Compare and
contrast the ideas of social obligation, social responsiveness, and social
responsibility.
Answer:
Social
obligation occurs when a firm engages in social actions because of its
obligation to meet its economic and legal responsibilities. The organization
does only what it is obligated to do and nothing more. This idea reflects the
classical view of social responsibility that says that management's only social
responsibility is to maximize profits.
In contrast
to social obligation, however, both social responsiveness and social
responsibility reflect the socioeconomic view. According to this view a
manager's social responsibilities go beyond making profits to include
protecting and improving society's welfare. This view is based on the belief
that corporations are not independent entities responsible only to
stockholders, but have an obligation to the larger society.
Social
responsiveness occurs when a company engages in social actions in response to some
popular social need. Managers are guided by social norms and values and make
practical, market-oriented decisions about their actions. A socially
responsible organization views things differently. It goes beyond what it is
obligated to do or chooses to do because of some popular social need and does
what it can to help improve society because it is the right thing to do.
Social
responsibility is defined as a business's intention, beyond its legal and
economic obligations, to do the right things and act in ways that are good for
society. A socially responsible organization does what is right because it
feels it has an ethical responsibility to do so.
Source: Management, 11e
(Robbins/Coulter)
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