Not your problem? Exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibility
This article explores the relationship between organizationalproblem formulation and social responsibility. Thepurpose of the article is to illuminate how organizationalproblem formulations (1) determine the manner in whichthe organization attempts to solve the problem and (2)involve the ascription...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Danish |
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Norwegian University of Science and Technology Library
2011-05-01
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| Series: | Etikk i Praksis: Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.ntnu.no/ojs/index.php/etikk_i_praksis/article/view/1732 |
| _version_ | 1818232538848559104 |
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| author | Sveinung Jørgensen Lars Jacob Tynes |
| author_facet | Sveinung Jørgensen Lars Jacob Tynes |
| author_sort | Sveinung Jørgensen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores the relationship between organizationalproblem formulation and social responsibility. Thepurpose of the article is to illuminate how organizationalproblem formulations (1) determine the manner in whichthe organization attempts to solve the problem and (2)involve the ascription of significance to a group of stakeholdersseen as relevant for the organization. This has implicationsfor the degree to which they assume responsibilityfor those stakeholders. We discuss three dimensions ofresponsible decision making – rationality in goal attainment,reverence for ethical norms, and respect for stakeholders.Thereby, we arrive at an understanding of how differentorganizations in the same sector conceive of, andattempt to solve fundamental problems in the sector, aswell as how their assumed responsibility is reflected therein.We present and discuss a case that discusses keysimilarities and differences between two organizations inthe drug sector – a pharmaceutical company that producesmedicine for the treatment of drug addiction and a foundationworking with drug rehabilitation. We illuminatehow the two organizations base their activities on divergentformulations of the drug problem and how this ismanifested in their approach to the problem. We argue that this ultimately translates into differences in the inclusion of various stakeholdersin their problem space, and thereby the degree to which they assumeresponsibility for key stakeholders. This contributes to the corporate socialresponsibility literature by providing an in depth account of how problem formulationsshape organizational activities and determine the practical inclusionof stakeholders’ interests in the decisions and activities of organizations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:07:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fef626bb653d406cbd8725cf9e6615e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1890-3991 1890-4009 |
| language | Danish |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:07:53Z |
| publishDate | 2011-05-01 |
| publisher | Norwegian University of Science and Technology Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Etikk i Praksis: Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics |
| spelling | doaj.art-fef626bb653d406cbd8725cf9e6615e02022-12-22T00:26:22ZdanNorwegian University of Science and Technology LibraryEtikk i Praksis: Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics1890-39911890-40092011-05-015110.5324/eip.v5i1.17321555Not your problem? Exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibilitySveinung Jørgensen0Lars Jacob Tynes1Faculty of Economics and Organisational Science, Lillehammer University CollegeDepartment of Accounting, Auditing and Law, Norwegian School of Economics and Business AdministrationThis article explores the relationship between organizationalproblem formulation and social responsibility. Thepurpose of the article is to illuminate how organizationalproblem formulations (1) determine the manner in whichthe organization attempts to solve the problem and (2)involve the ascription of significance to a group of stakeholdersseen as relevant for the organization. This has implicationsfor the degree to which they assume responsibilityfor those stakeholders. We discuss three dimensions ofresponsible decision making – rationality in goal attainment,reverence for ethical norms, and respect for stakeholders.Thereby, we arrive at an understanding of how differentorganizations in the same sector conceive of, andattempt to solve fundamental problems in the sector, aswell as how their assumed responsibility is reflected therein.We present and discuss a case that discusses keysimilarities and differences between two organizations inthe drug sector – a pharmaceutical company that producesmedicine for the treatment of drug addiction and a foundationworking with drug rehabilitation. We illuminatehow the two organizations base their activities on divergentformulations of the drug problem and how this ismanifested in their approach to the problem. We argue that this ultimately translates into differences in the inclusion of various stakeholdersin their problem space, and thereby the degree to which they assumeresponsibility for key stakeholders. This contributes to the corporate socialresponsibility literature by providing an in depth account of how problem formulationsshape organizational activities and determine the practical inclusionof stakeholders’ interests in the decisions and activities of organizations.https://www.ntnu.no/ojs/index.php/etikk_i_praksis/article/view/1732corporate social responsibilitydecision makingproblem formulationstakeholder management |
| spellingShingle | Sveinung Jørgensen Lars Jacob Tynes Not your problem? Exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibility Etikk i Praksis: Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics corporate social responsibility decision making problem formulation stakeholder management |
| title | Not your problem? Exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibility |
| title_full | Not your problem? Exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibility |
| title_fullStr | Not your problem? Exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Not your problem? Exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibility |
| title_short | Not your problem? Exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibility |
| title_sort | not your problem exploring the relationship between problem formulation and social responsibility |
| topic | corporate social responsibility decision making problem formulation stakeholder management |
| url | https://www.ntnu.no/ojs/index.php/etikk_i_praksis/article/view/1732 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sveinungjørgensen notyourproblemexploringtherelationshipbetweenproblemformulationandsocialresponsibility AT larsjacobtynes notyourproblemexploringtherelationshipbetweenproblemformulationandsocialresponsibility |