1. Obstructive
Perhaps the most deceitful approach to social responsibility is obstructive. Obstruct means to block or get in the way, so an obstructive stance blocks out its social responsibilities. It's more concerned with profits. Obstructive companies are known to pollute, deceive customers, and even exploit their own employees. Hope has decided that she does not want her business viewed in a negative manner and values the society that has helped her achieve success. Therefore, she will not be taking an obstructive approach.
2. Defensive
This type of approach isn't as appalling as obstructive, but a company taking a defensive approach could certainly do better at meeting its social responsibility. A company that uses a defensive approach is sure to follow the law so that legal action can't be taken against it, but the main focus is on profits. For example, if Hope's company threw away an abundance of fabric that could be used for other products, but made sure to dump it legally at the landfill instead of dumping it on the side of the road, it would be taking a defensive approach.
3. Accommodating
This is where we transition from a company more consumed by profits to a company that believes that social responsibility should be a priority. Those companies that take an accommodating approach abide by legal requirements and are ethical at the same time. This means they are open to sharing facts and they don't try to hide things from the public. Those companies that fall within this approach may even participate in social programs should they be convinced that the programs are important. Companies taking an accommodating approach may pay fair wages and avoid testing on animals. After reading about the accommodating approach, Hope feels this could be a great choice for her business. She cares about her employees and pays them fairly, and understands the importance of remaining an ethical business in the community.
4. Proactive
This too is an approach that values and makes social responsibility a priority. This is the approach in which a company takes steps to act before a situation occurs. Ethical practices are important to those companies in this category, and they avoid harm to the society, environment, and employees at all times. These companies want to help out society and look for opportunities to contribute, such as donating to charities and promoting environmental health, like recycling. While Hope feels her company currently falls within the accommodating approach, she hopes to make more of an effort to contributing to environmental causes in her community. She also hopes to find a way to donate to charitable organizations with the goal of becoming a proactive company in the near future.
Lesson Summary
Let's take a couple of moments to review what we've learned here.
Social responsibility is the thought that a company should create and maintain relationships with society and place importance on the environment. Those companies that are most socially responsible put society concerns over profits. The way a company operates, and the practices they employ, place them into one of four categories. Those categories are as follows:
- Obstructive, in which a company blocks out its social responsibilities; it's more concerned with profits
- Defensive, in which a company is sure to follow the law so that legal action can't be taken against it, but the main focus is on profits
- Accommodating, in which a company believes that social responsibility should be a priority
- Proactive, in which a company takes steps to act before a situation occurs
