**7. Conclusion**

Due to its dynamic features, CSR continues to undergo a growing importance and significance. CSR was explored through this chapter whether as a moral obligation or a symbolic strategy, or also as a means or an end. The moral argument has been discussed for a longtime as the main foundation of CSR according to which firms have a moral imperative towards society. CSR's moral argument derives from intrinsic motives namely moral rules and personal values. In fact, based on the Kantian moral philosophy and according to the moral perspective, CSR should be considered as end in itself and not a means to achieve economic or personal goals.

However, the extrinsic motives underlying CSR bring about the idea of a strategic CSR. In fact, achieving economic goals, gaining the stakeholders' trust and support, reinforcing the firm's reputation and legitimacy may result in a socially responsible behavior. Overall, CSR may be involved substantively or symbolically. In fact CSR is substantively implemented when social and environmental concerns imply real changes, tangible and measurable activities (talk and walk).

Oppositely, CSR is symbolically implemented when it does not involve effective changes within the firm's operational system. Thus, the firm considers CSR as a means to achieve economic goals and make profits by appearing as socially responsible. Such initiative is involved in impression management strategies according to which CSR is used as an instrument to manage the stakeholders' perception and deflect the attention from bad and poor outcomes.

Furthermore, the greenwashing strategy is involved as a gap between CSR's substantive and symbolic actions in which changes are merely symbolic and deliberate.

However, it is relevant to note that looking for profits and economic goals should not exclude considering the interest of the various stakeholders. In fact, in certain circumstances, the effective satisfaction of those demands may contribute to maximizing profits and achieving the firm's goals. Thus, there is no need to symbolic CSR to make benefits. Consequently, it is interesting to explore the CSR as a win-win strategy if it is implemented adequately.

*CSR: A Moral Obligation or a Strategic Behavior? DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94471*
