Corporate social responsibility at Namdeb Diamond Corporation : an exploratory case study
Karamata, Helena Ndapopile (2008-03)
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The onset of globalisation has brought major shifts in business conduct where
stakeholder expectations and business priorities and obligation are concerned, bringing
a whole new meaning to the issue of sustainable development. In the past, sustainable
development essentially concerned the environment, particularly the safeguarding of
ecological interests through more responsible business practices. However, over the
years, this perspective has evolved to give equal priority to economic, ecological, as well
as social interests. The shift in business priorities and obligation has increased the
significance of corporate social responsibility (CSR), or the discretionary contribution of
corporate resources towards social, environmental and economic development, as defined by the study. The practice of CSR, too, has evolved over time – from being mostly once-off, random philanthropic donations, to a more strategic approach that aligns CSR initiatives with national and corporate objectives. Today, CSR has become an item on many corporate agendas worldwide and hence, the study seeks to explore
the concept of corporate social responsibility to gain a deeper understanding of the issue.
The aims of the study are to gain an understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility
and its dynamics, to establish the nature and scope of CSR at NAMDEB Diamond
Corporation, and to establish how CSR at NAMDEB aligns with current global
approaches and practices. These will be achieved through an analytical study of CSR
literature, an exploration of Government’s expectations of the private sector with regard
to CSR, and by exploring NAMDEB’s CSR initiatives and practices.
In Chapter 2, the meaning of CSR is explored and defined, followed by a discussion of
the history, trends, approaches and practices in CSR. The chapter also presents global
initiatives relevant to sustainable development and CSR. Following the literature review,
Chapter 3 explores the Government’s expectations of the private sector in terms of its
support and involvement in socioeconomic development in Namibia. NAMDEB Diamond Corporation (Pty) Ltd was selected for the case study, being a
leading mining company in Namibia. The Company is the second-largest employer in
Namibia, only second to Government, and the country’s largest single taxpayer. In
Chapter 4, the study explores the Company’s CSR initiatives and practices to establish
the scope and nature of CSR at NAMDEB. The study then seeks to determine the
approach adopted by the Company in implementing CSR, and how it aligns with global
approaches and practices. The main conclusions of the study and recommendations to
the Company are laid down in Chapter 5.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aanvang van globalisering het ‘n groot verskuiwing veroorsaak aangaande die besigheidspraktyk van belangstellendes, hul besigheidsprioriteite, verantwoordelikhede en ‘n heel nuwe betekenis vir volhoubare ontwikkeling. In die verlede was volhoubare ontwikkeling meer gemoeid met die omgewing, veral die beskerming van sekere
ekologiese belange deur middel van meer verantwoordelike besigheidspraktyke. Oor
die jare het die konsep van volhoubare ontwikkeling soveel verander en gee nou ook
gelyke aandag aan ekonomiese, ekologiese sowel as sosiale belange. Die verskuiwing
in besigheidsprioriteite en verantwoordelikhede het die belang van korporatiewe-sosiale
verantwoordelikhede (KSV) verhoog, of te wel die oordeelkundige bydrae van korporatiewe hulpbronne vir sosiale-, omgewings en ekonomiese ontwikkeling, soos deur die studie gedefineer. Die praktyk van KSV het ook mettertyd ontwikkel – van eenmalige, willekeurige filantrofiese donasies, na ‘n meer strategiese benadering wat
nasionale sowel as korporatiewe objektiewe met KSV inisiatiewe inskakel. Deesdae is
KSV ‘n item op agendas van baie wêreldwye korporasies, en gevolglik is die studie se
doel om die konsep van KSV te eksploreer en te ontleed om sodoende dit beter te verstaan.
Die doel van die studie is om KSV en sy dinamika beter te verstaan asook die omvang van KSV te NAMDEB Diamand Korporasie, en om vas te stel hoe KSV te NAMDEB met huidige wêreldwye benaderings en uitvoerings inskakel. Dié word bereik met ‘n
analitiese studie van KSV literatuur, ‘n eksplorasie van die regering se verwagting van
die private sektor aangaande KSV, en met die ondersoek van NAMDEB se KSV inisiatiewe en praktyke. In Hoofstuk 2 word die betekenis van KSV eksploreer en gedefineer. Hierop volg ‘n
bespreking oor die geskiedenis, tendens, benaderings en uitvoering van KSV. Die
hoofstuk beeld ook wêreldwye inisiatiewe wat relevant is tot KSV en volhoubare ontwikkeling. Die literatuur oorsig word deur Hoofstuk 3 gevolg, wat die regering se verwagting van die private sektor in terme van dié se ondersteuning en betrokkenheid by die sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling in Namibie eksploreer. NAMDEB is vir hierdie gevalstudie geselekteer omdat dit ‘n leidende korporasie in die mynwese van Namibia is. Die Maatskappy is die tweede grootste werkverskaffer in Namibie, naas die regering, en is ook die grootste enkel belastingbetaler in die land.
Hoofstuk 4 kyk na die Maatskappy se KSV inisiatiewe en praktyke om sodoende die
omvang en natuur van KSV té NAMDEB te bepaal. Die studie probeer verder om die benadering wat deur NAMDEB aangeneem is met die implementering van KSV te bepaal en hoe dit met wêreldwye benaderings en praktyke inskakel. Die hoofafleidings van die studie en voorstelle oor KSV aan die Maatskappy word in Hoofstuk 5 bespreek.
Please refer to this item in SUNScholar by using the following persistent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/851