Corporate Community Involvement In Bangladesh: An Empirical Study. (26th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sharmin, Shuchita; Khan, Niaz Ahmed; Belal, Ataur Rahman
• Is Part Of: Corporate social responsibility and environmental management. Volume 21:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 41
• Page End: 51
• Publication Date: 2012-09-26
• Subjects: Environmental management -- Periodicals; Environmental auditing -- Periodicals; 658.408
• DOI: 10.1002/csr.1304
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1535-3958

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>This paper empirically examines a corporate community involvement (CCI) initiative in Bangladesh. Drawing on a conceptual framework of 'collaborative betterment' and 'collaborative empowerment' and by using focus group discussions and interviews, it assesses the initiative to examine the extent to which it meets expectations of the community where it operates. Some of the key findings of the paper include: (i) although the initiative provides vital healthcare services to some of the most vulnerable and desperately poor communities, the level of actual engagement of the local people – the main stakeholders – has been marginal; (ii) when the principles of collaborative betterment and empowerment are considered, it can be concluded that the initiative struggles even as a 'betterment' process; and (iii) notwithstanding the rhetoric and high‐blown statements, corporate role in terms of practical efforts in the field has been mostly superficial and limited. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.</p> </abstract>