The country of Changeland has, for many years, operated as a military dictatorship. Last year, however, a people's revolution brought a democratic election for the first time in living memory. The newly elected Government has pledged to improve housing, healthcare and levels of education. It has also promised a 'fair' system of taxation which should be quite a contrast from the corrupt means of raising revenue that had previously operated under the military dictatorship.

Discuss briefly, with reference to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ethics, the sorts of issue a company operating in Changeland should consider.

About corporate social responsibility

The basis of social responsibility is based upon the premise that an organisation enjoys particular benefits from society and in return should engage in practices that supports rather than exploits that society. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been explained as 'the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development whereas improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large'. Put simply, CSR means that businesses should continue to make wealth but should also recognise an obligation to other stakeholders.

Impact on stakeholders

For those dealing in products, stakeholder responsibility includes the manufacture, transportation and consumption in terms of their impact on the environment, health and safety of those products. In this case the stakeholder groups that seem to be implicated contain consumers and those particularly affected by consumers, containing the Government, society as a whole and the environment generally.