The power of the fish is in the water
Abstract
Every organisation (‘the fish’) is embedded in a certain setting (‘the water’). These metaphors imply a highly reciprocal, interdependent relationship between the organisation and its setting. The purpose of my article is to explore the utility of the conceptual distinction drawn by Aguinis and Glavas (2013) between Embedded and Peripheral Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as applied from an emerging countries (ECs) perspective. Firstly, I elucidate unique EC organisational/people features. Secondly, I highlight the implications of these features for CSR. Finally, I address ‘contextually fit’ CSR, arguing that Embedded CSR is the sole imperative for organisations in ECs, but as an active, societal transformation partner.Every organisation (‘the fish’) is embedded in a certain setting (‘the water’). These metaphors imply a highly reciprocal, interdependent relationship between the organisation and its setting. The purpose of my article is to explore the utility of the conceptual distinction drawn by Aguinis and Glavas (2013) between Embedded and Peripheral Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as applied from an emerging countries (ECs) perspective. Firstly, I elucidate unique EC organisational/people features. Secondly, I highlight the implications of these features for CSR. Finally, I address ‘contextually fit’ CSR, arguing that Embedded CSR is the sole imperative for organisations in ECs, but as an active, societal transformation partner.Downloads
References
AÆländer, M. S. 2011. Corporate social responsibility as subsidiary co-responsibility: A macroeconomic perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 99, 115-128.
Aguinis, H. 2011. Organisational responsibility: Doing good and doing well. In S. Zeldeck (Editor-in-Chief). APA Handbook of Industrial and Organisational Psychology. Vol 3: Maintaining, expanding and contracting the organisation. Washington: American Psychological Association, 855-879.
Aguinis, H. and Glavas, A. 2013. Embedded versus peripheral social responsibility: Psychological foundations. Industrial and Organisational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, 6(4), 314-332.
Agbakoba, J. C. 2004. Transitional African political thought and the crises of governance in contemporary African societies. Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, Spring, 7, 137-154.
Basu, K. and Palazzo, G. 2008. Corporate social responsibility: a process of sensemaking. Academy of Management, 33(1), 122-136.
Benedict, O. H. and Ukpere, W. I. 2012. Brain drain and African development: Any possible gain from the drain? African Journal of Business Management, 6 (7), 22 February 2012, 2421-2428. DOI: 10.5897/AJBM11.2385. Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBM.
Bernstein, A. 2010. The case for business in developing countries. Johannesburg: Penguin Books.
Blas, J & England, A. 2014. Investors keep an eye on the big picture in Africa. Business Times in Sunday Times, 28 December 2014, 24.
Broomes, V. 2013. Enhancing impact of CSR on economic development and livelihoods in developing countries. In K. Haynes, A. Murray and J. Dillard (Eds.). 2013. Corporate social responsibility. A research handbook. New York: Routledge.
Büchner, L. M. 2012. Corporate social responsibility and sustainability from a global, European and corporate perspective. Corporate social responsibility and sustainable governance, Spring, 13, 41-55.
Burke, L. & Logsdon, J. M. 2012. How corporate social responsibility pays off. In Gond, J-P. & Moon, J. (Eds.) 2012. Corporate social responsibility. Critical perspectives on business and management (Vol II). London: Routledge, 303-314.
Chandler, D. and Werther, W. B. 2014. Strategic corporate social responsibility. Los Angeles: Sage.
Chironga, M., Leke, A., Lund, S. and Van Wamelen, A. 2011. Cracking the next growth market: Africa. Harvard Business Review, May, 177-122.
Chitakornkijsil, P. 2012. Business performing social responsibility activities and corporate social responsibility issues. International Journal of Organisational Innovation, 5(1), 309-323.
Delios, A. 2010. How can organisations be competitive but dare to care? Academy of Management Perspectives, 24(3), 25-36.
Dobers, P. & Halme, M. 2012. Corporate social responsibility and developing countries. In Gond, J-P. & Moon, J. (Eds.) 2012. Corporate social responsibility. Critical perspectives on business and management (Vol III). London: Routledge, 174-193.
Doh, J. P., Smith, R. R., Stumpf, S. A., Tymon, W. G. and Walter G. 2011. Pride and professionals: Retaining talent in emerging economies. Journal of Business Strategy, 32 (5), 35-42.
Donaldson, T. & Preston, L. E. 2012. The stakeholder theory of the corporation: concepts, evidence, and implications. In Gond, J-P. & Moon, J. (Eds.) 2012. Corporate social responsibility. Critical perspectives on business and management (Volume II). London: Routledge, 16-42.
Ernst & Young. 2009. Global trends 2009. Cleveland: EYGM Ltd.
Frankl, V. E. 1992. Man’s search for meaning: An introduction to logotherapy. Boston, MA: Beacon Press (original work published in 1946).
Fisher, J. and Grant, B. 2012. Beyond corporate social responsibility: Public value and the business of politics. International Journal of Business and Management, 7(7), 2-14.
Freeman, R. E. 2012. A stakeholder theory of the modern corporation. In Gond, J-P. & Moon, J. (Eds.) 2012. Corporate social responsibility. Critical perspectives on business and management (Volume II). London: Routledge, 3-15.
Ganescu, M. C. 2012. Corporate social responsibility: A strategy to create and consolidate sustainable businesses. Theoretical and Applied Economics, xix, 11(576), 91-106.
Geldenhuys, C. A. and Veldsman, T. H. 2010. A change navigation-based, scenario planning process within a developing world context from an Afro-centric leadership perspective. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 9(1). DOI:10.4102/sajhrm.v9i1.265.
Gond, J-P. & Moon, J. 2012. Introduction. Corporate social responsibility in retrospect and prospect. In Gond, J-P. & Moon, J. (Eds.) 2012. Corporate social responsibility. Critical perspectives on business and management (Volume I). London: Routledge, 1-22.
Graafland, J., Mazereeuw, C., and Van der Duijn, S. 2012. Motives for corporate social responsibility. De Economist, 160, 377-396.
Guillén, M. & GarcÃa-Canal, E. 2013. Emerging markets rule. Growth strategies of the new global giants. New York: McGraw- Hill.
Ho, F. N., Wang, H. D., and Vitell, S. J. 2012. A global analysis of corporate social performance: The effects of cultural and geographical environments. Journal of Business Ethics, 107, 423-433. DOI 10.1007/s10551-100-1047-y.
Iheriohanma, E. B. J. 2011. Capacity building, leadership question and drains of corruption in Africa: A theoretical discourse. Asian Social Science, 7(3), March 2011, 131-138.
IBM Global Business Services. 2008. The enterprise of the future. IBM global CEO study. Somers, NY: IBM.
Kaplan, R. S. and Norton, D. P. 1992. The balanced scorecard – measures that drive performance. Harvard Business Review, January-February 1992, 71-79.
Kitzmueller, M. and Shimshack, J. 2012. Economic perspectives on corporate social responsibility. Journal of Economic Literature, 50(1), 51-84.
Matthews, M. 2014. Social investment must be real. Business Day, 18 July 2014.
Mitchell, R. K, Agle, B. R., and Wood, D. J. 2012. Towards a theory of stakeholder identification and salience: defining the principle of who and what really counts. In Gond, J-P. & Moon, J. (Eds.) 2012. Corporate social responsibility. Critical perspectives on business and management (Volume II). London: Routledge, 43-78.
Moghalu, K. D. 2014. Emerging Africa. How the global economy’s ‘last frontier’ can proposer and matter. London: Penguin Books.
Okoye, A. 2012. Exploring the relationship between corporate social responsibility, law and development in an African context. Should government be responsible for ensuring corporate responsibility? International Journal of Law and Management, 54(5), 364-378.
Perlmutter, H. 1969. The tortuous evolution of the multi-national corporation. Columbia Journal of World Business, January/ February 1969, 9-18.
Pless, N. M., Maak, T., and Waldman, D. A. 2012. Different approaches toward doing the right thing: Mapping the responsibility orientations of leaders. Academy of Management Perspectives, 26(4), 51-65.
Prasertsang, S., Ussahawanitchakit, P., and Jhundra-indra, P. (2012). Corporate social responsibility effectiveness, firm competitiveness, business successes and corporate sustainability: An empirical investigation of ISO 14000 businesses in Thailand. International Journal of Business Strategy, 12(4), 137-164.
Rajak, D. 2011. In good company. An anatomy of corporate social responsibility. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Ragan, K. Chase, L., and Karim, S. 2015. The truth about CSR. Harvard Business Review. January-February 2015. 40-49.
Ready, D. A., Hill, L. A., and Conger, J. A. 2008. Winning the race for talent in emerging markets. Harvard Business Review, November 2008, 2-10.
Sachs, J. 2011. The price of civilization. Economics and ethics after the fall. London: The Bodley Head.
Schwartz, J. and DiMarzio, M. 2011. Human capital trends 2011. Revolution/Evolution. Deloitte Consulting LLP.
Shah, J. I. 2011. Brain drain: Why people leave their motherland? (Implications for the developed and developing economies). Journal of Managerial Sciences, v(1), 63-74.
Smit, F. 2011. Mirror image of the world. SA follows trends, but can it overcome the challenges? (title translated from Afrikaans), Beeld, 12 July 2011, 13.
Stone, D. L., Canedo, J. C., and Tzafrir, S. 2013. The symbiotic relation between organisations and society. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 28(5), 432-451.
Strand, R. 2013. The Chief Officer of Corporate Social Responsibility: a study of its presence in top management teams. Journal of Business Ethics, 112, 721-734.
The Economist. 2010. Special report: The world turned upside down, 17 April 2010.
The Economist. 2011. Briefing. Africa’s hopeful economies, 3 December 2011, 68-70.
The Economist. 2008. Just good business: a survey of corporate social responsibility, 19 January 20018.
Thirlwall, A. P. 2011. Economics of development. Theory and evidence. Houndsmills: Palgrave Macmillian.
Thite, M., Wilkinson, A., and Shah, D. 2012. Internationalization and HRM strategies across subsidiaries in multinational corporations from emerging economies—A conceptual framework. Journal of World Business, 47, 251-258.
Ukpere, W. I. 2011. Globalisation and the challenges of unemployment, income inequality and poverty in Africa. African Journal of Business Management, 5(15), 6072-6084.
Van Marrewijk, M. and Hardjono, T. W. 2003. European corporate sustainability framework for managing complexity and corporate transformation. Journal of Business Ethics, 44, 121-132.
Van Zyl, A. 2010. Emerging countries “are the centre of future economic growth†(title translated from Afrikaans). Sakebeeld, 4 June 2010.
Veldsman, T. H. 2008. People management in the new order. In pursuit of leading world class practices (Part 1). Management Today, 24(8), 56-60.
Veldsman, T. H. 2013. People professionals fit for emerging economies. In S. Bluen (Ed.). Talent management in emerging markets. Johannesburg: Knowres, 179-202.
Visser, W. 2011. The age of responsibility. CSR 2.0 and the new DNA of business. Chichester: John Wiley.
This journal is an open access journal, and the authors and journal should be properly acknowledged, when works are cited.
Authors may use the publisher's version for teaching purposes, in books, theses, dissertations, conferences and conference papers.
A copy of the authors’ publisher's version may also be hosted on the following websites:
- Non-commercial personal homepage or blog.
- Institutional webpage.
- Authors Institutional Repository.
The following notice should accompany such a posting on the website: “This is an electronic version of an article published in the African Journal of Business Ethics, Volume XXX, number XXX, pages XXX–XXX”, DOI. Authors should also supply a hyperlink to the original paper or indicate where the original paper (http://ajobe.journals.ac.za/pub) may be found.
The following Creative Commons license applies:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
