Identified opportunities and challenges in CSR certification
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues have been received much attention in business and management practises globally. Jensen & Yeh (2009, 3) state that “The agenda of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a factor in the process of globalization, and Chinese companies may some...
| Autor principal: | |
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| Formato: | Second cycle, A2E |
| Lenguaje: | sueco Inglés |
| Publicado: |
2012
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| Acceso en línea: | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/3939/ |
| _version_ | 1855570613084618752 |
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| author | Chen, Tingting |
| author_browse | Chen, Tingting |
| author_facet | Chen, Tingting |
| author_sort | Chen, Tingting |
| collection | Epsilon Archive for Student Projects |
| description | Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues have been received much attention in business
and management practises globally. Jensen & Yeh (2009, 3) state that “The agenda of
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a factor in the process of globalization,
and Chinese companies may sometimes feel pushed into this agenda without a clear
understanding of the rationale behind it”. China’s textile and apparel industry, a
manufacturing-based economy with its products bounding up with the consumers worldwide,
has been facing enormous pressure to take CSR initiatives, particularly in relation to
environmental issues and labor standards. The launch and implementation of CSC9000T,
based on a consumer-oriented and scientific sustainable development philosophy is a
milestone to the development of the industry.
This study aims to understand the conditions for implementation of corporate responsibility
standard, CSC9000T in China’s textile and apparel industry. The theoretical framework is
designed closely embracing the aim in an exploratory research design. Multiple cases based in
China are conducted in order to identify the motives, perceived benefits as well as challenges
associated with implementation of CSR and CSC9000T in Chinese textile and apparel
enterprises.
Findings suggest that the Chinese textile and apparel enterprises have begun to realize the
importance of implementing CSC9000T management standard. The companies are politically
supported and benefit from participating in CSR engagement. However, the current situation
in China’s textile and apparel industry also presents lots of challenges to a widespread
adoption of CSC9000T social standard. The current context for CSR development in China
can be described as low level of CSR awareness and concerns, lack of training and education
programs, highly implementation costs, as well as the ineffective enforcement of laws and
regulations, all of which are threatening the CSR and CSC9000T progress.
The motives for implementing CSR and CSC9000T in Chinese corporations have initially
been driven by international pressure groups and consumer expectations. In recent years, the
Chinese governmental authorities have taken a role of encouraging CSR activities. Changes in
the international trade environment and increased awareness of needs for “a low carbon
economy” have also promoted this process. The conditions, both internal and external, for
Chinese enterprises to embrace CSR initiatives are associated with challenges. If CSR is seen
as a process of awareness, enterprises should first focus their efforts internally, to educate
employees and formulate company policies. The role of the Chinese government and relevant
authorities is to strengthen and legitimize the corporate efforts made. Investments and
certification processes that at first may be associated with challenges and costs may become
grounds for differentiation and competitive advantage on a global market. |
| format | Second cycle, A2E |
| id | RepoSLU3939 |
| institution | Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences |
| language | swe Inglés |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publishDateSort | 2012 |
| record_format | eprints |
| spelling | RepoSLU39392012-04-20T14:25:28Z https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/3939/ Identified opportunities and challenges in CSR certification Chen, Tingting Economics and management Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues have been received much attention in business and management practises globally. Jensen & Yeh (2009, 3) state that “The agenda of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a factor in the process of globalization, and Chinese companies may sometimes feel pushed into this agenda without a clear understanding of the rationale behind it”. China’s textile and apparel industry, a manufacturing-based economy with its products bounding up with the consumers worldwide, has been facing enormous pressure to take CSR initiatives, particularly in relation to environmental issues and labor standards. The launch and implementation of CSC9000T, based on a consumer-oriented and scientific sustainable development philosophy is a milestone to the development of the industry. This study aims to understand the conditions for implementation of corporate responsibility standard, CSC9000T in China’s textile and apparel industry. The theoretical framework is designed closely embracing the aim in an exploratory research design. Multiple cases based in China are conducted in order to identify the motives, perceived benefits as well as challenges associated with implementation of CSR and CSC9000T in Chinese textile and apparel enterprises. Findings suggest that the Chinese textile and apparel enterprises have begun to realize the importance of implementing CSC9000T management standard. The companies are politically supported and benefit from participating in CSR engagement. However, the current situation in China’s textile and apparel industry also presents lots of challenges to a widespread adoption of CSC9000T social standard. The current context for CSR development in China can be described as low level of CSR awareness and concerns, lack of training and education programs, highly implementation costs, as well as the ineffective enforcement of laws and regulations, all of which are threatening the CSR and CSC9000T progress. The motives for implementing CSR and CSC9000T in Chinese corporations have initially been driven by international pressure groups and consumer expectations. In recent years, the Chinese governmental authorities have taken a role of encouraging CSR activities. Changes in the international trade environment and increased awareness of needs for “a low carbon economy” have also promoted this process. The conditions, both internal and external, for Chinese enterprises to embrace CSR initiatives are associated with challenges. If CSR is seen as a process of awareness, enterprises should first focus their efforts internally, to educate employees and formulate company policies. The role of the Chinese government and relevant authorities is to strengthen and legitimize the corporate efforts made. Investments and certification processes that at first may be associated with challenges and costs may become grounds for differentiation and competitive advantage on a global market. Ansvarsfrågor för företag, ofta refererat till som CSR, Corporate Social Responsibility, har fått allt mer uppmärksamhet under de senaste decennierna. En ökad medvetenhet om globala frågor som rör CSR utpekas som en stark drivkraft för företag i bland annat Kina. Denna drivkraft utgör ett motiv för företagen att arbeta med ansvarsfrågor, men den bakomliggande logiken är inte alltid lika tydlig för företagen som praktiskt skall hantera ansvarsfrågorna. Ett exempel på en industri som mött dessa förväntningar är Kinas textilindustri. Förväntningarna från omvärlden har lett till utveckling av en standard som är anpassad för just textilindustrin i Kina, CSC9000T. Den är grundad i konsumentdrivna frågor och utgör något av milstolpe i utvecklingen av mer hållbart företagande. Den här studien beskriver förutsättningar för implementering av standarden CSC9000T i Kinas textilindustri. I en explorativ ansats jämförs fallstudier av företag som valts ut utifrån att de är certifierade (CSC9000T) och lokaliserade till en viss region i Kina. Fokus i studien ligger på att identifiera motiv och utmaningar i certifieringsprocessen. Resultaten i studien ger en bild av att de studerade företagen har en viss intern insikt i motiven för att vara certifierad. Det externa motivet, förväntningar från omvärlden och regeringen utgör dock en stark pådrivande kraft. Situationen i Kinesisk textilindustri innebär en utmaningar för certifiering som kan sammanfattas i bristande insikt om ansvarsfrågor i allmänhet, begränsad utbildningsnivå i många företag, kostnader för att implementera standarden i en prispressad industri för att bli certifierade av en tredje part och en ineffektiv lagefterlevnadskontroll i allmänhet. Alla dessa faktorer utgör utmaningar för en vidare acceptans för och tillit gentemot standarden. Motiven för att implementera ansvarsprogram och bli certifierad (med CSC9000T) har i ett initialt skede drivits av internationella aktörer, framför allt textilåterförsäljare i västvärlden. Under senare år har den kinesiska regeringen tagit rollen som ambassadör för att driva på CSR i allmänhet och implementering av standarden i synnerhet. Internationella exportkontakter innebär också en ökad medvetenhet om vikten av rena miljöfrågor i industrin. Även om påtryckningar och förväntningar primärt riktas mot företagen utifrån är det viktigt att företagen först fokuserar sitt arbete på internt arbete för att öka medvetenheten om ansvarsfrågor. Det innebär bland annat utbildningssatsningar och förändrade företagsstrategier. Regeringens och myndligheternas roller blir främst att stödja företagen i deras arbete – för att stärka ansvarsperspektiv och propagera för positiva långsiktiga effekter som resultat för investeringar och insatser som görs idag, både i ett nationellt och ett globalt perspektiv. Investeringarna antas utgöra förutsättningar för differentiering som är en grund för att skapa konkurrensföredelar på en pressad internationell marknad. 企业社会责任问题已经广泛引起世界范围内企业管理者们的高度重视。作为日益影响 全球化进程的因素之一，中国企业，尤其是维系国计民生的中国纺织行业，在环境问 题和劳工权益问题上面临着世界各国施以的巨大压力。CSC9000T，一个坚持“以人为 本，可持续发展”的社会责任管理体系的开创与实施成为国内纺织行业的一个重要里 程碑。 本文的研究目的在于了解 CSC9000T 社会责任管理体系在中国纺织行业的实施状况，以 具体案例为客观对象，深入研究纺织企业执行CSC9000T 的动机以及实施过程中的利与 弊。理论框架的构建紧密围绕主题展开，属于探索性研究。 本研究表明，CSC9000T 的实施给中国纺织行业注入了新的生命和活力，但同时也面临 很多压力与挑战。目前，企业社会责任在中国的发展状况可表述为：企业社会责任意 识低下，培训教育项目缺乏，体系执行费用昂贵以及相关法律条文的匮乏，这些都阻 碍社会责任建设和CSC9000T 的有效执行。 中国纺织企业实施企业社会责任建设的最初动机来源于国际社会舆论压力。近年来， 由于国际贸易环境的改变和“低碳经济”的大力倡导，中国政府采取一系列积极有效 的鼓舞措施来履行和加强纺织企业社会责任建设，如果我们将履行社会责任建设看成 是一种意识觉悟的培养，那么中国企业首先应该加强企业内部文化发展，制定相关公 司方针决策，而后由政府部门加以合法化和政策。企业社会责任建设是一项长期投资 和风险并存的艰巨任务，但这将无疑有利于中国纺织行业增强其核心竞争力，确保在 国际舞台上的长远发展。 2012-03-02 Second cycle, A2E NonPeerReviewed application/pdf swe https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/3939/13/Chen_T_120206%20_2_.pdf Chen, Tingting, 2012. Identified opportunities and challenges in CSR certification : the case of CSC9000T in China’s textile industry. Second cycle, A2E. Uppsala: (NL, NJ) > Dept. of Economics <https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/view/divisions/OID-510.html> urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-988 eng |
| spellingShingle | Economics and management Chen, Tingting Identified opportunities and challenges in CSR certification |
| title | Identified opportunities and challenges in
CSR certification |
| title_full | Identified opportunities and challenges in
CSR certification |
| title_fullStr | Identified opportunities and challenges in
CSR certification |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identified opportunities and challenges in
CSR certification |
| title_short | Identified opportunities and challenges in
CSR certification |
| title_sort | identified opportunities and challenges in
csr certification |
| topic | Economics and management |
| url | https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/3939/ https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/3939/ |