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Business & Society
A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility & Ethics

Ninth Edition
Available with:
Learning platform
January 2026 | 600 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Formerly published by Chicago Business Press, now published by Sage
Business & Society: A Strategic Approach to Social Responsibility & Ethics integrates business and society into organizational strategies to showcase social responsibility as an actionable and practical field of interest, grounded in sound theory. In corporate America today, social responsibility has been linked to financial performance and is a major consideration in strategic planning. This innovative Ninth Edition ensures that business students understand and appreciate concerns about philanthropy, employee well-being, corporate governance, consumer protection, social issues, and sustainability, helping to prepare them for the social responsibility challenges and opportunities they will face throughout their careers.

This text is offered in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.

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Preface
 
Chapter 1: Social Responsibility Framework
Social Responsibility Defined

 
Development of Social Responsibility

 
Global Nature of Social Responsibility

 
Benefits of Social Responsibility

 
Framework for Studying Social Responsibility

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 2: Strategic Management of Stakeholder Relationships
Stakeholders Defined

 
The Role of Stakeholders

 
Building Stakeholder Confidence

 
Development of Stakeholder Relationships

 
Implementing a Stakeholder Perspective in Social Responsibility

 
Link Between Stakeholder Relationships and Social Responsibility

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 3: Corporate Governance
Corporate Governance Defined

 
History and Practice of Corporate Governance

 
Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility

 
Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility

 
Corporate Governance Around the World

 
Future of Corporate Governance

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 4: Business, Government, and Regulation
Government’s Regulatory Influence on Business

 
Government’s Nonregulatory Influence on Business

 
Government’s Focus on Deregulation

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 5: The Impact of Business on Government and the Political Environment
The Contemporary Political Environment

 
Influencing Government

 
Laws and Regulations

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 6: Business Ethics and Ethical Decision-Making
The Nature of Business Ethics

 
Foundations of Business Ethics

 
Ethical Issues in Business

 
Understanding the Ethical Decision-Making Process

 
Developing an Ethical Culture

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 7: Strategic Approaches to Improving Ethical Behavior
Scope and Purpose of Organizational Ethics Programs

 
Establishing Systems to Monitor, Enforce, and Improve the Ethics Program

 
Institutionalization of Business Ethics

 
Ethical Leadership

 
Requirements of Ethical Leadership

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 8: Employee Relations
Employee Stakeholders

 
Responsibilities to Employees

 
Strategic Implementation of Responsibilities to Employees

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 9: Consumer Relations
Consumer Stakeholders

 
Responsibilities to Consumers

 
Strategic Implementation of Responsibilities to Consumers

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 10: Community Relations and Strategic Philanthropy
Community Stakeholders

 
Responsibilities to the Community

 
Corporate Philanthropy

 
Strategic Philanthropy

 
Link to Social Responsibility

 
Social Entrepreneurship

 
Benefits of Strategic Philanthropy

 
Implementation of Strategic Philanthropy

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 11: Technology Issues
The Nature of Technology

 
Technology’s Influence on the Economy

 
Technology’s Influence on Society

 
Strategic Implementation of Responsibility for Technology

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 12: Sustainability and the Environment
The Nature of Sustainability and the Environment

 
Global Environmental Issues

 
Environmental Policy and Regulation

 
Alternative Energy

 
Business Response to Sustainability Issues

 
Strategic Implementation of Environmental Responsibility

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Chapter 13: Social Responsibility in a Global Environment
Cultural Intelligence

 
Global Stakeholders

 
Global Development

 
Global Reporting Standards

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
Experiential Exercise

 
 
Case 1: The Heart Behind the Duck: Aflac Ethics in Action
 
Case 2: Crypto Crash and Burn: Inside the FTX Fallout
 
Case 3: The EV Industry Races Toward a Sustainable Future
 
Case 4: A Bitter Pill for Johnson & Johnson
 
Case 5: Chevron Puts More Energy Into Sustainability
 
Case 6: Shein Shifts Fast Fashion into Overdrive
 
Case 7: Silicon Valley Breaks the Bank
 
Case 8: Big-Box Retailer Walmart Sets Big ESG Goals
 
Case 9: Google Searches for an Edge in the AI Race
 
Case 10: Ground for Celebration: Sustainable Innovation at illycaffè
 
Case 11: Mattel Gets Dolled Up for a Greener Future
 
Case 12: Toshiba: From Tech Titan to Turmoil
 
Case 13: How Cisco Hard-Coded Conscious Culture
 
Case 14: Climbing Higher: Patagonia’s Path to Purpose-Driven Profits
 
Case 15: From Basement Brews to Better Business: The New Belgium Way
 
Glossary
 
Notes
 
Index
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • Flashcards and note-taking tools help students better prepare for class.
    • NEW! Audiobook Player allows students to listen to text content, boosting comprehension and retention. It offers flexible, on-the-go access, engaging both reluctant readers and auditory learners, improving the overall reading experience.
    • The Offline Reading option in the Student Dashboard offers greater accessibility to Vantage’s reading content, regardless of where students are or how strong their internet connection may be.
  • Each chapter of the text has been updated to include recent social responsibility issues related to consumer activism, workforce trends, buycotts, carbon capture technology, and reverse logistics. Generative AI and nanotechnology, and the environmental costs of innovation are explored in depth. Chapters also address updated regulatory developments, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), and other privacy regulations around the globe. Expanded coverage includes antitrust, tariffs, director independence, automation, food security, and consumer fraud.
  • 8 new case studies at the end of the book, and 7 updated case studies (15 in total). New cases include Case 1 - The Heart Behind the Duck: Aflac Ethics in Action, Case 6 - Shein Shifts Fast Fashion into Overdrive, and Case 9 - Google Searches for an Edge in the AI Race.
  • New topics discussed include the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) framework, supply chain disruptions, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), the Great Resignation and other employment trends, food security, and supplier diversity.
  • Opening cases at the start of each chapter address a variety of issues related to the chapter content, including corporate activism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and lobbying.
KEY FEATURES:
  • Experiential exercises at the end of each chapter help students apply social responsibility concepts and ideas to business practice.
  • Chapter opening cases and real company examples from all over the world are included to help students understand how social responsibility works in today's business world.
  • What Would You Do? exercises depict real-world scenarios where people are faced with decisions about social responsibility in the workplace.
  • A debate issue is located at the end of each chapter to highlight the complexity of ethical issues and to help students develop their critical thinking, research, and communication skills.
  • 15 cases at the end of the book allow students to consider the effects of stakeholders and responsibility expectations on larger and well-known businesses, representing the most up-to-date and compelling issues in social responsibility.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1: Social Responsibility Framework

Vantage Reference: 
Business & Society - Vantage Learning Platform