Bowen University deployment of corporate social responsibility and crisis management within her host communities (2012 – 2015)

Abstract

Crisis is a point of decision which if not handled in an appropriate manner may turn into a disaster or catastrophe. No organization is immune to crisis. Bowen University had its surfeiting dose of crisis with her host communities from 2012 - 2015. This study examined how Bowen University used corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies as a crisis management tool to resolve the crisis. Survey method was adopted for the study and the populations Iwo and Olupona with a sample size of 203 respondents. Simple random,stratification and purposive sampling techniques were used to collect data for the study. The study answered four research questions: What are the grievances of the host communities? What are the natures of the crises? How did Bowen University resolve the crisis? How effective was the CSR strategies Bowen University used as a crisis management tool? Stakeholders’ theory and the iron law of corporate social responsibility theory were used for the study. The study considered: the concept of CSR, CSR model, CSR in tertiary institutions, practicing University Corporate Social Responsibility (UCSR) as well as crisis management. Data gathered were analyzed using descriptive statistics and results were presented in tables and percentages. Three important findings emerged from this study. First, universities, particularly private ones should embrace CSR and cultivate the environment where they operate in order to be successful in a highly competitive educational industry. Second, Bowen University crisis from 2012 – 2015 was as a result of its inability to cultivate the environment where it operates. Thirdly, the CSR strategies used as a crisis management tool by the university to resolve the crisis were effective. The study concludes that tertiary institutions should cultivate the environment where they operate so as to enjoy the goodwill of the host community. The study recommends that tertiary institutions should corporatize to enable it meet the socio-political and economic challenges facing them, move away from depending on grants and subventions from its proprietors and become self-sustaining.