Assessment of Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility Practices: The Case of Development Bank of Ethiopia Head Office

Abstract

Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are increasingly important topics in contemporary business discourse. Many studies have examined various aspects of Business Ethics and CSR and their value, particularly within the Ethiopian context. However, there is a dearth of research specifically focusing on the Ethics and CSR practices within the Development Bank of Ethiopia (DBE). This thesis aims to address this research gap by critically examining the ethical principles, the nature of CSR practices, the level of engagement in CSR activities, CSR approaches, and the implementation of CSR initiatives for community development by DBE. The study employed a mixed-method approach that includes both quantitative and qualitative methods. It primarily used survey questionnaires administered to DBE employees and community members, as well as key informant interview questions directed at DBE managers who possess significant insights and expertise related to the research topic, in order to generate primary data. For triangular unit of analysis, A sample of 250 employees were selected through simple random sampling techniques, 2 managers were selected using key informant interviews, and 92 community representatives were chosen through multi-stage sampling. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive analysis with the frequency, percentage, Mean, and Standard deviation using SPSS version 25, as well as thematic analysis to substantiate the study findings. The findings position DBE as an exemplar institution in responsible banking, contributing to community development, and serving as a catalyst for positive change. By shedding light on Ethical and CSR practices within DBE, this research contributes to the broader exploration of CSR implementation and provides valuable insights for academia and the corporate sector alike.