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The concept of social responsibility is not new, although the idea wasalready considered in the early part of the twentieth century. The moderndiscussions of social responsibility got a major impetus with the book“social responsibility of business men†by Howard .R. Bowen, whosuggested that business actors should consider the social implications oftheir decisions, society being awakened with respect to the urgency of socialproblems is asking managers and owners of business what they are doing todischarge their social responsibility to the society in which they operategiven negative social impacts of their business on the society such aspollutions of all kinds air, water, solid waste noise to mention but a few.The concept of social responsibility refers to the firm’s considerationof and responses to the issues beyond narrow economic, technical and legalrequirement of the firm. It is the firm’s obligation to evaluate in its decisionmaking process the effects of its decision on the external social system in amanner that should accomplish social benefits along with the traditionaleconomic gains which the firm seeks for. However, Harper D. (1976) aclassical economist consistently argued against the need to do anything thatnegates profit maximization. He sees business social responsibility as anaberration Harper, (1976).xii
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMSOil spillage in some of the oil producing state is alarming and somepollution caused by industries in our country is on the high rate. Theproblems of the communities where the oil companies operate bring theseproblems constructively to the attention of the companies with which theyhave developed regular form for meetings. These companies have createdecological disaster, gas flowing in the communities. Therefore, the problemto be looked into in this research is that a corporate organisation does notbother about their social responsibility to the environment where theyoperate. Furthermore, poverty, lack of essential facilities and unemploymentare increasing is alarming proportion. As a result the needs and expectationof the society are not met by the business organisation.1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDYThe corporate organizations naturally have its own mix and differentemphasis. The overall objectives of every organisation are survival growth,profit, economic contribution and social obligation. It is known fact thatfirms in Nigeria usually lay more emphasis on profit maximization. Theobjective of this research work includes the following:xiii
i. To examine the general attitude of ANAMMCO towards socialresponsibility.ii. To examine the consequences of the company ignoring its socialresponsibilities.iii. To evaluate the problems which hinder the performance of socialresponsibility practice by ANAMMCO.iv. To recommend possible solutions for the identified problems.1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONSTo ensure an in-depth research work with a view to providing bestsolutions to problems identified, the study will make us of the following four(4) research questions:i. Could business organisation carryout a successful socialresponsibility practice?ii. Should social responsibility be legalized?iii. In what form should social responsibility be performed?iv. Where should funds for carrying out these social responsibilityprogrammes come from?xiv
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESESBased on the four research questions already mentioned, the followinghypotheses were formulated:HYPOTHESES 1Ho: Business organizations can not carryout a successful socialresponsibility practice.Hi: Business organizations can significantly carry out a successful socialresponsibility practice.HYPOTHESES IIHo: Business social responsibility should not be legalized.Hi: Business social responsibility practices should be significantlylegalized.HYPOTHESES IIIHo: Social responsibility practices cannot be achieved in any form.Hi: Social responsibility practice can reasonably be achieved in differentform.HYPOTHESES IVHo: There is no place to source funds for carrying out social responsibilitypractice.Hi: There are sources of fund, for financing social responsibility practice.xv
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDYThe importance of the study cannot be over-emphasized given theinterdependencies of many groups in our society. The study is thereforeimportant because, it will not only examine the attitude of businessorganisation towards the issue of social responsibility but will go a long wayto help these organisation on policy making decision in order to eliminatethe negative effects and consequences of these attitudes in the discharge ofsocial responsibility practices. The study will be of immense benefit toresearchers and students looking for more information on this topic.Another significance of this research is that, it will help in findingways to improve relationship between the company and the town in which itoperates. It enables manager of different organizations to know actuallywhat social responsibility is all about and it will also help them to know thedifference between social problem and economic performance. The studywill equally be beneficial to private and public sector organizations.1.7 SCOPE OF THE STUDY.The study, as earlier specified, aims at appraising the socialresponsibility practice by corporate organizations in Enugu using AnambraMotor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO) as case study. The study isxvi
therefore restricted to the study of the ANAMMCO as a corporateorganization in Emene, Enugu.It is, however, expected that the study of ANAMMCO, Emene, Enuguwould give enough information on how business social responsibility cansuccessfully be rendered by other categories of business firms1.8 LIMITATION OF THE STUDYIn the course of carrying out this research work, some difficultieswere encountered. The constraints were however managed; among thesewere time, materials and financial constraints.TIME:Time factor was one of the constraints faced by the researcher;however, the researcher took time management seriously, as the study wassuccessful. So many useful times was involved to make the study as theresearcher had to combine full time employment with the collection of datafor the work.MATERIALS:It is not easy for the materials to be collected or obtained due tolimited books, journals and other reference materials, particularly obtaininginformation from the case organization was a tedious exercise, as somexvii
information was termed “vital confidential, or classified†and are out ofreach despite the purpose and intentions to which they were requested for,though some management staff and senior supervisors were very helpful asthey assisted in providing necessary data that formed the basis for thisproject write-up, conclusion and recommendations.FINANCE:Financial problem was also encountered by the researcher in thecourse of the work. This constraint informed the study of only one corporateorganization. Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO).Notwithstanding the above constraints, the quality of the research workcould not be impaired.1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMANAMMCO: Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company