Blog 8 : Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate Social Responsibility is the decision of an organization makes to become responsible in a social and environmental way in the economy.Indeed, it is a concept whereby companies decide voluntarily to contribute to a better society and a cleaner environment. "A concept whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations and in their interaction with the stakeholders on a voluntary basis." CSR includes looking at ethics and doing what is right socially and environmentally, which means that the business will have to consider its stakeholders like customers.

For example, Marks and Spencer have lauched an brand new system which is called : "The Plan A doing the Right Thing". Indeed, this new idea has been launched in January 2007 selling out 100 comittments to achieve in 5 years. Marks and Spencer demonstrates CSR by this plan, they have been taking part in fair-trade, being green by reducing waste from their stores and taking part to deuce climate change. They have also been giving customers advices on how to healthy meals and live a healthy lifestyle. Furthemore, they have been selling recycled reusable bags and each bag has been made from these bottles. However, this plan is a 5 years committment which Marks and Spencer need to satisfy their customers all along the years.



However, the benefits for Marks and Spencer for taking these initiatives are that they will appeal more customers by using reusables bag, and by preserve the environment, indeed, it will have an impact on their reputation of a company that is concerned about what is going on in the economy and in the environment whihc will make Marks and Spencers able to keep taking part in CSR as they will be able to support their further plans.




 Overall, we can see that Marks and Spencers is a good example of a company that is using CSR into action. This has been done by taking preventions of further action for the environment and they have made CSR part of the running of their business which has allowed them to continue selling their products and to appeal more customers with a better reputation.







References :

Johnson, G; Scholes,K; Whittington,R, (2005), Exploring Corporate Strategy, 7. Essex: Prentice Hall

Marks and Spencer Plan A [online]. Available from : http://plana.marksandspencer.com/about
[Accessed 4/05/12]

Marks and Spencer CSR [online]. Available from : http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/documents/publications/2005/2005_csr_report.pdf
[Accessed 4/05/12]