Business Responsibility towards Different Interest Groups

After getting some idea about the concept and importance of social responsibility of business let us look into the various responsibilities that a business has towards different groups with whom it interacts. The business generally interacts with owners, investors, employees, suppliers, customers, competitors, government and

society. They are called as interest groups because by each and every activity of business, the interest of these groups is affected directly or indirectly.

                                                    Fig: Social Responsibility of Business

i. Responsibility towards owners
Owners are the persons who own the business. They contribute capital and bear the business risks. The primary responsibilities of business towards its owners are to:
a. Run the business efficiently.
Owners Social Responsibilities of Business
b. Proper utilization of capital and other resources.
c. Growth and appreciation of capital.
d. Regular and fair return on capital invested.

ii. Responsibility towards investors
Investors are those who provide finance by way of investment in debentures, bonds, deposits etc. Banks, financial institutions, and investing public are all included in this category. The responsibilities of business towards its investors are:                                                                          

a. ensuring safety of their investment, 

b. Regular payment of interest,
c. Timely repayment of principal amount.

iii. Responsibility towards employees
Business needs employees or workers to work for it. These employees put their best effort for the benefit of the business. So it is the prime responsibility of every business to take care of the interest of their employees. If the employees are satisfied and efficient, then the only business can be successful. The responsibilities of business towards its employees include:
a. Timely and regular payment of wages and salaries.
b. Proper working conditions and welfare amenities.
d. Opportunity for better career prospects.
e. Job security as well as social security like facilities of provident fund, group insurance, pension, retirement benefits, etc.
f. Better living conditions like housing, transport, canteen, crèches etc.
g. Timely training and development.

iv. Responsibility towards suppliers
Suppliers are businessmen who supply raw materials and other items required by manufacturers and traders. Certain suppliers, called distributors, supply finished products to the consumers. The responsibilities of business towards these suppliers are:
a. Giving regular orders for purchase of goods.
b. Dealing on fair terms and conditions.
c. Availing reasonable credit period.
d. Timely payment of dues.

v. Responsibility towards customers
No business can survive without the support of customers. As a part of the responsibility of business towards them the business should provide the following facilities:
a. Products and services must be able to take care of the needs of the customers.
b. Products and services must be qualitative
c. There must be regularity in supply of goods and services
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d. Price of the goods and services should be reasonable and affordable.
e. All the advantages and disadvantages of the product as well as procedure to use the products must be informed do the customers.
f. There must be proper after-sales service.
g. Grievances of the consumers, if any, must be settled quickly.
h. Unfair means like under weighing the product, adulteration, etc. must be avoided.

vi. Responsibility towards competitors
Competitors are the other businessmen or organizations involved in a similar type of business.
Existence of competition helps the business in becoming more dynamic and innovative so as
to make itself better than its competitors. It also sometimes encourages the business to
indulge in negative activities like resorting to unfair trade practices. The responsibilities of
business towards its competitors are
i. Not to offer exceptionally high sales commission to distributers, agents etc.
ii. Not to offer to customers heavy discounts and /or free products in every sale.
iii. Not to defame competitors through false or ambiguous advertisements.

vii. Responsibility towards government
Business activities are governed by the rules and regulations framed by the government.                                                                                         

The various responsibilities of business towards government are:
a. Setting up units as per guidelines of government
b. Payment of fees, duties and taxes regularly as well as honestly.
c. Not to indulge in monopolistic and restrictive trade practices.
d. Conforming to pollution control norms set up by government.
h. Not to indulge in corruption through bribing and other unlawful activities.

viii. Responsibility towards society
A society consists of individuals, groups, organizations, families etc. They all are the members of the society. They interact with each other and are also dependent on each other in almost all activities. There exists a relationship among them, which may be direct or indirect. Business, being a part of the society, also maintains its relationship with all other members of the society. Thus, it has certain responsibilities towards society, which may be as follows:
a. to help the weaker and backward sections of the society
b. to preserve and promote social and cultural values
c. to generate employment
d. to protect the environment
e. to conserve natural resources and wildlife
f. to promote sports and culture
g. to provide assistance in the field of developmental research on education, medical etc.