Wall Mart Corporate Social Responsibility (Csr).

Business Organization Basics

Student Sample

Phase 1 Individual Project

MGM110-1202A-06

Date: 4/16/12

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever thought to yourself what responsibility a company has to society? For example, what social responsibility does a large company like Wal-Mart have? In the arena of business ethics and social responsibility, the manager must weigh the duty to maximize the wealth of the owners versus the needs of customers, employees, and the greater community as a whole (Redd, 2012). In order for a business to be successful, it needs to understand their social responsibility to the customers, employees, and community.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

Let’s look at Wal-Mart and their CSR. Wal-Mart is a company that is looking to see positive change within the organization. Wal-Mart has previously been accused of taking customers from small neighborhood stores and hurting communities. This is because of control that Wal-Mart has on the American retail scene. However, recently (the past several years) Wal-Mart has made some major transformation and committed itself to the realm of CSR, particularly referencing the products it sells and major efforts to promote energy conservation.

An example of Wal-Mart’s CSR is its plan to reduce unhealthy levels of salts, fats and sugars in the packaged food it sells and to lower the prices on healthier products. A way to help the customers recognize the healthier food is to label the healthy food product which would rate the levels of sodium, fat and sugar.

Another example is Wal-Mart’s energy initiative. This includes increased fuel efficiency in the company’s truck fleet by 25% over three years, and to decrease the greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in seven years. Other ways are plans to reduce energy at the stores by 30% and to cut solid waste by 25% in three years. Wal-Mart’s philanthropic agency is donating $2 million to food banks around the county to fund...