The Evolution of CSR: An Integrated Approach

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been traditionally interpreted as the sum of practices, policies, and strategies linked with social and environmental benefits that corporations implement to serve multiple stakeholders’ interests simultaneously. The evolution of meanings and implications of traditional and contemporary interpretations of CSR, focuses on integrated CSR as a breakthrough approach to business, society, and environment. Several theories and trends that integrated CSR is rooted in are: stakeholder theory, ethics, value creation, and the increasing global call for sustainable growth and development, under both financial and ethical perspectives. Selected case studies will serve as empirical evidence of processes, practices, and strategic tools that can allow the integration of CSR into the company core business and will open avenues for further discussions and practical innovative developments in CSR strategy to both academics and practitioners.