Murugesh Arunachalam

Understanding CSR in the Maldivian context

Purpose – The objective of this study is to examine CSR practices in the Maldives. Design/methodology/approach – The perceptions of business and non-business stakeholders were analysed in order to identify CSR practices that are idiosyncratic to the Maldives and to reflect on the relevance of current mainstream CSR agenda for the Maldives. Surveys and in-depth interviews were used to draw the perceptions of a sample of 52 businesses and 36 non-business stakeholders. The study adopts an interpretive methodology to analyse the perceptions and to reflect on extant CSR theories. Findings – The paper suggests mediocre CSR practices of businesses and lukewarm responses from non-business stakeholders in the Maldives. There is a difference between what businesses consider ought to be CSR practices (the normative) and their actual CSR practices. Businesses prefer to keep their CSR practices discreet as publicity may cause increasing demands from local communities for financial and other assistance. CSR practices i...

Constructing strategies for sustainable development the communitarian way

Purpose – The paper aims to draw on recommendations of Agenda 21 and communitarian theory to examine collaboration between local district community and local authorities to formulate strategies for the sustainable development of the Taupo district.Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts an interpretative methodology based on philosophical hermeneutic to understand collaboration between local community and local authorities in the Taupo district. Empirical data for this interpretive study comprise public documents, interview transcripts and minutes of meetings attended by the researchers. The paper begins interpretation of empirical data with pre‐understanding of communitarian theory and Agenda 21.Findings – The findings indicate that historical and political factors and diversity of interests in the community affect processes and outcomes of collaboration. Local authorities play a crucial role in bringing together various groups in the Taupo community which are segregated by diversity of interests,...

CSR practices in Sri Lanka: an exploratory analysis

Purpose - – This study aims to provide an understanding of the nature of corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in a developing country, Sri Lanka. Specifically, it explores the environmental activities and social engagements of a sample from the largest 200 companies listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. Design/methodology/approach - – Data were collected through a questionnaire survey posted to 200 listed companies. Fifty-one usable responses were received. The companies were analysed based on size, ownership and geographical scale of business. Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U tests were used for hypotheses testing. Environmental Activity Percentage Score (EAPS) and Socially related Activity Percentage Score (SAPS) were calculated to measure the extent of companies’ CSR engagement with regard to environmental and social activities, respectively. Findings - – Social issues such as unemployment and poverty, the typical issues in developing countries, often override environmental issues. This is more prominent in Sri Lankan-owned companies than those with overseas ownership. The explanation for this may involve historical, cultural and religious elements. Overall, corporate managers in Sri Lanka are concerned with social issues. Practical implications - – The findings indicate that environmental practices are not widespread in the Sri Lankan corporate sector. It appears that environmental consequences are not taken into account in formulating business strategies, especially by local companies. This finding may be of interest to the corporate sector, the Sri Lankan environmental authority, non-governmental organisations, the Sri Lankan Government and academics. Originality/value - – This paper offers initial insights about CSR practices in Sri Lanka, and provides empirical evidence of concerns for social issues in a developing country.

Advancing environmental sustainability via deliberative democracy: Analysis of planning and policy processes for the protection of Lake Taupo

Purpose This paper aims to examine the planning and policy processes in relation to the pollution in Lake Taupo. This paper describes and explains the manifestation of the tenets of deliberative democracy and the impediments of mobilising the tenets in the planning and policy-making processes. Design/methodology/approach This interpretive case study makes sense of interview transcripts, minutes of meetings, media reports and public documents and adopts deliberative democratic theory as the theoretical framework for the interpretive analysis. Findings Some factors fostered and others challenged the mobilization of the tenets of deliberative democracy. Local government processes facilitated the expression of multiple views in relation to the impacts of human activities on the Lake. Confrontations and tensions were inevitable elements of the deliberative processes. Pre-determined outcomes and domination of local authorities, aiming for environmental sustainability of Lake Taupo, posed as challenges to the operation of deliberative democracy. Some stakeholders need to sacrifice more than others, but recognition of pluralism, conflicts and differences is an essential part of deliberative democracy. Originality/value There is scarcity of research that empirically examines local government processes in light of deliberative democratic principles. The study also extends environmental and social studies that have explored the arena approach to accountability and decision-making.