Corporate social responsibility practices in the Australian consumer goods industry: preliminary findings

The aim of this study was to identify the extent to which Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has penetrated practices in the Australian consumer goods industry. Results from a questionnaire survey reveal wide variation in understanding of CSR. Results include that definitions adopted describe what is actually happening as opposed to what should happen; the identity and legitimacy of stakeholder groups is open to question; the focus tends to be tactical rather than strategic; and the motivation to adopt CSR at the organizational level is difficult to identify.