AN ASSESSMENT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRACTICE OF SANOFI AVENTIS IN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gradually become a leading issue in business. Heightened corporate attention to CSR has not been entirely voluntary. Many companies awake to it only after being surprised by public response to issues they had not previously thought were part of their responsibilities. But despite their intent, the practice and what drives them to engage is not lucid. Thus, the prime essence of this study was to assess the practice of CSR in Multinational Pharmaceutical Companies in Ethiopia (Merck, Sanofi Aventis, Novartis And Astra Zeneca). The study used both qualitative and quantitative research approaches and it is mainly dependent on primary source of data in which structured questionnaire and interview was developed to get data from respondents composed of customers, community, employees, mangers and government officials. To meet the research objective the researcher used non-probability sampling approach particularly judgmental sampling technique to select the samples from each stakeholder’s category. Respondents from the total population were selected conveniently. The findings depicts that the employees awareness towards concept of CSR is at its lowest level, but it is good to have basic knowledge about it. It is possible to conclude from the survey different items listed in the study believed practical to views CSR in business organizations. The stakeholders' perceptions on components of CSR include economic, ethical, legal, and philanthropic responsibilities agreed that items listed are important aspects to business organizations socially responsible activities. The prioritization of CSR to the company includes philanthropic, next ethical, then economic and finally legal responsibilities. The companies need to allocate enough amount of budget and focus on training and developing mechanisms that help to communicate with the stakeholders.