Research Methods Assessment 2007 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Research Methods appraisal 2007 - Essay ExampleThe responsibility of the corporate towards maintaining the sustainability of the environment, from which it draws resources, is also well highlighted by this concept. The concept took root when it was considered serious to introduce ethicism or ethics into problem and business activities, integrating measures for economic and social uplift and environmental sustainability for the benefit of the community and thereby society at large.The concept of corporate social responsibility has attracted a lot brickbats as well as a great deal of applause since the time it was begun to be introduced as a business policy whereby business admits were to go beyond their legal obligations and take measures with a mountain to developing the society and sustaining the environment. Advocates of the concept of corporate social responsibility develop been of the strong opinion that mental process with the large vision of the welfare of the community rather than the immediate profits would bring about larger economic benefits for the company in the long run. The critics, however, are of the opinion that the primary essential role of business is to make profits. They opine that social and environmental issues are not the concern of corporations but of the government and opposite related organizations, and trying to assume these tasks would tend to veer their course away from their ultimate goal of maximal profits, which would, again, unfavourably impact the fundamental functions of the corporation and hence its employees and the community.The concept of corporate social responsibility involves the internalization of ethical values into the functions and processes of a business, emphasising that economic gains need not necessarily be at the cost of ethics and values, and that non-economic social values can also be nurtured by a business house for the betterment of the community, the society and the environment. Examples are th e corporate environmental responsibility measures taken by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Lexmark to minimise environmental pollution caused directly and indirectly by their activities. PricewaterhouseCoopers (2008) efforts towards maintaining environmental sustainability include the reduction of total carbon emissions by buying energy from renewable sources, improving space efficiency so as to consume little amount of power, resorting to energy-saving measures, reducing air miles by upgrading phone and video conferencing facilities, etc. Lexmark (2008) designs its products as well as their packaging so as to cause minimum impact on the environment. They also have a collection program so as to facilitate recycling of the packaging.There are several factors that have evolved over the years and driven the business world to adopt the concept of corporate social responsibility, especially related to environmental issues, as a functional policy. One of the foremost among these is the growin g general awareness of the consumers of the serious impact of their increasing consumption on the society and the environment and its depleting resources globally. This has led to their positive flow towards commodities and services that are products of sustainable techniques that least, if at all, impair natural resources.