Corporate Social Responsibility: An International Study The Case of CGD (Portugal), Vale (Brazil), TechnoLogica (Bulgaria) and IndianOil (India)

Abstract

There are many studies in the area ofCorporate Social Responsibility but the presentation ofseveral cases in one study reveals some particular aspects tobe considered and to be had in account when CSR isstudied. There are developments on this matter showingthat progressively an increasing number of companies areconcerned about their performance on this subject andabout reaching their objectives involving CSR. CorporateSocial Responsibility shall have self-regulating mechanismsthrough which responsibilities shall be monitored.Companies shall ensure that law is guaranteed as far asethical standards and international norms shall be assuredas well. According to the 2001 European Commission GreenPaper, Social Responsibility conceptualization is associatedwith the idea of companies deciding, in a voluntary base, tocontribute for a fair society and a cleaner environment.Corporate social responsibility deals with theorganizations’ actions intending to get a positive impact onseveral areas, such as environment, consumers, employeesor communities, for instance. It demands a set of duties andobligations, to be induced on the relationship with thecommunities and the society in general in which theorganization is integrated. In some countries, the corporatesocial responsibility is still a big challenge, since often theactions of social responsibility have not contributedeffectively to develop the life situation of much people. Thisstudy emphasizes the general perspective of CSR in eachone of these countries. CGD - Caixa Geral de Depósitos(Portugal), Vale (Brazil), TechnoLogica (Bulgaria) andIndianOil (India) are important companies concerned withthe development of CSR activities; they have some veryinteresting results in this area.