LoginPage 1: Introduction
Today, more than ever, we have come to appreciate and value the relationships that can be forged between individuals, organisations and the wider community. John F. Kennedy, the celebrated American President, set out the nature of what this relationship could be in his inaugural Presidential address when he said:
'Don't ask what your country can do for you, rather, ask what you can do for your country.'
However, the individual and the organisation are not simply entitled to 'rights' - they also have 'obligations'. This case study focuses on corporate citizenship - i.e. the obligations which organisations have to their communities. Concern for the environment will be considered as an example of corporate citizenship.
An organisation takes on corporate status when it is recognised in law as a body, or entity, in its own right. In the UK, a business takes on corporate status when it becomes a private or public company with shareholders in accordance with the Companies Act. In the same way that we like individual people to be caring citizens, we also want corporations to be responsible, caring and helpful 'citizens'. Corporate citizenship is particularly important concerning the local, national and global environment.
