Corporate Social Responsibility and Education
Introduction
Corporate social responsibility is defined as an aspect of business that enables it to extend its services to the community, environment, employees and consumers to no fee. Corporate social responsibility is meant to encourage and promote public interests and growth of the entire community as it eliminates any activity that is harmful to the entire society and in the process promotes well-being for all. Controversy has been part of the corporate social responsibility as most people believe that the issue is conducted as a way of increasing profits and market share. However, corporate social responsibility is used to enhance the relationship between consumers and their product providers hence instilling consumer loyalty, as well as, portraying the company’s stand regarding meeting the needs of society. Among the various ways through which companies have engage din corporate social responsibility include building schools for neighboring societies, as well as, ensuring that they take part in awareness campaigns and programs which will benefit the public.
Discussion
Efforts by companies and firms to ensure that they give back to the community for the support obtained in the form of being loyal to the products, as well as, services of the company. This relationship between the neighboring community and the firm led to increased urge by the firms to develop programs which would ensure that society benefited from the existence of the company. The most effective way through which the noble activity could have been carried out was through establishment of learning institutions fully sponsored by the company such that every expense incurred was catered for by the company (Carroll and Buchholtz, 2006).
Due to the huge disparities in public education system which have caused huge gaps in the provision of education to the entire learners, the corporate world saw this as an opportunity to prove their stand to society. These has ensured that discrepancies in the system are bridged by the offer which reduces problems such as shortage of teachers, few learning materials and lack of sufficient funds to cater for subsequent needs. Consequently, public awareness campaigns regarding public health and other issues that affect the entire society are conducted through the corporate social responsibilities dockets that fund the programs. Some often engage in all the details of creating awareness to the community members regarding educational matters (Carroll, 2006).
Generally the government always offers full support to the corporate companies which engage in social activities as it may be unable to offer individual assistance to all learners. However, by supporting the efforts of the corporate responsibility issues, most of the discrepancies in the institutions of learning are eliminated and the less fortunate are able to benefit from the development. Similarly, collaborations amongst various companies have been established such that duties are shared to ensure subsequent provision of services or items. In this case, one company can undertake to provide the building materials for the classrooms while another may carry out the actual construction at no cost especially if they are involved in the construction industry. Such collaborations are equally important for the continuity and successful completion of the corporate social responsibility as it will prove to the public that they are not only customers but part of the entire corporation(Carroll, 2006).
Consequently, use of the corporate responsibility issue to market specific brands is evident in the way through which companies use brand names on items of the projects such as on the walls of classrooms. This increases chances of the beneficiaries becoming loyal customers of the company products, as well as, ensuring that the brand name is popularized in the region (Carroll, 2006).
This has been an object of intense public controversy as the results of the corporate responsibilities are closely linked to those of politicians when campaigning for political posts. Politicians will always ensure that they engage in activities that will boost their public image so that they may gain more supporters. This is exhibited in increased social development projects, as well as, unveiling of programs that are aimed at uplifting the well-being of community members in specific regions prior to the political campaigns.
The other way through which companies engage in corporate social responsibility is via the internet and mass media to create awareness to the public on issues concerning their welfare. This includes funding programs and placing informative statements relating to their cause such as the need to exercise as a way of ensuring that individual health is maintained. Education to the public is often variant dependent on the target group for whom the information is intended such that parental and teenage programs cannot be the same (Carroll, 2006).
Conclusion
Corporate social responsibility though controversial is significant at ensuring that a company gives back to society part of their profits as a sign of goodwill. This equates to political strategies which make politicians endear themselves to the public through charitable projects. However, the collaborations different sectors of the economy and government have been fundamental in realization of these goals.
Reference
Carroll, A. and Buchholtz, A. (2006). Business and Society: Ethics and Stakeholder Management, 6th ed. Mason, OH: Thomson/South-Western.
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