Lecture2.1

Question 1

What is corporate philanthropy?

Answer 1

Corporate philanthropy is the “voluntary contribution of money, time, service, or goods to social charitable causes,” originating from public affairs.

• Characteristics:
  
  • Does not influence company strategy or operations.
  • Examples:
    
    • Google donated $32M to develop solutions for inclusion.
    • Google increased donations to NGOs fighting racial inequality in 2020.
    • Google employees can donate time to social causes.

-> uncoordinated

Question 2

What is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)?

Answer 2

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to “voluntary activities that go beyond legal requirements and contribute to societal good.”

• Key points:
  
  • Originates from ethics.
  • Represents the moral responsibility of managers toward society and the environment.
  • Example:
    
    • BMW developed educational programs to teach children road safety.
  • CSR differs from philanthropy because society expects responsibility in specific areas (e.g., BMW and road safety).

-> more involvement

Question 3

What is corporate citizenship?

Answer 3

Corporate citizenship involves “the rights and duties of the firm in the community,” originating from political science.
Similar to individuals (e.g. man darf keine Gewalt ausüben)

• Features:
  
  • Includes civil, social, and political rights.
  • Corporations protect, facilitate, or enable citizens’ rights.
  • Example:
    
    • Ben & Jerry’s supports LGBT rights as part of their core values.
  • Compared to:
    
    • Philanthropy: More societal engagement required.
    • CSR: Focus on obligations, not just moral correctness.

-> more engagement between company and society

Question 4

How does corporate sustainability compare?

Answer 4

Corporate sustainability explains the connection between the economy, society, and environment from a managerial perspective.

• Essentials:
  
  • Originates from system thinking in natural science.
  • Focuses on societal well-being within planetary boundaries.

Question 5

From where do they originate?
Philanthropy
CSR
Corporate citizenship
Corporate sustainability

Answer 5

public affairs
ethics
political science
natural science