“Corporate Digital Responsibility”

Abstract

Digitalization is leading to profound changes in our private and work lives. New technologies are pervasive and create opportunities for new business models and lifestyles. Recently, the term “Corporate Digital Responsibility” has been coined to summarize the emerging responsibilities of corporations relating to their digitalization-related impacts, risks, challenges, and opportunities. The paper at hand reviews the topic of CDR using a multi-step approach. First, results from an opinion poll of 509 US-based respondents are reported which illustrate the perceived opportunities and threats associated with the topic of digitalization, underlining the need for a strategic approach to CDR implementation. Second, existing uses and definitions of the CDR terminology are summarized and a definition of CDR is derived. Third, twenty important topics related to CDR are identified, summarized and categorized into three categories using the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) framework. Finally, results are discussed with regards to their theoretical and managerial contributions and a hands-on guide which companies can use to implement a suitable CDR strategy is presented.

Data responsibility, corporate social responsibility, and corporate digital responsibility

“…We must ensure that information technology, and the information it handles, are used to enhance the dignity of mankind” (Mason, 1986). Competing definitions of CDR have emerged over the past few years, focused on who are constituents of CDR, arguing special attention needs to be given to artificial actors (Lobschat et al, 2021), identifying different branches of responsibilities CDR aims to target (Herden et al, 2021), or making the case for merging sustainability and digitalization together (Wade, 2020).…”

Corporate Digital Responsibility

“…On the other hand, there are also various compelling reasons for perceiving CDR as a separate albeit interrelated concept to CSR (Elliott et al 2021;Lobschat et al 2021). Without aiming to lead a conclusive discussion and final verdict on whether CDR is an extension to CSR (Herden et al 2021) or a distinct concept (Elliott et al 2021;Lobschat et al 2021), in the following, we present various reasons why we should bestow separate research efforts on CDR.…”

“…CDR articulates companies' extended responsibilities regarding the new opportunities and challenges that technology development and use can bring (Herden et al 2021). At its core, CDR is related to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).…”

“…As a corollary of these questions, there are two possible views on CDR: On the one hand, we can view CDR as an extension of CSR and argue that CDR reflects, in essence, similar social and sustainability responsibilities as CSR (Herden et al 2021). On the other hand, there are also various compelling reasons for perceiving CDR as a separate albeit interrelated concept to CSR (Elliott et al 2021;Lobschat et al 2021).…”

“…Related to the emergence of monopolies, it is notable that technology also challenges the philanthropic responsibilities of corporations. As Carroll (1991) suggests, corporations should be good citizens and try to improve the quality of life of society (Herden et al 2021). However, the existence of monopolies improves the life of only few within society.…”