This corporate social performance conceptual model is intended to be useful for both academics and managers. For academics, the model is pri marily an aid to perceiving the distinction among definitions of social responsibility that have ap peared in the literature. What heretofore have been regarded as separate definitions of social responsi bility are treated here as three separate issues per taining to corporate social performance.One aspect pertains to all that is included in our definition of social responsibility- the economic, legal, ethical, and discretionary components. The second aspect concerns the range of social issues (e.g., consumerism, environment, and discrimina tion} management must address. Finally, there is a social responsiveness continuum. Although some writers have suggested that this is the preferable focus when one considers social responsibility, the model suggests that responsiveness is but one ad ditional aspect to be addressed if corporate social performance is to be acceptable. The three aspects of the model thus force us to think through the dominant questions that must be faced in analyzing social performance. The major use to the aca demic, therefore, is in helping to systematize the important issues that must be taught and under stood in an effort to clarify the social responsibility concept. The model is not the ultimate conceptuali zation; it is, rather, a modest but necessary step
toward understanding the major facets of social performance.
The conceptual model can assist managers in
understanding that social responsibility is not sepa rate and distinct from economic performance but rather is just one part of the total social responsibili ties of business. The model integrates economic concerns into a social performance framework. In addition, it places ethical and discretionary expec tations into a rational economic and legal framework.
The model can help the manager systematically think through major social issues being faced. Though it does not provide the answer to how far the organization should go, it does provide a con ceptualization that could lead to a better-managed social performance program. Moreover, it could be used as a planning tool and as a diagnostic prob lem-solving tool. The model can assist the manager by identifying categories within which the organiza-tion can be situated.
An illustration will perhaps be helpful for an or ganization attempting to categorize what it has done according to the cubic space in Figure 3. Recently, Anheuser-Busch test-marketed a new adult beverage called "Chelsea." Because the beverage contained more alcohol than the average soft drink, consumer groups protested by calling the beverage "kiddie beer" and claiming that the com pany was being socially irresponsible by making such a drink available to youth. Anheuser-Busch's first reaction was defensive - attempting to claim that it was not dangerous and would not lead youngsters to stronger drink. The company's later response was to withdraw the beverage from the marketplace and reformulate it so that it would be viewed as safe. The company concluded this was the socially responsible action to take, given the criticism.
According to the social performance model in
Figure 3, the company found itself in the consumer ism segment of the model. The social responsibility category of the issue was ethical (the product being introduced was strictly legal because it conformed to the maximum alcoholic content standard). As it became clear that so much protest might be turning an ethical issue into an economic one (as threats of product boycotts surfaced), the company moved along the responsiveness dimension in the model from reaction and defense to accommodation.
This example shows how a business's response can be positioned in the social performance model. The average business firm faces many such con troversial issues and might use the conceptual
model to analyze its stance on these issues and perhaps help determine its motivations, actions, and response strategies. Managers would have a systematic framework for thinking through not only the social issues faced but also the managerial response patterns contemplated. The model could serve as a guide in formulating criteria to assist the organization in developing its posture on various social issues. The net result could be more syste matic attention being given to the whole realm of corporate social performance