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Social responsibility in a troubled world

Verl Anderson (College of Business, Dixie State University, Saint George, Utah, USA)
Ken Kalala Ndalamba (Faculty of Economics and Business, Methodist University of Angola, Luanda, Angola) (Faculty of Economics Sciences, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa)
Cam Caldwell (Dixie State University, Saint George, Utah, USA)

International Journal of Public Leadership

ISSN: 2056-4929

Article publication date: 8 May 2017

308

Abstract

Purpose

Social responsibility (SR) in accepting the obligation to resolve the many troubling problems facing tomorrow’s generations is essential if those problems are to be effectively addressed. The purpose of this paper is to identify the nature of SR for business, academic institutions, government, religious institutions, and individuals.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is a conceptual paper which relies heavily on the current literature about social obligations for five major organizations: business, academic institutions, government, religious institutions, and individuals.

Findings

The paper provides the standard of the virtuous continuum and the Hosmer decision-making model to explain why leaders, organizations, and individuals must be more responsible to be perceived as virtuous leaders, complete with 50 examples of action to be taken.

Research limitations/implications

As this paper is not an empirical study, it does not present research information.

Practical implications

This paper suggests that organizations can be more effective if they come to understand the responsibilities and stewardship of social responsibilities entrusted to them.

Originality/value

The paper expands on Hosmer’s research and incorporates a virtuous continuum in examining the responsibilities of leaders, organizations, and individuals. More importantly, this paper is among the first to identify specific steps organizations and individuals can take in addressing the challenges and problems facing the world of in key aspects of society.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

There is no ethical conflict of interest and no funding involved in this paper.

Citation

Anderson, V., Ndalamba, K.K. and Caldwell, C. (2017), "Social responsibility in a troubled world", International Journal of Public Leadership, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 98-115. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPL-10-2016-0034

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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