Soulful corporations: a value-based perspective on corporate social responsibility

Corporate debacles, financial and economic crises and environmental disasters in different parts of the globe over the last two decades are seen as indicators for a transformation in business conduct by scholars and practitioners alike. A need for corporate goals to move on from simply maximizing shareholder profit to optimizing stakeholder welfare is being echoed in various quarters. Upon this backdrop, this book shows how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be a means for global unity and universal welfare and how corporations, as associations of individuals, can identify their collective spirits in terms of environmentally aware, socially responsible and financially rewarding missions and goals. The book examines CSR from an altruistic viewpoint rather than as a strategic tool, where the quality of initiatives and the welfare they create are more important than the simple amount of work done. It traces the evolution of CSR in the Indian and international contexts, yet provides a unique approach to CSR based on Indian traditions, culture and value systems, which are universal in their appeal and timeless in their application. It includes several case studies on CSR and environmental best practices, covering both Indian and international companies that have moulded and influenced the corporate landscape.