Net Impact is the leading international organization for MBA students committed to social responsibility and environmental sustainability in business. I try to help out as the faculty liaison for our USF chapter, one of 140 chapters worldwide.
Net Impact recently launched a nationwide survey of business undergraduates and their attitudes toward corporate social responsibility. We asked our business undergrads for a big response, and they delivered. 84 of the 2,411 responses nationwide came from USF. Thank you!
Though the results won’t be officially announced until next month, I can share a few data points with you:
- 73% of USF respondents believed CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) ‘should be integrated into required curriculum classes’
- 41% of USF respondents are currently members of a club or activity that emphasizes CSR
- 35% of USF respondents are interested in joining a club or activity emphasizing CSR
- while almost all USF respondents believe that corporations should work towards the betterment of society, few believe corporations are doing so.
Read more below for additional survey data, including the juicy open-ended responses. If you have any comments to share on CSR at our school, or these survey results, add them to the blog and I will present them to the folks who run the show (i.e., the Dean’s Office).
During my career, I will seek employment that is socially responsible.
- 80% agree or strongly agree
- 6% disagree or strongly disagree
I believe that corporations should work towards the betterment of society.
- 92% agree or strongly agree
I believe that corporations are currently working towards the betterment of society.
- 17% agree or strongly agree
- 33% neutral, no opinion, or don’t know
- 50% disagree or strongly disagree
Responses to the question During the interview/hiring process, do you discuss your interest in corporate social responsibility with a potential for-profit employer? Why, or why not?
Only if it does not hurt my application.
Currently discussing socially responsible practices leads in most large firms will discourage the cut throat image needed for employers to envision you as a good tool for the organization. I would rather discuss social issues once my job is secure.
It depends on what company it is, but I do feel that my employer should have some ethical and moral responsibilities.
i was never really taught in depth on corporate social responsibility.
I haven’t recently interviewed for a job and when I have, I wasn’t very aware or concerned with corporate social responsibility.
I never had the time to think about corporate social responsibility in regards with a potential for-profit employer.
Never, because i am not familiar with this topic.
Because I have no interest in corporate ‘social responsibility’; trying to make corporations obligated toward such twisted leftist agendas is a complete crock.
I’ve never been in an interview where these matters are pertinent.
This is a topic that is important to me and if i am going to work for a company i would like that company to have similar values to mine.
There is not always time to discuss this subject.
Responses to the question What role do you think business currently plays in society, and what do you think its role should be?
Business are usually only out there to look after the stock holders or the owners. They should look after these people, but also look at the impact of what they are doing to others and make adjustments, so that everyone wins.
Currently the majority of business exists to make money for stakeholders; they should exist in order to serve a need of society and the money will follow if the needs are being met.
I think that business is the motor that helps run a society.
I think big business plays the role of not only a bully, but also completely disregards the environmental and social implications of its actions. These corporations exploit those who have less and need more. They feed on the weaknesses of other countries and the ignorance in our own country. Corporations do not have a face in the community; therefore, those in the corporations can hide behind them instead of face what they are doing. Social responsibility of most corporations only goes as far as what they must write down for liable issues. They are not for the good of the people, but rather for the good of themselves. Not all businesses are like this obviously, and I hope that corporations will not be the business of the future. I think if that happens, business will be more about the people involved and the people being served by the business. This will lead to REAL social responsibility, by people who actually see the effects of their actions in the community.
Today it seems as if business are currently playing the role of capitalists (of course), who are doing their best in bettering the american society, which is especially shown through their commitments to nationally/internationally recognized non-profit organizations.
Though becoming ‘green’ and socially responsible is a rising trend in business, I think that the profit motive is largely what drives businesses today. Businesses ought to serve society and the environment with less concern for profits, especially for executives.
I think some business are contributing to major non profit organizations such as walking for aids and fighting breast cancer but I think there should be more than just contributing finances, we should help end genocide in Darfur by having more fundraisers or programs where we can actually hands on help.
I think business fulfill certain needs to society, providing goods and services that make our lives more efficient. On the other hand, businesses need to make sure that they are not producing any negative externalities that will impose future damage to society.
Business is about providing for the community while maintaining a competitive and profitable edge for growth and innovation, as appose to an entity that uses the community (people and environment included) to obtain the largest profit.
They do not for the most part play any role, unless it seems profitable, such as the starbuck water sold to better the children in Africa. I think its called ‘ethos water’ but the fact is that there profits quadruple the amount they send to Africa, immoral.
Business currently plays the role of keeping our mighty capitalistic superpower going by focusing on money, money, and more money. Corporations should provide jobs and dividends, and in doing so, enhance the lifestyles of all individuals on the financial ladder by improving the general economy. The economy is the single most important factor toward maintaining a healthy society, and I don’t see that changing any time soon.
Over recent years, businesses have tried to compensate for their harmful environmental and social effects, however they are still somewhat hypocritical. Take Ethos (Starbucks) water for example, they give back about $0.10 on every bottle to the clean water cause, but they are still advocating the privatization of water.
Business is what runs our economy and what determines our current environmental state. Businesses need to take more responsibility and create more sustainable business practices.
it plays a role that lies between the politics and the environment. Business reflects the present condition of our environment, but politics would not necessarily do the same.
Businesses currently are driven my profit-motive. Slowly I think that we will begin to realize the importance of being socially responsible in our community, as we should be.
Business is everything; we all need money to survive! Even not-for-profits have to have some sort of financial support. Everything our society relies on are businesses and for a long time the goal of the majority of businesses was just to get every penny possible out of their customers by fulfilling some sort of need or want. However I see (and agree in the direction things are changing) that businesses should be like people with strong character and beliefs. They should stand up for positive things like using sustainable resources and recycling to influence and spread the knowledge about respecting the land we live on and there people living on it with us.
I think businesses are beginning to better society with more socially responsible decisions. However, it appears that most of these changes made to improve the environment or better society in some way are motivated by profit. I would like to see firms worldwide, express a more genuine environmental concern, not one solely motivated by higher gains.