Corporate Social Responsibility

Does it Really Matter? Case study on Emission Scandals of Volkswagen and Mitsubishi

Abstract

Due to the huge social and environmental issues faced by the world during the last couple of decades the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has taken front stage in the business world by becoming the key element of sustainable competitive advantage that benefits the company, society, and environment

The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether the concept of CSR take as a tool only for maximizing the shareholders’ wealth by the investors (principals) as well as managers (agents) of the company by analyzing the two prominent CSR related scandals happened in the auto industry. It uses the agency theory model to analyze these cases and understand whether this model is overshadowing the stakeholder model of CSR concept. The preliminary studies carried out by comparing CSR reported by these two companies and the facts, effects, and reactions to the emission scandals indicate that although firms indicate that they follow a stakeholder model for their CSR initiatives and reports based on it, in reality, they follow agency model and CSR appears to do not really matter. This study also implies that manager needs to have a proper strategy that is followed and reported along with proper monitoring and control measure for a successful implementation of CSR. Due to many complexities, this it is too early to generalize ‘CSR does not matter ' view either to the entire corporate world nor the auto industry. Therefore, future studies are encouraged to include more companies in the auto industry and expand it to other industries as well.