Syllabus: OCR - A and AS Level Business
Module: Business Objectives and Strategy
Lesson: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Introduction

This article supports delivery of the OCR A Level Business specification, focusing on Business Objectives and Strategy – Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It covers key syllabus content for students studying both A Level and AS Level Business. CSR sits within the broader context of business objectives and stakeholder relationships, and it directly links to real-world business behaviours, ethics, and long-term strategy.

This topic offers a valuable opportunity to shift learning from theoretical to applied. By examining how real businesses balance profit with social and environmental responsibility, students develop critical thinking and analytical skills that are vital for assessment success and workplace readiness.

Key Concepts

Aligned with the OCR A Level Business specification, learners should be able to:

• Define Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Understand CSR as the idea that businesses have obligations beyond profit, including ethical conduct, environmental stewardship, and social impact.

• Explain reasons for CSR adoption: Including brand reputation, competitive advantage, stakeholder pressure, long-term cost savings, and ethical positioning.

• Evaluate the impact of CSR on stakeholders: Identify the potential benefits and conflicts CSR may create for different stakeholder groups (e.g. shareholders, employees, customers, communities).

• Assess CSR as part of business strategy: Consider whether CSR aligns with a firm’s mission, vision, and long-term objectives, and how it integrates into decision-making.

OCR expects students to explore the tensions between short-term shareholder returns and long-term societal benefits, as well as consider whether CSR is genuinely strategic or simply ‘window dressing’.

Real-World Relevance

CSR is no longer a bolt-on. It’s central to how major businesses operate:

• Unilever has embedded its Sustainable Living Plan across all functions, proving that environmental sustainability can drive commercial success. Its commitment reduced waste, improved resource efficiency, and bolstered brand trust.

• Patagonia, a US outdoor clothing brand, famously encourages customers to “buy less” — a powerful statement on anti-consumerism. This resonated with their target market and enhanced brand loyalty.

• Greggs, a UK high-street favourite, has integrated CSR into everything from its supply chain ethics to re-entry programmes for ex-offenders. The payoff? Stronger brand equity and a more motivated workforce.

These examples offer immediate case study material for classroom discussion or extended writing tasks.

How It’s Assessed

OCR assesses this topic using command words such as:

• Explain – define and give a relevant example (e.g. “Explain how CSR can influence brand image.”)

• Analyse – show chains of reasoning using cause and effect (e.g. “Analyse how CSR might impact employee motivation.”)

• Evaluate – weigh pros and cons, make a supported judgement (e.g. “Evaluate the view that CSR is primarily a PR exercise.”)

Students may encounter CSR in both data response and essay-style questions, often with contextual extracts. They should be prepared to reference stakeholder theory, opportunity cost, and long-term business strategy in their answers.

Enterprise Skills Integration

CSR provides a natural gateway for active learning and enterprise thinking. Here’s how to link the topic to skills that matter:

• Problem-solving: Assessing trade-offs between profit and ethics.

• Decision-making: Choosing between CSR investment or short-term cost cutting.

• Critical analysis: Interrogating whether a business’s CSR is strategic or superficial.

• Communication: Articulating balanced viewpoints and stakeholder perspectives.

Using Enterprise Skills’ Business Simulations, students can make decisions as fictional company leaders — choosing whether to invest in sustainability, react to stakeholder criticism, or launch a socially responsible campaign. These scenarios make abstract theory concrete and measurable.

Careers Links

This topic directly supports Gatsby Benchmarks 4, 5 and 6 by linking classroom learning to real-world work:

• Relevant roles: Sustainability Officer, Ethics & Compliance Manager, Corporate Communications, Supply Chain Analyst.

• Pathways: Business Management, Environmental Science, Public Relations, Social Entrepreneurship.

• Skills Developed: Stakeholder engagement, ethical reasoning, brand awareness, long-term planning.

Embedding CSR case studies from current businesses helps students visualise these roles and understand the practical application of what they’re learning.

Teaching Notes

CSR is one of the most cross-cutting and debate-friendly topics in the OCR Business spec. Here are some practical tips:

• Start with real headlines: Use stories from the likes of Nike, Amazon, or BrewDog to hook interest.

• Encourage stakeholder role-play: Assign groups to argue from the perspective of different stakeholders in a CSR decision.

• Model essay responses: Walk through how to evaluate CSR as part of business strategy – not as an add-on.

• Challenge tokenism: Explore the idea of “greenwashing” and ask students to decide whether companies’ actions are meaningful or superficial.

Common pitfalls include students seeing CSR as just ‘doing good’ rather than a calculated strategic choice. Reinforce that in real business, ethics and profit aren’t always at odds — but they do require tough decisions.

For plug-and-play lessons that bring this topic to life, Enterprise Skills’ Skills Hub provides interactive case studies and decision-making exercises built to slot directly into your teaching.