Society's case for corporate responsibility

Corporate responsibility is often analysed from a corporation's point of view and researchers argue by means of a 'business case for corporate responsibility'. Changing perspective towards society's case for corporate responsibility recognises business role in society and puts two levels of societal needs into focus. Basic societal needs have to be covered in order to ensure the possibility of a common future (futurability). Additional societal needs address the well-being of society. Social sanction mechanisms can be applied by society in order to coerce business to respect basic societal needs, whereas the fulfilment of additional societal needs merit reputation of the firm. However, several obstacles have to be overcome for society's case for corporate responsibility to come true.