The operations of South African SMMEs have significant environmental and social implications, and the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) practices in these companies is therefore of great value, both environmentally and socially. Implementation of practices of CSR is influenced by the stakeholders of a company and thus by the socio-economic and political context in which the company operates. This study examines the practice of CSR in manufacturing SMMEs in the Pietermaritzburg area, and how this practice is influenced by their stakeholders. This is done through semi-structured interviews with representatives from key local stakeholders and a sample of eight local manufacturing SMMEs. The study shows that manufacturing SMMEs in the Pietermaritzburg area have implemented a wide variety of CSR practices and that they are managing and interacting with their stakeholders in a sophisticated manner. The studied companies do in general have a limited understanding and narrow interpretation of CSR, and CSR is often confused with Corporate Social Investment (CSI) as it is described in the South African Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) scorecard. The companies do, however, practise CSR in a number of ways. The companies have implemented practices that address all of the CSR issues examined in this study: Labour issues, B-BBEE, HIV/AIDS, environmental issues and community outreach. The nature of, extent of, and motivation for these activities do, however, vary considerably. The results of the study reveal that the motivation for undertaking practices of CSR generally can be attributed to influence from the stakeholders of the examined companies. In this study the stakeholders were identified on the basis of a contextual analysis, and the stakeholder model of Donaldson and Preston was grouped into: Civil society stakeholders and communities, Government stakeholders, Stakeholders affiliated with the companies, and Business stakeholders. All groups of stakeholders were found to be exerting a significant influence on the CSR practices undertaken by the examined companies. The degree of influence varies amongst the different stakeholders and practices, and some of the CSR practices had been undertaken as a result of influence from several stakeholders. A few of the CSR practices undertaken by the interviewed SMMEs can be attributed to influence from the local key stakeholders that were interviewed in this study. It is also possible to find examples of companies implementing CSR practices as a result of local stakeholders combining their efforts. The study shows that SMMEs in the Pietermaritzburg area are responsive to their stakeholders and that the practice of CSR is greatly influenced by what the companies consider to be their stakeholders’ concerns. The interviewed local stakeholders have, however, only a limited influence on the SMMEs. It is therefore likely that the stakeholders can deepen the practice of CSR in local SMMEs by co-operating and thus increasing one or more of their stakeholder attributes: power, legitimacy, and urgency. The study has contributed to a greater understanding of the role of stakeholders in influencing CSR practice in South African SMMEs and has revealed important hints on how this influence can be strengthened and directed through government activities and other stakeholder alliances. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

With increased public environmental awareness and support for environmental protection, business success is becoming more dependant on environmental performance. Many large companies have acknowledged this and are engaged in corporate environmentalism to work towards the goal of ecological sustainability. The small business sector has an equally important role to play in sustainable development since their combined impact on the environment is significant. The extent to which the small business sector in South Africa has adopted a pro-environmental attitude however, has not been established. This research therefore attempts to ascertain the level of environmental awareness and practice within small business. To achieve this aim, a questionnaire was used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data from a sample population of small businesses in Edenvale, Gauteng. The sample population represented a variety of economic sectors. The quantitative data was analysed statistically by calculating the percentage of respondents or responses and by performing a test of proportions. The qualitative data was used to clarify the findings. The results suggested that the overall level of environmental awareness and practice within the small businesses was very low. Environmental issues were not considered to be a part of the business agenda as small business managers were unaware of the environmental impacts of their business activities. Moreover, there was a lack of both environmental pressures and information. The majority of the small businesses were therefore environmentally inactive. A small proportion of the businesses were environmentally reactive in that they had started to address environmental issues. This was however, only in response to environmental pressures and not through their own volition. Furthermore, unless subjected to environmental pressures or given incentives, the small businesses were not planning to integrate environmental practices into their business activities in the future. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

Alternative fuel types and technologies are increasingly being advocated for transportation needs to ameliorate concerns around energy security, climate change, and fuel cost. Each fuel type has unique advantages and disadvantages for cost structure and emissions. Meanwhile, corporate fleet customers are often making more sustainable choices of vehicle type due to public perception and other influencing factors. The sustainability of these vehicles can be viewed from a triple bottom line perspective of financial, environmental, and societal implications. However, there is currently a lack of organized knowledge that would allow a decision-maker to elect the appropriate vehicle type beyond lifecycle cost and carbon emissions. The simplification of the impact of fuel type choice disregards issues that are emerging in prominence around water consumption and public health. Water consumption is of particular importance to investigate as fuel types that have reduced carbon emissions are often more water intensive. This thesis develops a tool that examines these issues through modeling to provide a more holistic lifecycle view of a prospective fleet's impact. The choice of vehicle type then can be optimized by utility theory preference elicitation of the different customer desires. Various scenarios of corporate preference and fleet specifications are explored to provide case studies that exemplify the complexity of the decision process. Each potential scenario has its own characteristics that cannot be optimally fulfilled by an overarching fuel type but rather should be thoroughly examined individually to understand the true consequences.

The adoption of modernisation as the national development strategy has put Indonesian cities at the centre of development for boosting economic advancement. Occasionally, as those cities grow through processes of densification and agglomeration, some of the indigenous settlement (kampung) areas are put at risk of disappearing under corporate sector investments. However to some extent there is an indication that the kampung dwellers, the corporate-sector developers and those who are involved in the wider activities of the corporate sector, have an economic and social symbiotic relationship. The aim of this research is to identify the processes of change in a low-income inner city neighbourhood’s community system, in an area that is being encroached upon by modern business activities and other aspect of modernity, to explore shifts between conventionally understood roles of the kampungs, and to speculate on present theory in throwing light on processes of change which might be able to lead to new paths for urban development. The research approach is to work through the relevant literature, and then to move on to a case study approach in an Indonesian city, through which it will be possible to reflect back on the efficacy of prevailing theory. Surabaya was chosen as a representative city and kampung Kaliasin as the observed area.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaf 201-203) and index.

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy, Dept. of Sociology 2009. / "October 2008" Bibliography: leaves 273-293.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Genf, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. xv-xxiv).

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The thesis investigates the gap between rhetoric and reality in how organisations use Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for marketing and brand differentiation. The rhetoric reality gap is the gap that develops between what organisations say they do and what they actually do. In terms of CSR, this gap is present as the phenomenon of greenwashing, whereby organisations embellish claims about their social and environmental activities. This leads to sceptical consumers and the discrediting of CSR activities in general. Left unmanaged, the gap presents significant reputation risk. However, the identification of the gap also has the potential for driving the organisation towards more responsible business practices. Previous research focused almost exclusively on organisations' CSR activities and the resultant outcomes and not on the views and judgments about CSR found inside organisations. A shift in focus towards the organisational sensemaking around CSR may better explain the dynamics of the rhetoric and reality gap. Basu and Palazzo's process model of sensemaking for the study of CSR, describes the cognitive, linguistic and conative aspects of sensemaking along seven dimensions to produce a CSR profile of organisations. The thesis uses Basu and Palazzo's model to study CSR in the food retail sector. Comparative case studies were undertaken in three of the largest retailers in South Africa in which various people involved with CSR were interviewed after Basu and Palazzo's (2008) model was operationalised. Thereafter a content analysis of the observed outcomes of organisations' CSR activities was undertaken. The observed outcomes were produced by analysing the organisations advertising strategy, website, use of social media, awards won, integrated reports and media reporting. Combining the content analysis with an analysis of the interviews produced a CSR profile for each of the cases which served as the basis for comparison. It was found that the rhetoric and reality gap of the organisations involved in this study could be explained by the organisations’ CSR profiles. The implications for the management of the rhetoric and reality gap varied between organisations. The success of the classification of the case studies meant that Basu and Palazzo’s model is able to produce a CSR profile for an organisation which can be linked to the observed CSR outcomes. In addition particular CSR profiles can explain the origins of specific rhetoric and reality gaps and how best to manage it. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die tesis ondersoek die retoriek en realiteitsgaping wat ontstaan uit organisasies se Korporatiewe Sosiale Verantwoordelikheidsinisiatiewe (KSV). Die retoriek en realitietsgaping is 'n verskil tussen wat organisasies sê hulle doen en wat hulle werklik doen. In terme van KSV is die gaping teenwoordig as die fenomeen van "greenwashing", waar organisasies hulle bydraes tot sosiale en omgewingsake oordryf. Dit lei tot skeptiese verbruikers en maak KSV-aktiwiteite verdag in die algemeen. As hierdie gaping nie bestuur word nie, kan dit bydra tot merkbare reputasie risiko vir organisasies. Die gaping is nie net 'n risiko nie, maar het ook die potensiaal om organisasies na meer verantwoordelike besigheidspraktyk te dryf. Vorige navorsing oor KSV fokus op organisasies se KSV-aktiwiteite en die uitkomste daarvan en nie op die sienings en oordele oor KSV binne organisasies self nie. Organisatoriese singewingsteorie verskuif die fokus na hoe organisasies sin maak oor KSV en kan die aard van die retoriek en realiteitsgaping beter beskryf as hoofstroom navorsing. Basu en Palazzo (2008) se proses-model van singewing vir die studie van KSV beskryf die kognitiewe, taal en konnatiewe aspekte van singewing oor sewe dimensies om 'n KSV-profiel van organisasies te ontwikkel. In die tesis word Basu en Palazzo se model geoperasionaliseer om KSV in die Suid-Afrikaanse voedsel kleinhandelsektor te bestudeer. Vergelykende gevallestudies is onder drie van die vier grootste kleinhandelaars in Suid-Afrika onderneem waartydens onderhoude met sleutelpersone betrokke by KSV gevoer is. Daarna is 'n inhoudsanalise van die waargenome KSV-uitkomste in elke geval onderneem. Hierdie uitkomste is die resultaat van 'n analise van advertensie-strategieë, webblaaie, gebruik van sosiale media, toekennings, geïntegreerde verslagdoening en media-dekking. Die KSV-profiel is saamgestel deur die inhoudsanalise met die analise van die onderhoude te kombineer. Daar is gevind dat die retoriek en realiteitsgaping van die betrokke organisasies deur die KSV-profiele verduidelik kan word. Die implikasies vir die bestuur van die gaping het gevarieer tussen die drie organisasies. Die sukses van die klassifikasie van die gevallestudies beteken dat Basu en Palazzo se model 'n KSV-profiel kan produseer wat met waargenome KSV-uitkomste verband hou. Verder kan spesifieke KSV-profiele die oorsprong van spesifieke gapings verduidelik en beginpunte bied vir die bestuur daarvan.

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)

One of the main aims of the underlying research is to respond to continuous calls for introducing and measuring a sound economic definition for best practice disclosure quality (e.g. Beyer et al., 2010) that is derived from a reliable guidance framework (Botosan, 2004) using an innovative natural language processing technique (Berger, 2011). It also aims to examine the impact of corporate governance on best practice disclosure quality. Finally, it aims to examine the joint effect of both best practice disclosure quality and corporate governance on firm value. The thesis contributes to disclosure studies in three principal ways. First, it introduces a new measure for best practice disclosure quality. Further tests show that the proposed measure is reliable and valid. A novel feature of this measure is that it captures all qualitative dimensions of information issued by the Accounting Standards Board, 2006 (ASB) Operating and Financial Review (OFR) Reporting Statement. Second, it uses machine-readable OFR statements for financial years ending in 2006-2009, and develops a language processing technique through constructing five keyword lists. Third, it examines the extent to which disclosure quantity provides a proper proxy for disclosure quality. The analysis shows that disclosure quantity is not a good proxy for disclosure quality. Accordingly, results derived, using quantity as a proxy for quality, are questionable. Results of the association between disclosure quality and corporate governance mechanisms suggest that the most effective governance mechanisms in improving disclosure quality are leadership structure, audit committee meeting frequency, and audit firm size. Using a wide set of corporate governance mechanisms, the study also contributes to three research strands and explains the inconclusive results in relation to the association between disclosure quality, corporate governance mechanisms and firm value. It provides empirical evidence as to which governance mechanisms promote the quality of voluntarily disclosed information in large UK firms. Additionally, it provides empirical evidence as to the joint effect of best practice disclosure quality, corporate governance mechanisms on firm value in the UK. Results also show that best practice disclosure quality enjoys a substitutive relationship with two corporate governance mechanisms (audit committee independence and audit committee size) and a complementary association with board independence in relation to firm value. The study has various research and policy implications. It suggests new research avenues for re-examining disclosure relationships, especially research areas that do not have persuasive conclusions such as the economic consequences of disclosure quality. Such research may inform both regulators and managers as to the costs and benefits of disclosure quality to both firms and stakeholders. It also provides feedback on the current disclosure practices by firms so that policy-makers can modify reporting frameworks/guidance accordingly.