Corporate Social Responsibility in the Global Oil and Gas Industry: A Comparative Analysis of Home and Host Country Practices in Royal Dutch Shel

Abstract

The current study evaluates the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities within today's complex business atmosphere. To accomplish this objective, the research selects Royal Dutch Shell as the focus organization, critically analyzing its CSR practices and their consequences on overall performance. The investigation begins by identifying and examining the impact of internal stakeholders, specifically the management team and employees, alongside external stakeholders, including society and customers. Furthermore, the study evaluates the influences of government regulations and environmental protection agencies regarding social and environmental activities, such as carbon emission targets and public payment disclosures. A core component of the research involves comparing and contrasting home country (Netherlands) and host country (Nigeria) practices to evaluate critical ethical, environmental, and legal issues. The findings indicate that while Shell maintains a positive corporate image through sustainable planning in its home country, it faces severe scrutiny and ethical challenges in host countries like Nigeria due to oil pollution and negative economic impacts on local communities. Extensive analysis is conducted on current trends, such as rising CSR budgets and operational costs. Finally, the study provides strategic recommendations to enhance CSR efficiency and transparency, advocating for uniform operational standards, multi-stakeholder involvement in strategy development, and balanced budget segregation to manage ethical and social expectations effectively across diverse global economies.