Soulful Corporations ― A Values-Based Perspective on Corporate Social Responsibility

? Corporate debacles, financial and economic crises and environmental disasters in different parts of the globe over the last two decades are seen as indicators for a transformation in business conduct by scholars and practitioners alike. A need for corporate goals to move on from simply maximizing shareholder profit to optimizing stakeholder welfare is being echoed in various quarters. Upon this backdrop, this book shows how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) can be a means for global unity and universal welfare and how corporations, as associations of individuals, can identify their ‘collective spirits’ in terms of environmentally aware, socially responsible and financially rewarding missions and goals. The book examines CSR from an altruistic viewpoint rather than as a strategic tool, where the quality of initiatives and the welfare they create are more important than the simple amount of work done. It traces the evolution of CSR in the Indian and international contexts, yet provides a unique approach to CSR based on Indian traditions, culture and value systems, which are universal in their appeal and timeless in their application. It includes several case studies on CSR and environmental best practices, covering both Indian and international companies that have moulded and influenced the corporate landscape.

Dr. Shashank Shah completed his PhD in the area of Corporate Stakeholders Management from the School of Business Management, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in 2010 and was the recipient of the Association of Indian Management Scholars International Outstanding Doctoral Management Student Award 2010 at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad in 2011; also receiving the HR College Golden Alumnus Award 2011 from the Honourable Sheriff of Mumbai for his outstanding research achievements. Prior to that, he received the President of India Gold Medal for excellence in the MBA programme and the Governor’s Gold Medal for academic excellence in the M.Phil. Programme at the University. He has published over 60 research-based papers and case studies in reputed national and international journals and for conferences in the areas of Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Stakeholders Management, Values-Based Management and Education. He has also co-authored 3 books and 2 monographs in these areas. He has been a trusted expert for Executive Development Programmes in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility at the School of Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. He is the International Advisory and Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Values-Based Leadership, Valparaiso University, USA; and Member of the Review Board, Journal of Human Values, Indian Institute of Management, Kolkata. On multiple occasions, he has addressed large groups in different parts of India on topics relating to Indian Culture and Spirituality, Values-Based Education and Management. Currently, he is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Management Studies, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning; and is also the Editor of the University Publications Division.Prof. Vaidyanathan Easwaran Ramamoorthy had a four-decade-long, illustrious career in academics and industry. After qualifying as a Cost and Works Accountant, he worked for a dozen years with eminent organisations such as India Pistons Ltd. and Tube Investments of India Ltd. in Chennai. Thereafter, for more than a quarter century, he worked in prominent positions in the academic field such as Director (Training) and Deputy Director, Institute of Finance and Management Research (IFMR), Chennai; Director, Management Development Programmes, Academic Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad; and Executive Director, Association of Management Development Institutions of South Asia (AMDISA). He was also a team leader for a range of consultancy assignments for the Government of India Ministries including Chemicals and Fertilizers, Industry, Commerce, Civil Aviation, and Agriculture; and for State Governments in the areas of Mining and Pollution Control. After retirement, he served as Honorary Professor and Deputy Dean, School of Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed University), Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh. He has published two books on Working Capital Management (1976) and on Project Management (1994). He has guided a number of research projects on Finance, Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Values-Based Management and Education in Human Values; and has published papers for national and international journals and conferences.