Corporate social responsibility and psychological contract: towards redefining relationships

There is growing concern about the activities of business in society. Much attention is drawn to the changing nature of the relationship between corporations and society which has increased the demand for organisations to recognise their corporate social responsibility (CSR). This research explores an understanding of the relationship between multinational corporations and their host communities in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Based on data from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion in three host communities, there is an implicit contractual relationship which could be likened to that of a psychological contract. From a Psychological contract perspective, the study suggests the need for reciprocal benefits from both parties for desired positive impact. This study also establishes the nexus between CSR and psychological contract and contributes to evolving debates on CSR for improved relationships between business and the society.Keywords: Corporate social responsibilities, Psychological contract, Nigeria, Niger delta, relationship, Nigeria, Multinational corporation

Corporate Social Responsibility, Multinational Oil Companies and Local Communities in the Niger Delta; Exploring Relations, Contracts and Responsibilities

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a subject of increasing interest among academics and business practitioners globally. This thesis contributes to the discourse on CSR in the context of the Nigerian oil industry with regard to corporate-community relations. Specifically, the thesis constitutes a critique of CSR initiatives by multinational oil companies (MOC) operating in the Niger Delta region and their impact on the traditional livelihoods of local communities. The research attempts to understand the link between CSR and Psychological contract from the perspective of both the host communities and the MOCs. This thesis examines community perceptions, expectations and seeks to interpret the relationship between the host communities and the MOCs. The study provides empirical data through the use of twenty-eight semi-structured interviews and three focus groups. This is significant given that most of the research conducted into CSR in this region has been limited to descriptive and extensive theoretical explanations. Findings from the research suggest that the relationship between the host communities and the MOC is a very complex one and that the impact of the MOCs activities can be interpreted from the host communities’ negative actions. The thesis makes an important contribution to the emerging literature on social license to operate (SLO) and in what manner the local communities seek to enforce it. It also offers an alternative approach to CSR based on need assessment and stakeholder involvement rather than corporate obligations and expectations from society in general.Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Cross River State government in Nigeria, and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Traditional Livelihoods in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Business organizations are creations of society whose survival depends on the very society of which they are a part. Businesses need to respond to changing societal expectations by increasingly redefining and modifying their involvement in corporate social responsibility (CSR). The Nigerian economy depends on oil; approximately 90 percent of its earnings and 80 percent of federal revenue is derived from oil. This places the multinational oil companies at the forefront of business and makes them a focal point for the economic well-being of the nation as well as the welfare of the Nigerian society. Petroleum exploration and exploitation in the Niger delta region in recent decades has had major impacts on the oil producing communities. This paper considers one multi-national oil company and the impact of its operations on the traditional livelihoods of local communities and populations in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Drawing on empirical data obtained through twenty-four in-depth face-to-face interviews and critical analysis, this paper argues that the failure to seek, understand and integrate community needs into CSR policies and practices results in the absence of an enabling environment for the firms’ operation. The paper concludes that unless these gaps are addressed, by reducing the negative impact and replacing the livelihoods of the people through effective CSR activities, the Nigerian oil industry is likely to continue to fail in the attainment of its full potential. Keywords: Corporate Social Responsibility, Livelihoods, Oil exploration, Host communities, Multinational oil companies, Stakeholder, Niger Delta

Corporate Social Responsibility and Social License to Operate; Exploring activities of oil Multinationals in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies and strategies in most extractive industries are adopted due to the need to obtain the social license to operate (SLO). As an emergent concept in developing countries, CSR is yet to attain its full potentials due to the constant denial of community rights to ownership of natural resources discovered on their land. This has led to conflict of interest and often unhealthy relationships between extractive companies and their host communities. Using empirical qualitative data obtained through semi-structured interviews from three host communities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, the paper explores the environmental concerns of the activities of oil multinationals vis-à-vis the difficulties in obtaining SLO. The evidence suggests that MNCs may continue to face inability to secure a social license to operate and other related challenges despite huge investment in CSR if they fail to adapt international principles obtainable in developed countries regarding oil spills and gas flaring in their operations.

THE EFFECT OF JOB TENURE ON EMPLOYEE/CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP IN THE NIGERIAN BANKING INDUSTRY

Despite the fact that the banking industry is unrivalled in the development of any economy because it marshals funds from the surplus spending unit of the economy and makes the same available to the deficit units for the attainment of the economy's development goals, it is observed that the banking staff, who are agents or bedrock for the fulfilment of this goal, appears to be found lamenting over poor service delivery to her customers. The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of job tenure on employee/customer relationship in Nigerian banking industry. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The sample size was 333 employees selected from commercial banks in the study area through stratified random sampling technique. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Results of the analysis using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test statistical techniques shows that, there is a positive significant influence of job tenure on employee/customer relationship in Nigerian banking industry. That is, there is a significant influence of organizational demography in terms of job tenure on performance in terms of employee/customer relationship in Nigeria banking industry. Based on the findings, the study recommended that, banks should encourage employees to stay on the job through motivation and incentives. This will enable them have relevant experience on the job and hence contribute to the growth and the achievement of the overall objectives of the banking sector. To this end, human resource administrators ought to be worried about characteristics and foundation of staff that best suit work position

ANGEL INVESTING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PERFORMANCE IN NIGERIA

Many young people are becoming more innovative and have creative business ideas. Unfortunately, for new ventures, securing funding is often hard because of inadequate information between entrepreneurs and capital suppliers and partly because these entrepreneurs may have little business experience. As a result, different working relationships and contractual measures are used to deal with agency problems and to help the venture realize its potentials for value creation. The objectives of this study were to determine the extent to which new ventures have access to angel investors and to ascertain how angel investing can enhance the performance of new ventures in Nigeria. The studies used judgemental and convenience sampling techniques in selecting fifty (50) business owners in Calabar metropolis. Primary data were obtained with the aid of questionnaire. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree was developed. The study surveyed only the owners or managers of the selected firms. The analysis revealed that most entrepreneurs are not familiar with angel investing. Most of the entrepreneurs were not knowledgeable on the role of angel investors neither do they personally know some angel investors. The findings of the research suggest that most of the entrepreneurs in Cross River State are novice on the concept of Angel Investing. Based on the findings, it was recommended amongst others that more enlightenment should be created on angel investing for emerging entrepreneur