarmee ons gemoeid is, is die transformasie van sosiale strukture, ekonomiese stelsels en instansies - wat natuurlike hulpbronne verminder - na stelsels van produksie, asook instellings en sosiale strukture wat regstel en produktief wisselwerk met lewenskragtige stelsels om sodoende hulle eie volhoubaarheid te verseker. Hierdie verandering kan geensins beperk word om die sosiale, omgewings en ekonomiese gevolge van die huidige stelsel aan te spreek nie, maar behoort die basiese beginsels van die gemeenskap se ontwerp en optrede te herdefinieer. Een van die sleutelspelers in die huidige stelsel is die Multinasionale Korporasies (‘MNCs’) wat oor die vermoë beskik om natuurlike hulpbronne, arbeid en geldelike kapitaal op globale skaal te mobiliseer. Om pro-aktief tot volhoubaarheid by te dra, moet die rol van die korporasie – volgens definisie – van so ’n aard wees dat hy in sy kern-sakebedrywighede innoverend optree om produkte en dienste te skep wat sal bydra om die huidige nie-volhoubare patrone binne die gemeenskap uit te skakel. Maar hoe doeltreffend is geteikende innovasie-platforms binne die Multinasionale Korporasies egter vir soverre dit die ontwerp en toepassing van betekenisvolle innovasies betref wat op volhoubaarheid gerig is? Hoe betekenisvol is dié pogings rondom innovasie gemeet teen die breër strategie van korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid van die maatskappy en sy volhoubaarheidsprestasie? Wat kan ons van innovasie-platforms van sakeondernemings met betrekking tot organisasie en entrepreneurskap - gerig op volhoubaarheid - wys word? Met die oog op die beantwoording van hierdie vrae, is ’n aksie-navorsingsmetode gebruilc, waarin ek besin oor my eie ondervinding met die gebruik van innovasieplatforms van die Royal Dutch Shell Group (Shell) om volhoubaarheidsinnovasies te ontwikkel. Binne hierdie perspektief word weer gekyk na die konsep van korporatiewe sosiale verantwoordelikheid om sodoende sy potensiaal om dié proses te kortwiek of te fasiliteer, uit te lig.