Many companies now have well-publicized "Corporate Statements of Social Responsibility," "Codes of Ethics," and even positions with a title such as Ethics Officer. Baron (2010, p. 724) cites two factors contributing to the spread of statements of social responsibility:
What does this mean, exactly, a "corporate statement of responsibility?" The International Standards Organization (ISO) has set forth a voluntary standard for social responsibility in an international setting. The figure below illustrates the content addressed in the standard, including seven core subjects of social responsibility: organizational governance, human rights, labour practices, the environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, and community involvement and development.
Visit the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) [3]
Read the landing page, then click on the "Standards" tab, then reread the page and watch the short video, "What ISO standards do for you." (transcript of video [4])
Read the page ISO 26000 - Social Responsibility [5] (transcript of Social Responsibility video [6]) (not required, but watch video if you have 47 seconds!)
On this same page, click the link to "ISO 26000:2010 Guidance on Social Responsibility." Click on the Abstract Preview and read the first few paragraphs of "Introduction" closely (you can stop at Box 1), and scan the remainder.