Case Study Construction Company

Introduction

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a self regulating business model that helps a company or organization be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders as well as the society within which it is based (Chen, 2019). It is widely accepted to have six main characteristics which Crane et al. (2008) outlines to include: Voluntary activities that goes beyond those prescribed by the law, multiple stakeholder orientation and not only focusing on shareholders, Internalizing and managing externalities such as pollution, alignment of social and economic responsibilities to maximize the profitability, recognition that Corporate social responsibility is more than just philanthropy and engaging in practices and values about why a company or organization is. This essay analyses the application of these characteristics in creative consults, a construction company that includes a consortium of all construction professionals in one roof. As such the company undertakes all phases of the construction project from the design phase, budgeting, construction, construction management as well as Real estate management of the building or structure after construction. There is a wide number of ways with which a construction company can be involved in CSR (Caramela, 2018). Some includes engaging in the development of the society, within which they have been established, ensuring proper safety measures to protect the workers inside and without the working sites as well as ensuring efficiency in the standards of construction to ensure the development of durable and aesthetically comfortable structures that are safe for use and inhabitation. In addition to all these activities, companies such as Creative Consults can also contribute to the academic and research community by supporting initiatives related to business dissertation help, providing resources, mentorship, and funding to aspiring researchers and students focusing on CSR and related topics.

Voluntary

While CSR is a legal requirement for firms, organizations and companies, its major purpose is not the fulfillment of the law but rather the need by an organization or company to meaningfully and significantly contribute to its society and enhance the lives of the people within the society as a way of giving back for the benefits earned from the society (Giannarakis, Litinas and Theotokas, 2009). Creative consults on top of offering construction services goes beyond their way to provide a client with professional advice of being able to optimize on their resources for maximum profitability. Given that the company is a consortium, all the possible needs regarding services and professional advice are under one roof making it easier to access and most importantly impacting the speed of the construction process and minimize the risk of possible miscommunication due to a team of professionals from different company’s each with their own expectations and agendas. Eventually the design of the company to accommodate all relevant professionals to the construction industry and bringing them together under one roof to ensure maximum support and service for the client goes beyond the legal requirement and solely to ensure efficient services and satisfaction of each and every client of the company.

Stakeholder Management

Regardless of the number of stakeholders within a company, their perspective and views regarding the perception of the company or organization as well as its intended direction must be respected and put into account before any decisions are made. According to Perez (2016), these includes the external stakeholders such as the immediate society with which the company is established as well as the market and consumer base of the company’s product. The company is responsible for ensuring the customer receives quality and efficient products as advertised by the company and at the same time ensuring the investors receive back their principal and interest. Creative Consults is a quality construction organization committed to ensuring the best of quality building designs and structures are delivered into the society. They further compliment any developments in terms of residential apartments or homes with development of infrastructure to allow for easier access into the environment and therefore maximum satisfaction of the consumers. Stake holder management when it comes to CSR also involves the society as highlighted by Hamidu, Haron and Amran (2015). Creative consults has invested in impacting the society by ensuring development of proper infrastructure amenities such as parking spaces, street signs and lights as well as securing reserve land for play grounds for children. The company has also been involved in renovation and improvement of other social amenities such as schools and public libraries.

Management of Externalities

A business, organization or company cannot function without resources and other inputs since developing products or services basically needs not only financial input but also material input. This basically implies that there will be waste products coming out such as waste waters, harmful gases and their waste material that may have significant impact to the environment. According to Xaxx (2017) internalizing these byproducts of production and management of externalities such as these materials that would cause environmental pollution and degradation is part of a key characteristic of corporate social responsibility. Creative consults strive in the values of ensuring sustainable construction projects that do not only impact the reservation and conservation of energy but also committed to ensuring environmental conservation.

Each and every construction site is adequately protected by perimeter fences and those in the urban areas that span high heights are covered with green nets for debris safety and avoiding environmental pollution. The company also ensures proper disposal and recycling of construction materials like demolished and deconstructed debris, in this way the environment is protected from pollution and exploitation of more resources that may easily lead to depletion. The key concerns picked up voluntarily by the company in ensuring a safe working environment for its workers as well the environment surrounding the sites and offices amounts to its contribution in CSR characteristic of management of externalities.

Alignment of Responsibilities

Effective participation and fulfillment of corporate social responsibility goes further to involve more than just giving back to the community at occasional events such as charities but rather engraving and in cooperating such activities as sponsoring community based events and participating in them within the company strategies, goals and objectives. According to the Financial Times (2019) companies should be able to plan and budget for CSR within the annual meetings that deliberates the goals, aims and objectives of the company or organization so as to enable the alignment of responsibilities of individuals towards the realization of these objectives.

Within Creative consults CSR is not taken up as a duty the company owes the society or even a legal requirement or event that the company involves itself in a few times a year, but rather an engraved value into the organization culture and employees. The employees do not only work to earn their salaries or build the company’s reputation but they also pick it up as a personal responsibility to ensure excellence in their duties as employees to ensure the satisfaction of the stakeholders involved in the company and in the particular project at hand.

According to Rebecca (2014) including corporate social responsibility in an organizations business plan not only emphasizes the responsibility of the company and its employees but also points out the ability of organizations to put forth their values into practice for the benefit of others. This highlights that corporate social responsibility is not just philanthropy but also a means of communicating, marketing and promoting a brand and ensuring its growth. Involvement in CSR impacts the credibility of a brand and its popularity thereby enhancing the reputation of an organization. Creative Consults is not only known for providing all construction services under one roof and thereby effecting efficiency and maximization of resources for clients, but also ensuring development of durable and highly safe and efficient buildings and structures. This builds a confidence in the public regarding their services and explains why the company brand has grown greatly over a short period of time and is at the peak of its operations.

Above all else characteristics the most important and significant is that CSR is, and should be a part of the companies practice and values. While corporate social responsibility may be limitedly described legally as a duty to the society, engraving it in a company’s values and practices impact the brand and its involvement in CSR. According to Klein (2012) engraving CSR in a company’s values and culture not only impact its brand but also the performance of the employees and the quality of products produced. At Creative Consults employees have been trained to take into consideration CSR in each and every project they indulge in. During the inception and design phase which not only include the design team but also the entire team involved in the project including construction and management, ways in which the project can include some elements of CSR are also discussed and infused within the plan and responsibility for professionals. Eventually the company not only contributes to direct actions of corporate social responsibility like philanthropy and charities but also have CSR practices involved in each and every project. As such it is part of the organization culture which is in line with the company’s values and practices.

References

• Hamidu A. A., Haron H. and Amran A. (2015). "Corporate Social Responsibility: A Review on definitions, core characteristics and theoretical perspectives," MPRA Paper 75040, University Library of Munich, Germany.
• Klein, P. (2012). The Impact of Values and Culture on CSR. [online] Forbes.com. Available at:Klein, P. (2012). The Impact of Values and Culture on CSR. [online] Forbes.com. Available at:
• Xaxx, J. (2017). Characteristics of Corporate Social Responsibility. [online] Bizfluent. Available

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