Ethics, Power and Communities: Corporate Social Responsibility Revisited

Journal of Business Ethics · 2008 · Volume 78 · Issue 3

Abstract

Ally-building can be an ethical pursuit in developing sources of power for the business manager. The commitment to social responsibility is a source of power, as well as an ethical practice for corporate endeavors. Pfeffer promotes a business manager’s ability to develop effectiveness with ties to powerful others in anintra-organizational environment. This paper advances an analysis about how individuals in corporations may use aninter-organizational approach to developing sources of power through a notion of corporate social responsibility. As such, a more meaningful qualitative reciprocity between corporations and the communities in which they operate can be developed. And, this relationship develops a source of power for the individual involved in this effort. In other words, relationships with powerful others in the community could develop by revisiting CSR based on reciprocity and exchange of sustainability in a community, rather than on a notion of paternal responsibilitytosome particular construct in society.

Keywords

ally-building, communities, Corporate Social Responsibility, ethics, inter-organizational, reciprocity, Nissan, Starbucks, Pfeffer

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