The motivation driving an organisation’s (CSR) activity can range from an altruistic desire to benefit society to a cynical desire to enhance reputation. Among the questions UL’s Dr Sheila Killian poses in her latest book,  Corporate Social Responsibility – A Guide, with Irish Experiences is whether that motivation matters so long as society benefits?

Dr Killian explains; “I wanted to use the experiences of Irish organisations to show the reasons they engage in CSR from a uniquely Irish perspective and to illustrate the difference such activity can make inside and outside an organisation. With more organisations now reporting on such activity in the Annual Report, CSR is rapidly becoming main-stream. This guide will help you get to grips with this modern demand.”

In this practical new guide drawing Dr Killian explores the meaning of CSR posing questions such as:

·         How can companies move up the ladder of CSR from basic philanthropy to embedding the practice in all aspects of their business?

·         To what extent are firms responsible for their supply chain?

·         How should organisations best communicate and report on their CSR activities to a cynical world?

Corporate Social Responsibility – A Guide, with Irish Experiences addresses these questions in two ways. Part I of the book comprises eight chapters covering the theory and practice of CSR. It presents the definitions and origins of CSR, the main formal and informal drivers of the practice and a comprehensive taxonomy of the areas of concern to a modern firm, including the supply chain, before dealing with reporting, CSR standards and new developments in the field.

Part II then relates the experiences of eight Irish organisations, from different sectors, in implementing a CSR strategy.

Speaking at the launch, University of Limerick President, Professor Don Barry said; “At the University of Limerick we are working hard to introduce our students to the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility . I’m really delighted that the Kemmy Business School is playing such a pioneering role in this area. It fits perfectly with the broader Kemmy legacy of responsibility and consciousness of the wider social context in which companies and entrepreneurs must operate.”

In a message of support to the author, Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland said:“I am delighted to send warm greetings on the publication of this book on Corporate Social Responsibility focusing on smaller Irish companies. It is so worthwhile to create a business publication with its focus on social values, the values that drive smaller firms to provide services for local communities – from actual service-provision to people management within the firms. This book strives to heighten awareness about the responsibility to raise standards in business. It offers guidance in addressing human rights issues and discusses the benefit of engaging in community partnership, which in turn draws on the rich body of knowledge waiting to be tapped in this area. Once again education is seen to promote the concept of social responsibility in the corporate sector, and I commend your efforts to win the hearts and minds of businesses, small and large, and to bring these concepts to the fore.”

Dr Sheila Killian holds a BA in Mathematics, an MBS focused on earnings management and a PhD in taxation. She qualified as an associate of the Irish Tax Institute in 1989 and as a Chartered Accountant in 1992. Her research, spanning CSR, accounting, taxation and development issues, has been published on five continents. She has worked in third level education in South Africa and Finland, and lectures in corporate social responsibility and finance at the Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick. Sheila previously worked in taxation with Ernst & Young, KPMG and Arthur Andersen, and in the aviation finance industry. Sheila is the founding Chair of Soweto Connection, an Irish non-profit organisation working with South African township communities.