Social Standards: Toward an Active Ethical Involvement of Businesses in Developing Countries
Journal
Journal of Business Ethics
ISSN
0167-4544
ISSN-Digital
1573-0697
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2007-06-01
Author(s)
Abstract
As a consequence of the changing conditions of doing business, we can observe the emergence of an increasing number of industrial and company-specific codes of conduct, as well as social and environmental standards. This paper considers these initiatives as being self-regulating governance mechanisms, which are characterized by a process of voluntary adherence on the part of firms to certain mechanisms or principles that seek to promote a "good society." Two specific internationally established standards are discussed: Social Accountability 8000 (SA 8000) and AccountAbility 1000 (AA 1000). These institutionalized approaches are described and then contrasted in relation to a number of different factors, particularly the degree to which they foster "reflexivity," in terms of how businesses think about these issues, and "dialog," in terms of how businesses interact with stakeholders. Such questions are relevant to the ways in which these standards might be introduced and implemented, and which of these institutionalized approaches are the most promising for international businesses in developing countries.
[https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/forward/dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9193-3 Link to the article (Springer)]
[https://www.alexandria.unisg.ch/forward/dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9193-3 Link to the article (Springer)]
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Springer
Publisher place
Dordrecht
Volume
73
Number
1
Start page
11
End page
20
Pages
10
Subject(s)
Eprints ID
72025