Preface

Increasing global challenges and worsening climate conditions have initiated a debate regarding the progressing ecological issues. Today, accelerating climate change has made people fearful about the deteriorating environment. In this regard, corporate social responsibility (CSR), considering different factors (e.g., social development, ecological business practices, human rights, business ethics, and stakeholder involvement), has emerged as a fundamental tool for ensuring a cleaner and more sustainable environment. It has become the prime driver of sustainability (i.e., environmental, economic, and social) and ecological welfare.

This edited volume on CSR is a collection of seventeen chapters. It is a provocative publication that constitutes the emerging discussion on CSR principles. The foundation of CSR may differ for different business ethics fields and, as such, this book discusses CSR from multiple perspectives. The book highlights the following topics:


Chapter 1: "Corporate Social Responsibility: The Ethics of Legitimacy" discusses how over the past years, the winds of change have blown, particularly among business leaders regarding CSR activities. This chapter explains the dynamics of ethics in legitimacy concerning CSR prospects in maintaining business sustainability engagement.

Chapter 2: "Perspective Chapter: Rethinking CSR Strategies in the Era of COVID-19" explains the significance of CSR business strategies and their impact in the era of COVID-19.

Chapter 3: "From Corporate Social Opportunity to Corporate Social Responsibility" illustrates how companies have evolved over the years, thus making stakeholders think about CSR differently. This topic acts as a practical workshop by realizing the value of business social activities.

Chapter 4: "CSR Policies in Different Countries: A Comparative Analysis" discusses the role of national governments and their goals concerning CSR impact. Today's countries are creating high-end value by synthesizing the phenomenon of CSR.

Chapter 5: "Perspective Chapter: Sustainability and Corporate Innovation" emphasizes embracing sustainable development by improving environmental imperatives and innovation. It explains how firms can sustain themselves in today's world by significantly contributing to stakeholders' interests in a cleaner environment.

Chapter 6: "CCSR Reporting and Blockchain Technology" examines the significance of blockchain value on an organization's social and ecological expectations.

Chapter 7: "CSR and Corporate Lobbying: From an Environmental Perspective" illustrates the relationship between CSR and corporate lobbying and calls for stakeholders to improve their activities to ensure a cleaner environment.

Chapter 8: "Perspective Chapter: The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investment and Its Implications" explores the importance of financial planning. It begins with the historical roots of investment management and then highlights the importance of environmental, social, and governance investment in the CSR principle.

Chapter 9: "Toward a Better Understanding of Green Human Resource Management's Impact on Green Competitive Advantage: A Conceptual Model" illustrates how green human resource management (GHRM) helps to achieve a competitive advantage with green HR practices, knowledge, and commitment.

Chapter 10: "Green Human Resource Management: An Exploratory Study from Moroccan ISO 14001 Certified Companies" illuminates the significance of GHRM in improving environmental performance. It spreads awareness of green HR strategies, policies, and practices by exploring their impact on the environment of Morocco.

Chapter 11: "Reimagining Corporate Social Responsibility in the Idea of University Education as the Public Good" addresses the constraints of universities regarding the new height of CSR. It explains the link between CSR and the university as a public good and specifies the actor-driven transformative ways of embracing CSR.

Chapter 12: "Responding Creatively to Faulty Corporate Social Responsibility Practices: The Case of Nigeria's Niger Delta" presents the latest understanding of the CSR concept in light of Nigeria's Niger Delta. It cites the most significant importance of Nigeria's CSR practices in increasing oil wealth.

Chapter 13: "Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case of the Provision of Recreational Facilities" highlights the role of the government in improving firms' activities. It illustrates the value of government policies in altering firms' CSR activities and improving recreational facilities.

Chapter 14: "CSR and Female Directors: A Review and Future Research Agenda" analyzes the role of gender diversity in gaining sustainability.

Chapter 15: "Does Board Structure Matter in CSR Spending of Commercial Banks? Empirical Evidence from an Emerging Economy" discusses the valuable role of the board of directors in CSR expenditure. Stakeholders are continually demanding more information about CSR. This chapter discusses CSR spending and related factors such as firm size and profitability.

Chapter 16: "Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Report: A Case Study in the Basque Country" examines how many companies have shifted from the traditional interpretation of CSR to the true meaning of CSR by playing a social and ecological role.

This book has been designed to help researchers, organizations, stakeholders, field beneficiaries, and readers navigate and understand the dynamic nature of CSR.

Numerous people have contributed to the success of this book. I wish to thank all those who supported this project with their helpful comments. I am most appreciative to the chapter authors for their excellent contributions.
