Bill C. Lin

Abstract

In this new era of globalization, the competition among multi-national corporations in various industries is tighter than ever. Due to this intense struggle for corporations to grow their bottom line, the corporations have recognized that a new approach to business is necessary. Corporations have realized that they can no longer just think about their economical profitability to survive in this environment, but they also have to be good stewards to the people they employ and be conscious of the impact the corporation's daily operations have on the environment. Because of this new found recognition, corporations have started using phrases such as being sustainable, being responsible and being good corporation citizens, in their corporation reporting and publications.

The work of this thesis, will analyze the sustainability/responsibility/citizenship report and websites of five-U.S. multi-national corporations in various industries. This research will look at what sustainability/responsibility/citizenship activities corporations are claiming to be doing and verify the validity of those activities from additional independent sources. Furthermore, this thesis will look at whether or not these activities meet the definition of what the corporations are claiming to be sustainable/responsible/citizenship.

After performing the research, this thesis has concluded that the activities that each of the companies is claiming to be implementing are indeed being implemented and that these activities do help the individual corporation to achieve its own definition of what is sustainable/responsible/citizenship.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

International business enterprises--Environmental aspects; International business enterprises--Moral and ethical aspects; Social responsibility of business; Industrial management--Environmental aspects; Industrial management--Moral and ethical aspects; Sustainable development

Publication Date

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Environmental, Health and Safety Management (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Civil Engineering Technology Environmental Management and Safety (CAST)

Advisor

John Morelli

Advisor/Committee Member

Joe Rosenbeck

Advisor/Committee Member

Mike Riley

Comments

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at HD62.4 .L56 2007

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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