The Legitimacy of CSR based on the Decision-making Characteristics

A decision-making that considers CSR (corporate social responsibility) aims to optimize two variables “consideration and satisfaction of stakeholder interests” and “economic profits”. Considering and satisfying the interests of stakeholders is an inevitable act for CSR activities, but that is not the goal of social responsibility management. Moreover, the nature of management judgment reflecting CSR greatly differs between its consideration and satisfaction in the value creation process and that in the value distribution process. Otherwise, the nature of management judgment will change depending on the intention of considering and satisfying stakeholder interests. Consideration of stakeholder interests has the function of suppressing the behavioral principles of corporations pursuing only economic interests. This orientation of suppressive or self-reflective decision is a foundation of the legitimacy of CSR.