IMPACT OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON BUSINESS

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background Of The Study

In the early 1930s, the mission of business was primary economic. But within the past four decades, here have been pronounced. Changes in the view of the many business managers and marketers about their social responsibilities, which have paralleled and reflected the changing priories and expectations of society about business society functions, this is because business relies on the society for its existence. In the view of this, the inter-relationship between organizations and their environment has become interestingly important. As a result, organizations especially in the business sectors are no longer viewed as private endeavors that are free to pursue their own ends as long as they do not break ant law. Instead, their actions are seen as having public consequences that go beyond serving the customers and paying returns to owners.

The outcome of this notion is raising public flamour for social responsibilities on the part of the business as well as other social organizations. But the decision makers have the task of knowing what to do to meet the demands of various dormant of social responsibilities. All these claims have made the issue of social responsibilities a great concern to business. Social responsibilities are essentially concerned with public interest. It is the intelligent and objective concern for the welfare of the society which restraints individual and corporate bodies from ultimately destructive activities no matter how immediately profitable and which equally leads to direction of possible contributions towards human betterment.

The idea of social responsibilities recognizes that person is attached to an extended social system in which he or she is part dependent. Consequently, certain obligations or social responsibility arise from this attachment. Business owners should also consider the needs and interest of others that might be affected by the actions.

Public needs have changes likewise their expectations from firms. Society gave business its charter to exist and the charter can be amended or resolved at any time if business fails to live up to the society expectations and needs.

The creation of better social environment benefits both society and business. The society gains through better neighborhoods and employment opportunities. Cleaner and safer neighborhoods on the other hand means a more stable community in which to operate fewer unemployed persons reduce the chance of social unrest. Educated members of the community provide a more attractive labour-pool from where to draw personnel.

People live in societies because of they must be human being today who is part and parcel of the society organization and is utterly dependent on it. Human social makes possible the production and distribution of a goods and services. Business can only exist within an organized society when people are totally self sufficient, the concept of business organization of society than makes it possible for people to engage in the business activities.

In return, those in business must make contribution in the society that sustains their existence, that is, business owners have obligation to the society in which they operate and responsibilities to other who live in society with them.

Drucker (1970:10) suggests to major ways by which the demand for social responsibilities arise. In the first place, it arises from the social impacts of business organization. In other words, the negative consequence of business like rapid urbanization and rural-urban drift, traffic hold-ups, environmental pollutions, deceptive advertising, defective products offered for sale, tax evasion and avoidance, all create disenchantment and demand for more socially responsible behavior.

Secondly, social responsibilities also arise from the problems of society itself including failing standard of living, illiteracy, poor infrastructures facilities and social amenities and the growing disenchantment with government and its inability to solve major social problems. Hence, the society has come to expect business with their successful operations to solve major part of these problems by developing effective social responsibility objectives and strategies.

The business system is made up of internal and external components communities, the schools, the churches, customers, government, share holders and suppliers are all members of the external components and the business organization depends on all of them for survival.

Hence, they owe some obligations in the way of discharging certain social responsibilities to them. Similarly within the internal components of the business system and found the employees, the management and other social organizations. They equally demand that they should reap from the surplus generated by the organization in which they have given their best.

1.2 Statement Of The Problem

This study entitled “impact of social responsibility on business” attempts to determine how an organization such as Unilever Plc Lagos fulfils its obligations to the necessary stakeholders can serve as a strategy for carrying out effective business activity peaceably. Most times, all the claims made by the various stakeholders are too much on the organizations, in that the organizations cannot solve all society’s problems with their limited resources, yet they are expected to get actively involved in getting them solved. In trying to assuage the load, not most organizations indulged in some unethical acts which most times back fire at them. In the ease of organization’s social responsibilities to the government which include payment of taxes and other financial obligations.

Business considers expensive, the bribe government officials in order to circumvent them and such movies cannot be accounted for. But in the long run, when their accounts will be avoided, those organization will still be seen as owing.

Furthermore, more organization site their companies in approved areas there by pouting residential areas which are not meant for organization. Therefore the researcher intended to find a solution to the above mentioned problems

1.3 Objectives Of The Study

The primary purpose of this study is to determine and identify the impact of social responsibility on business such as the Unilever Plc Lagos.

In more specific terms, other purpose include:

1. To ascertain whether fulfillment of social responsibility can contribute to business survival.
2. To determine the modalities adopted by Unilever to its environment.
3. To ascertain advantages derived from the fulfillment of social responsibilities to the environment.
4. To determine the various ways by which organization can carryout their social responsibilities to the environment.
5. To ascertain adverse effects on non-fulfillment of social responsibilities.
6. To proffer solution to problem area where deficiently in the fulfillment of social responsibilities dominates and also proffer ideas that will help Unilever Plc in fulfilling its social responsibilities to its various stakeholders.

1.4 Research Questions

1. To what extent does the fulfillment of social responsibility can contribute to business survival?
2. What are the advantages derived from the fulfillment of social responsibility?
3. What are the adverse effects on non-fulfillment of social responsibility?
4. What are the importance and advantages derived from the fulfillment of social responsibilities to the environment?
5. What are ways by which organization carryout their social responsibilities to the environment?
6. What is social responsibilities regarded as a business of survival strategy?

1.5 Scope Of The Study

This study titled “The role of social responsibility on the survival of business organization in Nigeria is restructured only to staff of unilever Nigeria plc with a particular reference to Lagos branch.

Also investigating the role of social responsibility on the survival of business organization in Nigeria, the researcher shall limit herself to corporate organization.

1.6 Limitations Of The Study

Notwithstanding the areas of the study covered during the research, the study was greatly affected by certain constraints which because unavoidable within the time limit.

Time Constraint:

The researcher was constrained by the time limit. This posed a threat to the successful coverage intending in the course of this study.

Cost Factor:

It is not unusual that the prevailing economic predicaments posed to great extent are problems in procuring the whole materials or information needed other than relevant statistical data. However, the researcher was above the scale through the hurdle in availing himself of the relevant data constraint herein.

In-spite of the foregoing limitation associated with this study, the project was well conceived and concluded to serve the purpose for which is intended.

1.7 Significance Of The Study

The purpose of this work has greatly been outplayed. This work greatly shows that the role of social responsibility on the survival of business organization as the economic situation in the world has necessitated the need to explore the influence of business environment on the survival of business organization.

Consequently, upon this, also is the proliferation of business without adequate feasibility studied which will guarantee uninitiated production and liquidity ratio and capital. This study will be beneficial to business organization as it gives numerous reasons why feasibility studies should be conducted in order to establish the organization to be sited to ensure survival of business in a competitive market.

The study will also assist potential business investors on the role of social responsibility on the survival of business organization, its basic issues of how to effectively and efficiently utilize the in an organization.
Finally, students and potential investors for knowledge acquirement also equipped good future business administrations in any party of the world and for wise investment decisions.

1.8 Definition Of Terms

Social Responsibility:

This is an obligation of decision makers such as marketers to take action which protect and improves the welfare of the society as a whole along with their own.

Stakeholders:

These are the various groups to which an organization is socially responsible.

Back Fire:

The organization later suffering the consequence of non-fulfillment of social responsibilities.

Unethical:

Behavior that falls short or below the generally acceptable standard or expectations.

Hostile Environment:

An environment that is difficult for something to happen or be achieved.