Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability have emerged as critical strategic imperatives in management, driven by increased global consciousness regarding environmental degradation, social inequality, and stakeholder expectations. This literature review critically analyses the development, theoretical foundations, and managerial integration of CSR and sustainability in corporate contexts. The review brings together insights from several areas, such as historical history, stakeholder theory, strategic alignment, sustainability reporting, digital transformation, and the link to corporate success. Research generally supports the integration of CSR as beneficial for reputation, performance, and resilience; nevertheless, shortcomings remain in areas such as norms, empirical studies in emerging economies, and the impact of digital innovation. Future research ought to enhance cross-industry, multi-regional studies and improve performance metrics. This study asserts that strategically integrated CSR and sustainability provide substantial benefits for both enterprises and society.