Mini Case
Mini Case
Mini Case
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
FACULTY OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS - MARKETING
▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫ ▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫▫
2.1. What benefits does a global corporation such as Etisalat draw from its
philanthropic activities?.................................................................................................2
2.2. In financing these philanthropic activities, and in choosing which ones to support,
does a global corporation run the risk of being seen as a substitute for the local
government? If so, what are potential drawbacks to this?..............................................4
3. References..................................................................................................................... 6
Minicase Etisalat’s Philanthrophic Activities Group: 04
2.1. What benefits does a global corporation such as Etisalat draw from its philanthropic
activities?
Philanthropy is a powerful tool for promoting sustainability and enables corporations
to open a meaningful dialogue about their social values and aims with a wide range of
stakeholders - businesses, employees, consumers, local government, and wider society to
achieve positive change. Over the last few years, there’s been an increase in the number
of businesses engaged in philanthropic activities, as well as a diversification in the size
and types of businesses that participate. Etisalat Group is also doing its target by
investing time and money in improving the living standards of people wherever it
operates in the form of free education, creating better health facilities, or advanced civic
infrastructure development.
There are several benefits that a global corporation like Etisalat can draw from its
philanthropic activities:
Firstly, philanthropy is a sort of public relations or advertising that assists corporations
in improving their reputation and raising brand awareness. Being involved in
philanthropy is a great way to show the public that your corporation is a concern and can
be trusted. Companies can boost brand recognition or improve their corporate image,
resulting in higher sales and profits. Studies show that people will spend more money on
brands that support causes. According to Cone Communication’s Study (2017), when
given the choice between two brands of equal value, ninety percent of consumers are
likely to choose a cause-branded product. Eighty-seven percent of consumers also said
they would purchase a product simply because a corporation advocated for an issue they
care about.
Secondly, another benefit for businesses is that philanthropy can retain employee
engagement and retention rates. CSR research consistently shows that corporations that
offer corporate philanthropy opportunities see higher employee motivation and
productivity. Their employees are more likely to stay with the company for a longer
period of time as a result of feeling honored to be a part of an organization that truly
improves the lives of those in need. Up to 78% of employees prefer to participate in
corporate social responsibility initiatives. Whenever any company is engaged in
philanthropic activities or CSR it brings lots of positivity to the workspace. The
atmosphere is always pumped and people are more willing and enthusiastic than ever.
Moreover, employee engagement also improves productivity and business results.
According to a survey by Gallup’s meta-analysis, when a company has engaged
employees, they see a 17% increase in productivity, are 21% more profitable and can
have 41% lower absenteeism. Innovation and creativity also increase in an engaged
workplace. As a result, the work they do with more effort and dedication overall leads to
an increase in productivity and sales as well. Besides, philanthropic activities can help to
create a positive corporate culture that values social responsibility and community
development, which can attract and retain top talent.
Thirdly, by engaging in philanthropy activities, global corporations can increase
customer loyalty and create a positive attitude among their consumer base. Corporations
can establish more personal connections with their consumers by participating in the
community. Consumers are more likely to do business with a company that is actively
engaged in making their community a better place. In fact, according to America's
Charities, 47% of global consumers said they buy products from brands that support a
good cause at least once a month. Community participation is an excellent approach to
boosting customer engagement and fostering goodwill among consumer groups. By
attracting new customers and maintaining the loyalty of existing ones, corporations will
be expanding and growing.
Fourthly, philanthropic activities can help corporations to gain access to new markets,
particularly in emerging economies where social responsibility and community
development are highly valued. Additionally, corporations can also take advantage of the
2.2. In financing these philanthropic activities, and in choosing which ones to support,
does a global corporation run the risk of being seen as a substitute for the local
government? If so, what are potential drawbacks to this?
In financing these philanthropic activities, and in choosing which ones to support, an
international company runs the risk of being seen as a substitute for the local government,
regardless of whether it is based on the point of view of the helpee "the people", the
global company or the local government. As we can see from the information in part one,
a global corporation, like Etisalat, is doing what the government needs to do and should
focus on. In another case, with the desire to work with experienced, professional, reliable
partners, a number of global corporations will develop relationships and work with local
governments to better deploy their philanthropic activities.
However, when the global corporation as a whole faces the risk of being seen as a
substitute for the local government, this also creates several potential limitations, as
follows:
Firstly, global corporations' operations in these markets may face challenges. When the
governments of nations that are engaged in society think that it is replacing the
responsibilities and roles of the government, the governments of these countries will
implement legislations to make Etisalat's business difficult, such as restrictions on the
right to operate or invest, utilize resources, etc. are more strict in the way of regulation. In
addition, Etisalat may also find it difficult to collaborate with government stakeholders.
In another aspect, by providing direct support to a community, a corporation may
inadvertently undermine the authority of local government. This can create confusion and
potentially lead to conflict over who has the responsibility and authority to provide
certain services or support.
Secondly, when your corporation becomes a public figure and is seen as a substitute
for the local government, it is more likely to be scrutinized in all aspects. As an
organization that maintains its credibility through its activities, even little infractions
might result in criticism. This can put the corporations at a disadvantage because it will
have an impact on your customer base.
Thirdly, in addition to business goals, global corporations engage in philanthropic
activities to boost their corporation's image and awareness. Being considered a substitute
also becomes a barrier when they achieve their global goals and limit operational
efficiency.
Fourthly, when a corporation provides assistance to the community, there is a risk that
the community will become dependent on the company's support rather than building its
own resources and capabilities, resulting in negative effects for that community.
Fifthly, unlike local governments, corporations may not be held accountable by the
community they are supporting. This might lead to a lack of transparency and
accountability in how funds are used, and whether or not they are having a positive
impact.
Last but not least, global corporations may have their own interests, priorities, and
agendas that are incompatible with the needs and priorities of the community they are
supporting. In some cases, corporate objectives may even conflict with community needs,
which can lead to unintended negative consequences.
Overall, while corporate philanthropy can be a powerful force for good, it is crucial to
be aware of the potential risks and drawbacks of corporations acting as a substitute for
local government. To avoid these risks, corporations should work in partnership with
local governments and communities, rather than acting as a substitute for them.
3. References
[1] Lasserre Philippe. (2018). Global Strategic Management. Fourth Edition. Palgrave
Macmillan.
[2] Group Corporate Communications. (2012). Etisalat CSR & Sustainability Report
2012. Available at: https://eand.com/en/system/docs/reports/Etisalat-CSR-
Sustainability-Report-2012_lowres.pdf.
[3] Smith, C. (1996). Desperately seeking data: Why research is crucial to the new
corporate philanthropy. In D. F. Burlingame & D. R. Young (Eds.), Corporate
philanthropy at the crossroads (pp. 1-6). Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
[4] Weeden, C. (1998). Corporate social investing. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler
[5] Saiia, D. H., Carroll, A. B., & Buchholtz, A. K. (2003). Philanthropy as Strategy.
Business & Society, 42(2), 169–201. https://doi.org/10.1177/0007650303042002002
[6] Amabile, T. M. (1993). Motivational synergy: Toward new conceptualizations of
intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in the workplace. Human Resource Management
Review, 3(3), 185–201. https://doi.org/10.1016/1053-4822(93)90012-S
[7] Backhaus, K. B., Stone, B. A., & Heiner, K. (2002). Exploring The Relationship
Between Corporate Social Performance and Employer Attractiveness. Business &
Society, 41(3)
[8] Bauman, C. W., & Skitka, L. J. (2012). Corporate social responsibility as a source of
employee satisfaction. Research in Organizational Behavior, 32, 63–86.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.riob.2012.11.002
[9] America's Charities (2022) Facts & Statistics on workplace giving, matching
gifts, and volunteer programs, America's Charities. Available at:
https://www.charities.org/facts-statistics-workplace-giving-matching-gifts-and-
volunteer-programs.
[10] Tuokuu, F. X. D., & Amponsah-Tawiah, K. (2016). Corporate social responsibility:
is it an alternative to government? Journal of Global Responsibility, 7(1), 26–38.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JGR-05-2015-0007.
[11] Harter, J. (2022) Employee engagement vs. employee satisfaction and organizational
culture, Gallup.com. Gallup. Available at:
https://www.gallup.com/workplace/236366/right-culture-not-employee-
satisfaction.aspx.
[12] Sorenson, S. (2022) How employee engagement drives growth, Gallup.com. Gallup.
Available at: https://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/163130/employee-
engagement-drives-growth.aspx.
[13] Cone Communications. (2017) 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study. Available at
http://www.conecomm.com/2017-csr-study.