ABSTRACT

This chapter explores the importance and leading issues of business social responsibility (BSR). It defines and addresses key business ethics issues, and key corporate social responsibility issues. The chapter explains the importance of the concept of well-being and also the triple bottom line. It describes the organisational approaches to BSR. BSR addresses important issues concerning human rights, work place standards and environment concerns. Business activity is essential for the human well-being but needs to be conducted ethically in solidarity with society and the environment. The concept of the CSR Pyramid, proposed by Carroll, divides business obligations into four levels, explaining requirements of obligations in each level, as well as their importance. The four levels include economic responsibility, legal responsibility, ethical responsibilities and philanthropic responsibility. According to the New Economics Foundation (NEF) a successful society is one where business activity delivers high levels of sustainable well-being for all its citizens.