What is the Social Responsibility of Business?

Social responsibility is the business’s concerned for the welfare of the whole society (Nickels et al. 95). Sometimes the news reports a lot of information that pertains to the social issues or lack of social issues companies are facing. People’s view on companies may start to change and they may see those companies as having a negative impact on society. What a lot of people don’t know is that their view on the situation is at most times wrong. For example, there are companies that have a program which allows their employees to work for a non-profit organization for up to a year, while still receiving full salary benefits and job security. In a study conducted by a group called Students for Responsible Business two thirds of the students surveyed said they would take a lower paying job so that they may work for a socially responsible company. When the same students were asked to define a socially responsible company it was difficult for them to explain. It appeared that even those who wanted to be socially responsible can't agree or does not understand what it involved. In an article titled “Putting Customers Ahead of Investors” John Mackey argues that in order for a business to be successful they have to put their customers first (194). He believes that without the customers purchasing the product and creating a profit for the business, there would not be a business in the first place. Not all business owners have the same ethics of those of John Mackay. In an article titled “Put Profits First” T.J. Rodgers argues that putting customer first is good business (197). In his business world what is important making money. He believe that in making money his investors and shareholders will be able to profit while continuing to in...

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... it regardless of who pays for it. The trick for companies is to find the right public good that would appeal to the target market. Many American businesses are demanding social responsibility from their International suppliers by making sure the suppliers do not violate U.S. human rights and environmental standards (Daft and Marcic103-4).

Works Cited

Benton, Douglas, and Mary L. Tucker. Applied Human Relations: An Organizational and Skill Development Approach. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Prentice Hall, 1998. Print.

Daft, Richard L, and Dorothy Marcic. Understanding Management. Fort Worth: Harcourt

College Publishers, 2001. Print.

Nickels, William G, James M. McHugh, and Susan M. McHugh. Understanding Business. Boston, Mass: McGraw-Hill, 2002. Print.

Rottenberg, Annette T, and Donna H. Winchell. The Structure of Argument. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2012. Print.