What is the Difference Between Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility

The main difference between social responsibility and corporate social responsibility is that corporate social responsibility concerns obligation of business companies to ensure their business benefit the society as well as the environment while social responsibility is the general way of a person(s) being responsible for the societal and environmental benefit. Hence, social responsibility, when applied to business, becomes corporate social responsibility.

Ethic and responsibilities are common to anyone, even in the business world. The business world is a diverse and a challenging world; however, there are specific ethics and rules that should be followed in order not to create any discrepancy for any party in the business as well as to the outside society. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) ensures that companies fulfill their social responsibility to the world.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Social Responsibility
– Definition, Characteristics
2. What is Corporate Social Responsibility
– Definition, Characteristics
3. What is the Relationship Between Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility
– Outline of Common Features
4. What is the Difference Between Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility
– Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Business ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, Ethics, Social Responsibility

Social responsibility is an individual’s or a social entity’s accountability and responsibility to maintain a certain behavior and to contribute to the development of society as a whole. Hence, in general, it means individuals and social entities such as societies, organizations, and companies have a duty to act in the best interests of their environments and society as a whole.

Therefore, social responsibility is an ethical framework social individual, and social entities as a whole can follow in order to ensure they act in a way to benefit society at large. Therefore, people can behave and engage in activities that do not harm society and the environment but improves the standards of both. These include, therefore, living in a peaceful way so that it does not harm other people in a society, and not contributing to destroying the environment, etc.

Moreover, scientists, researchers etc. should be accountable and responsible when performing experiments and other related activities. They have to make sure that they are not by creating negative consequences to humans or the ecosystem.

Social responsibility can happen in both passive and active way such as by avoiding engaging in socially and environmentally harmful acts (passive manner) and by performing activities that directly advance environmental sustainability (active manner).

Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR is the social responsibility of business corporations to ensure that their business does not harm but benefit the society and the surrounding environment. Hence, it is a self-regulating business model that assists a company to be socially responsible and accountable to the company itself, to its stakeholders and the general public as a whole.

Jen Boyton, the vice president of member engagement at 3BL Media corporation, explains CSR as “Corporate responsibility is simply a way for companies to take responsibility for the social and environmental impacts of their business operations.”

Likewise, to make CSR into action business companies use various CSR promoting activities such as philanthropy, and volunteer efforts, environmental conservation programmes (initiating green business policies), and ethical labor practices (treating employees fairly and ethically). By these corporate social responsibility actions, the companies help the society as well as boost their own image and market scope as well.

Moreover, by implementing the CSR in a company, a specific company can forge a strong bond between the employees, the stakeholders, the company CEOs as well as with its customers. Eventually, it will not only benefit the environment and society, but it will also increase company profits as well. Thus, undertaking socially responsible initiatives such as CSR activities is truly a win-win situation.

Corporate social responsibility is when a business company ensures its social responsibility to the society and its outside environment. Hence, CSR is a form of social responsibility but used in the specific corporate business world. Both are therefore ethical frameworks.
Also, the ultimate aim of both social responsibility and corporate social responsibility often overlap.

Definition

Social Responsibility refers to the duty of individuals and social entities such as societies, organizations, and companies to act in such a way to benefit their environments and society as a whole. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), on the other hand, refers to the social responsibility of the business corporations to ensure that their business processes do not harm, but benefit the society and the surrounding environment. Thus, this is the main difference between social responsibility and corporate social responsibility.

Usage

The term social responsibility is used in a general sense whereas when applied to the business world, it is known as corporate social responsibility. Therefore, the term corporate social responsibility is used exclusively in the business world and business jargon. Hence, this is also a difference between social responsibility and corporate social responsibility.

Aim

The aim of each contributes further to the difference between social responsibility and corporate social responsibility. The aim of social responsibility is to ensure that the individual or the social entity do not harm, but benefit the society as well as the environment while the aim of corporate social responsibility is also the same; however, in CSR the business company aims for their benefits as well.

People Involved

Moreover, another difference between social responsibility and corporate social responsibility is that while social responsibility involves an individual or a social entity, corporate social responsibility involves corporate business companies.

Conclusion

Social responsibility and corporate social responsibility are related terms. However, their application makes them distinguishable. Social responsibility, when applied to business, becomes corporate social responsibility. Thus, this is the main difference between social responsibility and corporate social responsibility.

Reference:

1. Caramela, Sammi. “What Is Corporate Social Responsibility?” Business News Daily, 8 June 2018, Available here.
2. Chen, James. “Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).” Investopedia, Investopedia, 11 Feb. 2019, Available here.
3. Caramela, Sammi. “What Is Corporate Social Responsibility?” Business News Daily, 8 June 2018, Available here.
4. “Social Responsibility.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Jan. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “480985” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “CSR framework – value1” By Touro – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
3. “9848Caloocan City Barangays Landmarks 49” By Judgefloro – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia