Kristijan Krkač

Acquiring CSR practices: from deception to authenticity

Purpose – This paper seeks to focus on CSR manifested regarding two points, namely CSR insincerity and authenticity from the point of view of pragmatist and care ethics principles. Its purpose is to evaluate critically the genuineness of the early stages in acquiring CSR practices, and to advance the notion of authenticity in its mature development stage. The analyses seek to show an imbalance between the so-called feminine and masculine principles in the professional business arena, which prevents an authentic CSR business approach taking place. Design/methodology/approach – The authors approach the topic from various concepts and criteria of moral correctness regarding CSR, and crucial change points in the transient process from insincere to authentic CSR. Findings – The paper identifies some elements of insincere CSR in every company in its early stages of acquiring CSR practices, especially in the early stages of the development of the business culture, and also during the maturing process. esearch limitations/implications – The paper demonstrates the excessive significance of the rapid development of CSR sensibility in society and in the business community because, in such situations, knowledge of all affected parties prevents business subjects from misdirection and forces them to choose between lying and telling the truth. Practical implications – The paper demonstrates a business-based rationale for the adoption of mature, non-deceptive CSR practices, since the overall situation in the business community and in society becomes clearer regarding criteria. Originality/value – An authentic approach to business by companies as legal persons in the light of pragmatist and care ethics principles for CSR enables them to identify themselves very precisely and transparently.

“Me, myself & I”: practical egoism, selfishness, self‐interest and business ethics

Purpose – This paper aims to elucidate some of the arguments against egoism in the current debate, as well as to create some new arguments, or rather objections (epistemological and ontological from the position of egoism as moral solipsism), and to explicate some arguments against egoism (descriptive, normative, and ideological) as being not so convincing. It also aims to explicate Jesuss second commandment in a fashion similar to that of Adam Smith when he tried to combine self‐love with sympathy.Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on the premise that some foundational philosophies, worldviews, or paradigms exemplify at least one type of egoism/selfish strategy. In that light the analysis of egoism and the objections are formulated.Findings – They paper finds that present arguments in favour of egoism in business, and especially as certain “business ethics”, are not acceptable, at least on the practical and theoretical grounds on which they are presented as sound arguments.Research limita...

Corporate Social Responsibility in Croatia: From Historical Development to Practice

In this entry the following issues are addressed: (1) the historical development of CSR in Croatia from Renaissance times to contemporary times, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), state agencies, professional societies (such as CSR Croatia or DOP.HR); (2) a series of the most important initiatives to promote CSR in Croatia; (3) a note on specific socio-economic factors contributing to the present state of CSR in Croatia, namely specific market structures, the Roman Catholic church, unions, media, and especially civic societies (associations like Whistleblower or Consumer); (4) the practice of CSR by Croatian companies; (5) based on the analysis of history and its relevance to the present state of CSR in Croatia, some notes on its most probable development of CSR and some recommendations on how to implement and promote it more authentically are supplied. The text should be useful to academics researching CSR in the EU on national and EU levels and also to businesspeople from Croatia and those from abroad starting business in Croatia.