Sustainability and social responsibility practices do not It is a topic of exclusive interest to organizations; It also concerns shareholders, consumers, sellers and workers, as well as regulators and the community. In definitively, to all.
There are many reasons to invest in creating a socially responsible company. motivations, ranging from altruistic scenarios, to even issues of profitability and sustainability in the markets.
But… What is social responsibility? business? Corporate social responsibility or corporate CSR is a voluntary way of managing companies where it is possible to create economic value while that value is created for society.
We liked the following video that explains it with various examples of corporate social responsibility and since the company, moreover, does not always look out for the good of the society…
A concept is closely linked to sustainable development and activities of the company in front of its employees, clients, shareholders, environment, local communities and on the society in general.
Content menu:
1. Compliance with regulations: there is no much range of action in this matter, without a doubt the companies They must comply with the law. In this sense, the regulations and regulations constitute the first stimulus and reason for bet on sustainability, on social responsibility.
2. Competitive advantages: with more customers informed and demanding, the sales pitch goes beyond the simple product or service; consumers buy quality, but they also buy brands with which they identify.
Good business practices influence the reputation, in the purchase-sale argument, in sales, but, above all, it ends up being a differential factor compared to competition and industry.
3. Continuous improvement: regardless of what is dictated by the legislation or what is imposed by the market or the competition, betting on social responsibility is betting on improve in product design, production, customer service. It is the opportunity to improve processes and achieve greater effectiveness.
4. Economic benefits: The social responsibility is to bet on improving processes, better practices. Not always as traditionally done is the most effective way for the company, for its clients or for the environment.
Giving yourself the opportunity to see new alternatives is a good option for lower operating costs, lower costs administrative costs, lower environmental costs, higher income, establishing business values and ultimately greater profitability.
5. Reputation: Good practices are awarded, the bad ones sanctioned with public scrutiny, the social networks and, ultimately, the non-acceptance by clients, suppliers and other actors in the process.
A brand's reputation affects all aspects of a company, from hiring, rotation, retention, price and investor engagement, to their relations with the media and organizational environment. Betting on social responsibility is to bet on the good image and the acceptance of all the chain.
6. Happy customers: a strategy responsible, is positive for society, but also for the clients. Your customers will be much more satisfied by consume products, the result of a responsible process, and its company will gain more market share.
7. Operating Benefits: The practices sustainable in projects can generate processes innovations, greater productivity and, without a doubt, a better resource performance.
8. Organizational Benefits: Establish responsible and sustainable processes will allow you not only comply with regulations, and therefore have less interference from regulators, but also have less risk of happier operation and collaborators.
It is clear that working on good customer relations, suppliers and society in general are a good path for the improvement of the competitiveness of the organization.
However, despite the advantages of CSR, there are reasons for and against it that They help to clarify a subject that is complex:
| Reasons in favor of CSR | Reasons against CSR |
| Businesses are an integral part of society in overall | Companies should dedicate themselves to what they know to do and it is their mission: to produce what people want in the most efficient way possible |
| Companies must reward not only owners or shareholders, but to any other person involved (customers, consumers, suppliers, employees) | The resources of the company must be directed to achieve the principle of maximum profit |
| CSR is profitable in the medium and long term | Solving the problems of society is competence from other bodies and institutions |
| Companies have people and technical means qualified to deal with most of the problems that affect society | Customers would be hurt because they would produce a general increase in prices |
| Public interventions would take place in the to the extent that companies do not assume the responsibilities | Companies already have economic power. if they invade other fields would end up possessing the social and political |
First, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a voluntary commitment, and not, an obligation. to move forward with coherence it is necessary to develop an action strategy to evaluate where you intend to influence and its scope.
In this regard, compliance is especially important of the ISO 26000 standard, a set of regulations that have been prepared, audited and certified by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
The ISO portal, for the ISO itself 26000, offers us a guide to responsibility extensive and well-detailed social network that can be consulted from HERE (It is paid), but from the Spanish administration they have an extensive portal with a lot of information, which also includes a section of CSR grants and subsidies for SMEs and small companies, very interesting!
One of the best guides in Spanish is the «guia methodology to implement CSR action plans in the SMEs” for Navarre. Good schematics, pictures to fill in and well explained that we can consult from HERE in PDF HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! And the following document on tools for responsibility management for SMEs.
And some courses on CSR…
Cultivating social responsibility is an ongoing process and vital element in the corporate strategy, investment and the organizational culture; becoming a success factor and important reputational element before collaborators and groups external interest.
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