Abstract
This study examines how Caterpillar Brasil Limitada, located in the city of Piracicaba, Brazil, expanded its concept of social responsibility over a 30-year period. It first provides a contextual overview of Piracicaba within the agro-industrialized interior region of São Paulo State. It then traces the history of the firm from its initial installation in the city. While Caterpillar maintained a distant relationship with the Piracicaba community for many years, it later realized the importance of becoming involved in city development. The community-based effort led by Caterpillar to elaborate and carry out a sustainable development plan for the city is a notable example of how a firm can encourage civil participation and offer strategic planning know-how to civil-society organizations. Finally, the study analyses some of the problems Caterpillar encountered and stresses the importance of developing open democratic channels and continued civil participation in joint partnerships between business and civil society.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Agostinho, S. A. T: 2000, A Estratégia de Comunicação da Caterpillar Brasil Ltda 1996/1999, http://www.sinprorp. org.br/Premio/premio00–2.htm, 04/22/2006
Bernardo, D. C. R., C. L. L. Calegario, L. B. Pinto and G. R. G. Pessanha: 2005, ‚Balanço Social como Ferramenta Estratégica Empresarial: Um Estudo dos Demonstrativos Sociais das Sociedades Anônimas de Capital Aberto No Brasil’, Paper presented at the 8th FEA Seminars in Administration, University of São Paulo (August 11–12), http://www.ead.fea.usp.br/Semead/8semead/resultado/trabalhosPDF/163.pdf, 04/22/2006
Bilac, M. B. B., E. T. Terci, D. A. Padilha and A. P. Maestrello: 2001, Piracicaba: A Aventura Desenolvimentista 1950–1970 (Editora UNIMEP, Piracicaba, Brazil)
Carta Capital: 2003, Special Issue (December)
Caterpillar: 2002a, Balanco de Responsabilidade Social – 2001 (Caterpillar Brasil, Piracicaba)
Caterpillar: 2002b, The Story of Caterpillar (Caterpillar, Peoria, IL)
Caterpillar: 2003, Responsabilidade Social – Caterpillar Brasil Ltda, information handout (Caterpillar Brasil, Piracicaba)
Caterpillar: 2004a, Balanco de Responsabilidade Social – 2003 (Caterpillar Brasil, Piracicaba)
Caterpillar: 2004b, History, http://www.cat.com/cda/ layout?m=38033&x=7, 07/16/2004
Caterpillar: 2004c, Caterpillar 50 anos...e depois (Caterpillar Brasil, Piracicaba)
Caterpillar: n.d., Investindo no Capital da Natureza: Manejo sustentável da floresta (pamphlet)
Cimini, M. H.: 1998, ‚Caterpillar’s Prolonged Dispute Ends’, Compensation and Working Conditions (Fall), http://www.bls.gov_opub_cwc_archive_fall1998art1.pdf
Elias Netto, C.: 1992, Piracicaba Politica: A Historia que eu Sei (1942–1992) (Prefeitura Municipal de Piracicaba/Acao Cultural, Piracicaba)
Elias Netto, C.: 1994, Ousadia na Educação: A Formação da UNIMEP (Editora UMIMEP, Piracicaba)
Elias Netto, C.: 2000, Almanaque 2000: Memorial de Piracicaba – Seculo XX (Insituto Histórico e Geográfico de Piracicaba/Jornal de Piracicaba/UNIMEP, Piracicaba)
Instituto Ethos: 2006, ‚Indicadores Ethos de Responsabilidade Social Empresarial’, http://www.ethos.org.br/docs/conceitos_praticas/indicadores/default.asp, 04/22/2006
Landim, L.: 1988, Sem Fins Lucrativos: As Organizações Não-Governamentais no Brasil (ISER, Rio de Janeiro)
Maluf, A.: 2004, ‚Valeu, Piracicaba!’, Jornal de Piracicaba, Caderno (September 4) A-3
Mourão, J. O. F.: 2001, Pircacicaba 2010 – Realizando o Futuro, Piracicaba, SP
Neves, E. M.: 1999, ‚Agronegôcios em Piracicaba: Passado, Presente e Futuro’, IHBP (Instituto Histórico e Geográfico de Piracicaba) 6(6), 32–46
Soares, A. R.: 2000, Um Século de Economia Açucareira; Exposição da Moderna Agroindústria do Açucar em São Paulo de 1877–1970 (Clíper Editora, São Paulo)
UNIMEP/Banco de Dados Socio-Econômicos do Curso de Economia: 1999, Piracicaba em Dados: Caracterização Econômico-Mercadológica do Município (Editora UNIMEP, Piracicaba)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
A revised version of this article will appear in Portuguese, in a forthcoming book by F. Bird F. and M. Griesse, Responsabilidades Sociais: Práticas de empresas Internacionais na América Latina, to be published by UNIMEP Press, Piracicaba, Brazil, in late 2006.
Margaret Griesse holds a Ph.D. in Education and International Developement from the University of Frankfurt. She is currently Coordinator of the Martha Watts Cultural Center at the Methodist University of Piracicaba, Brazil.
Research and interviews for this study were carried out between February 2003 and June 2004 in Piracicaba, São Paulo Brazil. During this time, I carried out nine formal interviews with Caterpillar employees and Piracicaba community leaders. I also attended various public meetings on Piracicaba 2010 and participated in several spontaneous discussions with community residents and Caterpillar employees concerning Piracicaba 2010. I have honored the request of some employees and residents who wish to remain anonymous.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Griesse, M.A. Caterpillar’s Interactions with Piracicaba, Brazil: A Community-based Analysis of CSR. J Bus Ethics 73, 39–51 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9195-1
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9195-1