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The influence of increased business responsibilities on the relationship between a Dutch private organisation and Dutch (local) government institutions: an explo

Romijn, E. (2010) The influence of increased business responsibilities on the relationship between a Dutch private organisation and Dutch (local) government institutions: an explo.

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Abstract:Over the years increasing pressures of business on society has raised concerns among people around the world. Therefore today various different stakeholders of private organisations expect and often even demand more responsible behaviour of business. For businesses this changing attitude of their stakeholders is an important reason to involve in CSR. This development of private organisations increasing their business responsibilities in the sphere of people, planet and profit can already be seen for many decades, even centuries. Nevertheless within the last years there have been new movements in the sphere of CSR worldwide. This phenomenon, stated by Mathis (2008) as the modern concept of CSR, resulted according to him and scholars in other perspectives and definitions; probably most important in another attitude of both private an public sector. Scholars argued that this modern concept of CSR, as Mathis (2008) calls it, has a significant influence on the business-government relationship. Whereas private organisations increase their responsibilities, with regards CSR in the sphere of people, planet and profit, it is argued that the traditional roles and responsibilities of public and private parties change. Due to the increased responsibilities taken by businesses, a new relational system is created that links government, business and society resulting in joint initiatives within networks and partnerships. Within this new system governments, also meaning the Dutch government, are aiming at using a soft, relational approach in which they act as participants, stimulators, facilitators and partners of business. This change in relationship between business and government is also advocated by the Raad voor het Landelijk Gebied (2006) and Albareda et. al., (2008). Both researches state that due to CSR and the increased responsibilities of business the public-private relationship increasingly shifts from a hierarchical relationship towards a relationship of cooperation, partnerships, dialogue and interaction. This study contributes to the results of the mainly theory driven research, by means of providing an answer to the research question: Does an increase in business responsibilities of a Dutch private organisation results in a shift in the relationship they are having with Dutch (local) government institutions? To answer this research question, an explorative case study on Tempo-Team Group BV, the second largest temporary employment organisation of the Netherlands, has been performed. By means of conducting a document study and interviews within Tempo-Team and interviews with people working in (local) government institutions an empirical study is carried out. The results gathered in this study provide evidence for the main conclusion that on a macrolevel the increased business responsibilities of private organisations do result in a shift in the general western business-government relationship. However, looking to this businessgovernment relationship on a micro-level, increased business responsibilities of a Dutch private (service) organisation alone, does currently not result in a significant shift in the relationship e.g., partnerships, dialogue and interaction, use of policy instruments and cooperation, the organisation has with Dutch (local) government institutions. Mostly this relationship is still purely based on the traditional business-government relationship.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Clients:
Temp-Team Group BV., Diemen
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:88 social and public administration
Programme:Public Administration MSc (60020)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/60416
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