Corporations have been blamed for so many problems in the world. Chief among these is air, land and water pollution. Mining firms and oil companies have also been blamed for vast, environmental degradation. Not only have they abused nature, but also they have abused people as well. To lower costs, they exploit impoverished workers in developing countries. Corporations clearly have a great influence on government, the entire community and even the environment. Unfortunately, this influence has been used in a bad way, mainly for the benefit of the corporations especially their owners and senior officers, leading to the abuse of populations and the environment.
Many of these problems could have been averted if corporations practiced a little more responsibility and restraint. Problems would not arise if precautionary measures have been undertaken.
Corporations will merely have to practice responsible good corporate citizenship. Mere existence of company as a legal entity automatically makes a company a legal, corporate citizen. It is not necessarily a good one especially in today’s globalized world. A company will need to practice global corporate citizenship or simply responsible corporate citizenship.
A key important characteristic of corporate citizenship that differentiates it from ordinary individual citizens is the exercise of social responsibility. Corporations should like all other citizens abide by the law and avoid all forms abuse of people and nature. There are many laws and international agreements today that force government to protect people and environment. Government will merely enforce the laws to force companies to conform and do good for the community. This is not sufficient though. Good corporate citizenship demands that corporations be proactive in extending their CSR practices to do more outreach and philanthropic work.
Maintaining good relationships with all stakeholders is an important aspect of good corporate citizenship: “Good corporate global citizenship involves building good relationships with stakeholders and that such citizenship is the very same thing as doing business well.” Dialogue and good conversation build good relationships. All stakeholders could thus respect each other and perform in a manner in which all sides are met.
Crittenden, et. al., suggests that corporations should integrate their business operations with social responsibility. It is not enough that corporations to set up and run foundations. They will breathe and live the ethics of social responsibility. In doing so, they avoid committing any abuse as they do their work.
References
Achbar, M., Simpson, B. (Producers), Bakan, J. (Writer), Achbar, M., & Abbott, J. (Directors). (2004). The Corporation [Motion Picture]. Canada: YouTube. Retrieved Aug 17, 2016, from https://www.amazon.com/Corporation-Jane-Akre/dp/B002ZVKL0G/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1470621087&sr=1-1&keywords=The+corporation
Crittenden, V. L., Crittenden, W. F., Pinney, C. C., & Pitt, L. F. (2011, Sep-Oct). Implementing Global Corporate Citizenship: An Integrated Business Framework. Business Horizons, 54(5), 447-455. doi:10.1016/j.bushor.2011.04.006
Dower, N. (2010, Jul 14). The Idea of Global Citizenship—A Sympathetic Assessment. Global Society, 14(4), 553-567. doi:10.1080/713669060
Stern, N. (2006). Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. London: London School of Economics. Retrieved Aug 17, 2016, from http://mudancasclimaticas.cptec.inpe.br/~rmclima/pdfs/destaques/sternreview_report_complete.pdf
Waddock, S. A., & Smith, N. (2000, Spring). Relationships: The Real Challenge of Corporate Global Citizenship. Business and Society Review, 105(1), 47-62. Retrieved Aug 17, 2016, from http://dlib.bc.edu/islandora/object/bc-ir:100103
