Social Responsibility Vs. Business Ethics

 

In my last post I mentioned that social responsibility is a component in business ethics. These two terms are often used in conjunction with one another but I would like to take this time to explain an inherent difference that they possess.

Ethics are concerned with morals, values and principles. They involve what we personally believe to be right or wrong. In business, ethics means knowing what is right and wrong in the workplace. Social responsibility is one aspect of business ethics. Social responsibility has increased and will continue to do so because of increased public awareness and public opinions on the role of business both in Canada and globally.  These public expectations have lead to huge changes in business in recent years and will continue to promote ethical business practices, and reduce the effect businesses have on our environment.

The big difference, in my opinion, is that ethics are an action (based on your ethical behaviours) and Social responsibility is a reaction, meaning it is in response to a push from the public. Social responsibility may involve a strategic plan for the business. The reason this can be seen as strategic is because it can change the perceptions of the public about the company/business, or may be used to create a greater competitive advantage over companies in similar fields, which could lead to longer customer relationships and greater profits.

There is an article linked below that explains the strategic components of Corporate Social Responsibility.

http://mystrategicplan.com