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Bagley, Polly Elizabeth Mary (2008) The Professionalisation of CR: Ascertaining the Next Steps for the Corporate Responsibility Group. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

In the last decade, Corporate Responsibility (CR) has grown in both popularity and importance as an occupation and field of management, triggering appeals for the consolidation and standardisation of approaches, through the pursuit of professionalisation and accreditation for the field. However, CR as a management discipline has been labeled both a nascent and dynamic phenomenon (e.g. Carroll, 1999). Thus, the formation of one, unified profession may be impossible. Furthermore, CR is boundary-spanning concept which impinges on an array of decision-making process and systems (DTI/CRG, 2003). Therefore, any change to the way CR is managed affects the behaviours, decisions and actions of CR practitioners across the board, and should be investigated thoroughly before its incorporation into business as usual. Accordingly, this study aims to explore the various practitioner and professional perceptions of the professionalisation of CR, in order to ascertain the next steps that the Corporate Responsibility Group (CRG) might take in their investigation of the case for the professionalisation of CR. Practitioners were generally supportive of professionalisation, and believed that CRG were capable of assuming the role of a professional body. However, they also highlighted the possibility of both positive and negative repercussions following the professionalisation process. While some of these issues could be overcome with the help of outside bodies such as the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and comparable professional bodies, such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), there are some structural and attitudinal changes which need to occur before CR is able to label itself a unified profession (see: Becker, 1962; Hall, 1969). The report therefore provides some recommendations that for a more extensive feasibility study by CRG, which will question whether the structural and attitudinal requirements of a profession can or should be reached, and ultimately whether CRG should offer its services as a professional body for CR practitioners and pursue the formation of professional standards through accreditation.

Item Type:	Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords:	CSR, Corporate social responsibility, CR, corporate responsibility, CRG, Corporate Responsibility Group, professionalisation, professionalization, profession, accreditation, certification
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	03 Feb 2009
Last Modified:	21 Mar 2022 16:05
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/21813

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