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Corporate Responsibility in a Learning and Innovation Perspective
The
traditional view of CSR is based on a reactive approach to external
regulations and pressure, applying them using pre-established change
processes, disregarding context and putting little or no leverage on
diversity. This approach has little impact because it generates a weak
commitment as a result of weak attitudinal change, opportunities for
innovation are dismissed and formal compliance processes dominate.
CSR can also be considered as a
proactive business strategy and therefore can be approached from a
learning and innovation perspective. Accordingly, research could
further clarify the routes available for corporations that are striving
to instil social responsibility in their agendas through a voluntary
approach.
Research could indicate whether or not such an approach
would build consistent commitment that shows in practice, aligning
people within a culture of complexity, providing meaning to task and
stimulating innovation. If so, a voluntary approach toward corporate
citizenship implicitly demands corporations as social actors that are
co-responsible for its governance.
Detailed case studies on
corporations that have decided to adopt a socially responsible
perspective could further support such a hypothesis. Collaboration
could take two forms - through action research projects and by
providing access to detailed data collection with a view to producing
significant case studies.
Finally, such research could generate a
transcending benchmarking on barriers and catalysts to CSR, within a
corporate approach that reinforces identity and ownership and promotes
creativity.
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