Responsible Objectives for Companies That Want to Develop Socially
The concept of corporate social responsibility once was derided as unrealistic if not naive. Public anger at corporate scandals and environmental disasters led many companies to create CSR departments, and leading companies are beginning to think of corporate social responsibility as a broad approach that must be integrated with corporate strategy at all levels of the organization.
Keep It Green
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To develop a broad-based strategic approach to CSR, create a short list of clear and realistic goals that will help your organization achieve both the reality and the reputation of being a good corporate citizen. For the general public, environmental responsibility may be the most important aspect of CSR. A person who doesn't work for your company or buy your products doesn't have to care about how you treat your employees or how fair your refund policies are, but everyone is directly affected by the quality of the air and water. For this reason, your first strategic social goal could be "Commit to environmentally sustainable and responsible business practices."
Customers and Community
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A stakeholder is anyone who has an interest in how you conduct your business. Your customers and your community are two of your most important groups of stakeholders. Business owners have understood the importance of treating customers well for a long time; however, don't underestimate the importance of the company relationship with the broader community. For instance, if you buy a piece of property so you can expand a store, you don't want to be surprised by protests because the site has historic or community significance. Your second CSR goal could be "Weigh the impact of all business decisions on the community, customers and other stakeholders."
Valued Employees Are Valuable
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Socially responsible companies treat their employees as valued members of a team, not disposable resources. Treating employees with respect and dignity isn't just a question of building a good corporate reputation but of fostering real engagement in your workforce. Happy, energized people are much more productive than dispirited drones. According to a May 2012 article in "Time," labor standards are one of the three primary CSR concerns in the U.N. Global Compact signed by more than 8,000 companies worldwide. A third strategic goal could be "Ensure that working conditions for all employees follow industry best practices."
A Good Example, Not a Cautionary Tale
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Corporations are made up of many individual people, and they all have their own ideas about ethics and their own level of maturity and moral development. It's easy to be blindsided by the unethical actions of someone who works for you, damaging both your bottom line and the reputation of your business. One way to minimize the risk is to systematically encourage a company culture of ethical behavior. The fourth goal of your CSR strategy could be "Examine all policies and procedures to ensure they meet the highest ethical standards, and reward employees and supervisors who display exemplary ethical behavior."
References
Writer Bio
Scott Thompson has been writing professionally since 1990, beginning with the "Pequawket Valley News." He is the author of nine published books on topics such as history, martial arts, poetry and fantasy fiction. His work has also appeared in "Talebones" magazine and the "Strange Pleasures" anthology.