LANDMARKS IN THE EVOLUTION OF THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF ORGANIZATIONS IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

• Main Authors: SORIN-GEORGE TOMA, COSTEL STANCIU, EUGEN IRIMIA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nicolae Titulescu University Publishing House 2011-04-01
• Series: Challenges of the Knowledge Society
• Subjects: social responsibility; corporate social responsibility; corporations; organizations; stakeholders
• Online Access: http://cks.univnt.ro/uploads/cks_2011_articles/index.php?dir=02_economy%2F&download=cks_2011_economy_art_055.pdf

The social responsibility of organizations concept has become the subject of considerable researches, debates and commentaries especially in the second half of the last century. According to ethical principles organizations and individuals have the obligation to act in the benefit of society at large. Consequently, the social responsibility of a business is related to its duties and obligations directed towards the social welfare. The role of corporations in society and the issue of corporate social responsibility have been increasingly debated in the last century. Based on a literature review our paper seeks to describe and summarize some of the main contributions to the development of the social responsibility of organizations. The aims of our paper are to explore the evolution of the social responsibility of organization concept in the last century and to emphasize its various approaches, mostly in the business field. This historical trace identifies both similarities and differences related to social responsibility themes.