Business Motivation or Sense of Civic Duty
Companies are getting involved in social issues not only out of a sense of civic duty or philanthropy. True, the business sector wants to make significant and sustainable contributions to nation building. However, according to Chris Marshal who is director o Warwick University’s Corporate Unit, there are reasons why businesses get Involved in addressing ,iai and environment issues that affect the business as wall’ as society.
For some, it is .a matter of corporate reputation. or others the main motivation may be related to the benefits that accredit to employees through the opportunity volunteering or to participate in personal career training and developments programs. Furthermore, it may be establishing contacts, building alliances, with stake- holders and better understanding of the local operating government. There may also be direct marketing opportunities where citizenship activities can ‘logically and openly be tied to business interests.
Whatever be the reasons, the fact that these motions reinforce a company’s citizenship effort should be welcome as long as corporate programs contribute to the public unit. Marshal explains “Just as a business would be expected to retain a’pi portion of its profits to invest in future earnings growth, so too should the managers of a business invest In solutions to social problems.”