Business sustainability is all about serving the needs of one’s customers, clients, and stakeholders across the globe in a socially responsible and, thus, concomitantly an economic efficacious manner. Business is expected to achieve its core economic value in conformity with the values of morality and legality. That is, business must act in a profitable, legal, and moral manner. Today, moreover, above and beyond the responsibility to act legally and morally in the pursuit of profit is the notion of social responsibility, which typically is called “corporate social responsibility” (CSR). The law defines legal accountability; ethics determines moral accountability, but ascertaining the definition, nature, extent of, and rationales for the value of social responsibility emerges as an even more challenging task. This article provides a philosophical as well as practical review of social responsibility by explaining and illustrating the concept of social responsibility in the global business environment through a business sustainability continuum. Suggestions and recommendations for business leaders, managers, and their organizations are provided to achieve success in a legal, moral, and socially responsible manner.
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/frank-cavico/41/