Corporate Citizenship and Social Responsibility

Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Social Responsibility

  • South Africa faces socio-economic issues: crime, poverty, unemployment, low education, HIV/Aids.

  • Corporations should acknowledge responsibility to society; individuals can also contribute.

Citizenship Roles and Responsibilities

  • Individual Citizens: Contribute to products, services, jobs, and economy.

  • Corporate Citizenship: Large businesses undertake projects for integrated reporting; smaller businesses assist NGOs and CBOs.

Corporate Citizenship

  • Good corporate citizenship involves responsible actions:

    • Economic involvement.

    • Legal obligations (environmental care).

    • Ethical behavior.

    • Giving back to society.

  • Efforts should focus on genuine responsibility, not just public relations.

  • Corporations in emerging markets face societal expectations that are typically the government's responsibility.

Constitutional Rights

  • Civil rights: Freedom of movement, protection from the state.

  • Political rights: Right to vote, lobby, participate in political actions.

  • Social rights: Proper infrastructure, water, sanitation, health care.

  • Corporations should respect people and resources, limit pollution, and use technology responsibly.

CSR vs. Profit

  • Counter-arguments: Corporation's only responsibility is to provide goods and services and satisfy needs.

  • Profit-driven organizations can exploit nature and societies, increasing disparity.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

  • CSR should move from donations to involvement: skills, time, effort.

  • CSR is the moral obligation to help; CSI is the actual capital, resources, labor.

CSR Issues in SA

  • Challenges include: inflation, economic crimes, unethical behavior, cultural pollution, illegal dumping, piracy, green-washing, resource misuse, illiteracy, poverty, health care, infrastructure, inequality, human rights, pandemics, and corruption.

Positive Impacts of CSR

  • Job creation.

  • Providing goods and services.

  • Education and training.

  • Social interaction.

  • Inclusion and diversity.

  • Encouraging entrepreneurship.

CSR Adherence

  • Large South African organizations, especially JSE listed companies, adhere to FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series to advance corporate sustainability practices.

Interest Groups and Demands on Business

  • Stakeholder demands can conflict.

  • Primary responsibilities: owners, employees, suppliers, consumers, competitors.

  • Broader responsibilities: government, broader community.

Arguments For and Against CSR

  • For: Addresses detrimental socio-economic problems, utilizes existing resources, reduces government legislation, promotes business image, and improves living standards.

  • Against: Providing goods and services is sufficient, accountability is only to shareholders, distracts employees, increases prices, and can create unmet expectations.

Solutions to Socio-Economic Problems

  • Address raw material use, fair treatment of employees, product safety, and fair sourcing.

  • Specific solutions for environmental, labor, ethical, piracy, and plagiarism issues.

Designing External CSR Programs

  • Prioritize primary stakeholders and business sustainability.

  • Consider business size, profitability, and type.

  • Engage the community in decision-making.

Sustainability in CSR

  • Move beyond short-term aims to long-term self-sufficiency.

  • Teach skills for job attainment.

  • Set up sustainable processes, e.g., vegetable gardens with maintenance training.

CSR Overview

  • Business responsibility to people and the environment, not only profit.

  • Address: crime, poverty, education, poor health, inequality, housing.

CSR Questions for Business

  • What is the business’s responsibility?

  • To whom is the business responsible?

  • For how long will the business be responsible?

  • How will the responsibility affect business?

  • What is the responsibility of each stakeholder?

Pioneers in CSR

  • Blowfield and Murray's Pyramid:

    • Economic responsibility: profit and benefit shareholders.

    • Legal responsibility: respect laws.

    • Ethical responsibility: make ethical decisions.

    • Discretionary responsibility: do no harm, give back.

Sustainable Business Practices

  • Global awareness, waste reduction, environmental accountability (CO2 Tax).

  • Address BEE/BBBEE, HIV/Aids, SDA, OHSA, Trade union involvement.

  • Focus on community impact, capacity development (education, health).

  • Ensure no negative environmental/societal consequences, monitor supply chain, and deal with unethical suppliers.

Interest Groups/Stakeholders

  • Include: staff, clients, shareholders, regulators, government, media, communities, suppliers, unions.

  • Prioritize demands; plot stakeholders to understand interests and responsibilities.

Designing a CSR Program

  • Part of strategic planning, integrated into business identity.

  • Management communicates need and creates CSR policy.

  • Link CSR to success factors, involve employees in initiatives.

  • Implement, monitor, and adapt CSR projects.

Implementation of CSR Strategy

  • Citizenship concept, strategic intent, leadership vision, management commitment, structured resources, stakeholder relationships, and transparency.

CSR Reporting

  • Report on social and environmental performance, not just finances.

  • Include business profile, board commitment, environmental and social policy, and management systems.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

  • 2030 Agenda: shared blueprint for peace and prosperity.

  • 17 SDGs: urgent call for action to end poverty, improve health/education, reduce inequality, spur economic growth, tackle climate change, and preserve oceans/forests.

Individual Social Responsibility

  • Individuals should play a part to address community and environmental needs.