The companies are the integral part of the society and they have both, the potential and obligations to the society and their obligations to the society is called corporate social responsibility. CSR is practiced by all the companies including SMEs. The CSR practices of the food retail sector of the UK have been a matter of prime concern as they are the major contributors to the UK economy. Tesco PLC is the largest food retailer in the UK and its CSR practices need to be examined with respect to its operations, activities and products. Generally, large companies claim their concern and commitment to CSR and announce it elaborately in their reports. The claims made by Tesco are different from the ground realities. The company claimed to reduce energy consumption and emission of greenhouse gases but could not achieve it for some or other reasons. Similarly, Tesco claimed to adapt to a compatible process of sourcing of its food products to be sold in its stores. The process claimed to investigate and monitor different stages of sourcing sincerely, but the recent horse-meat scandal revealed that there is a wide gap between the claims and the ground realities. The CSR is practiced by most of the companies for building reputation and the objective of the CSR to create value for the society is left behind.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Tesco PLC: Commitment to CSR
- Operations and Activities of Tesco PLC and CSR
- Reduction in energy consumption and emissions
- Employees
- Customers and communities
- Key performance indicators of CSR
- Products
- "Horse Meat scandal" in the UK
- Discussion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to critically evaluate the global corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of Tesco PLC, the largest food retailer in the UK. It examines Tesco's commitment to CSR in relation to its operations, activities, and products, comparing its claims with ground realities. The study explores the discrepancies between Tesco's stated CSR goals and its actual performance, particularly in light of incidents like the horse meat scandal.
- Tesco's commitment to and implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
- Analysis of the gap between Tesco's stated CSR goals and its actual performance.
- Examination of the impact of Tesco's operations on the environment, employees, customers, and communities.
- Evaluation of Tesco's responses to major CSR challenges and controversies.
- Discussion of the broader implications of Tesco's CSR practices for the food retail sector.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), highlighting its growing importance in the business world, particularly within the context of globalization and its impact on the UK food retail sector, using Tesco PLC as a case study. The chapter establishes the context for the analysis by emphasizing the intense competition within the UK food retail market and the expectation that companies address the societal, economic, and environmental impacts of their actions. It positions Tesco's CSR practices as a key focus of the study, setting the stage for the subsequent critical evaluation of its performance.
Corporate Social Responsibility: This chapter provides a detailed overview of corporate social responsibility, exploring various definitions and interpretations from different authors and organizations. It examines the core principles of CSR, including accountability, sustainability, and transparency, and highlights the diverse responsibilities companies hold toward their various stakeholders. The chapter contrasts the rhetoric of CSR with the reality, using a table to illustrate the gap between stated aims and actual practices in human resource management. This sets the scene for examining the extent to which Tesco’s CSR strategy matches its declarations.
Tesco PLC: Commitment to CSR: This chapter delves into Tesco’s specific commitments to CSR. It examines Tesco's public statements, reports, and initiatives related to CSR, analyzing their scope and ambition. The discussion here would likely explore Tesco’s stated aims in areas such as environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing, and community engagement. It serves as a critical foundation for the subsequent evaluation of whether these aims translate to real-world impact.
Operations and Activities of Tesco PLC and CSR: This chapter analyzes Tesco's operational practices and activities through the lens of CSR. It would likely examine specific areas like energy consumption, emissions reduction, employee relations, community engagement, and product sourcing. This analysis could showcase specific examples of Tesco’s efforts and shortcomings, potentially referencing the ‘horse meat scandal’ as a critical case of failure to maintain declared standards. The aim is to assess the alignment between Tesco's operations and its CSR commitments.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Tesco PLC, UK food retail, sustainability, ethical sourcing, stakeholder engagement, environmental impact, social responsibility, supply chain management, corporate reputation, horse meat scandal, Triple Bottom Line.
Tesco PLC's Corporate Social Responsibility: A Critical Evaluation - FAQ
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper critically evaluates the corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices of Tesco PLC, the largest food retailer in the UK. It examines Tesco's commitment to CSR in its operations, activities, and products, comparing its stated goals with its actual performance.
What aspects of Tesco's operations are examined?
The paper analyzes Tesco's CSR performance across various aspects including: energy consumption and emissions reduction, employee relations, customer and community engagement, product sourcing and supply chain management, and its response to controversies like the horse meat scandal.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include Tesco's commitment to and implementation of CSR, the gap between stated goals and actual performance, the impact of Tesco's operations on various stakeholders (environment, employees, customers, communities), evaluation of responses to CSR challenges, and broader implications for the food retail sector.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper includes an abstract, introduction, a section dedicated to defining corporate social responsibility, a detailed look at Tesco's commitment to CSR, an analysis of Tesco's operations and activities in relation to CSR, a discussion section, and a conclusion. Chapter summaries are provided to give a concise overview of each section.
How does the paper analyze Tesco's CSR performance?
The analysis compares Tesco's public statements, reports, and initiatives with the ground realities of its operations. It uses specific examples and incidents, such as the horse meat scandal, to illustrate discrepancies between Tesco's stated aims and its actual performance. Key performance indicators (KPIs) related to CSR are likely examined.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The introduction sets the context of CSR in the UK food retail sector and positions Tesco as a case study. The CSR chapter defines and explores its principles. The Tesco PLC chapter examines its specific CSR commitments. The operations chapter analyzes Tesco's practices through the lens of CSR, highlighting both successes and failures.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Tesco PLC, UK food retail, sustainability, ethical sourcing, stakeholder engagement, environmental impact, social responsibility, supply chain management, corporate reputation, horse meat scandal, Triple Bottom Line.
What is the overall objective of the study?
The paper aims to provide a critical evaluation of Tesco's CSR practices, highlighting the discrepancies between its stated goals and actual performance, and discussing the broader implications for the food retail industry.
- Quote paper
- Richards Macdonald (Author), 2011, Global Corporate Social Responsibility of Tesco (Grocery Retailer, UK), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/213347
