ABSTRACT
The history of corporate social responsibility An organisation* is inevitably intertwined with the society† in which it operates and interacts willingly or otherwise with it. It will usually make some positive contributions to society. Organisations of all types may create employment and social environments, they may provide goods, services and information needed by their customers or service users, and they generally invest in communities by paying salaries to employees and taxes to governments. But they can also have negative impacts. The downsides might include environmental damage by polluting land, the air and water, poor workforce conditions resulting in injuries, disability or illness to workers, or unreasonable exploitation of people – for example very long hours, or employing children.
