Corporate Social Responsibility – Business strategies or social initiatives? : A qualitative study on CSR within the Indian context

Abstract: Together with the globalized corporate world come a number of social and environmental issues, many times caused by the corporations themselves. However, it happens that corporations do not take their responsibilities in limiting their sometimes, harmful practices. Companies with a willingness to create positive change can do this, by working with corporate social responsibility (CSR). The question is however, whether companies actually are taking their responsibilities by implementing CSR work, or if they are using the concept as a business strategy for additional profit. To answer this question, one could look at the driving factors behind a company’s CSR programs as well as investigating the level of integration of the CSR programs in the company’s daily business. Companies working with CSR exist globally, however, there is one country that researchers have found to be a special case, namely, India. Therefore, this bachelor thesis examines different driving motives behind CSR in India through a literature review, as well as answers how well integrated Indian companies CSR activities are within their core businesses, by conducting a case study on an Indian company. The results of this study show that moral, strategic and legal motives can be factors in the decision to engage in CSR by Indian companies. Also, the level of integration partly depends on the previously mentioned motives.