THE notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR), that businesses have a moral obligation to the community they operate in, has been around for decades.
It seems to be a common thought that CSR is only relative to corporate giants or high-profile businesses, which is not the case.
CSR is something all businesses should include in their operations, mission statement and strategic plan.
The concept of CSR demands businesses to operate transparently and responsibly with the consideration of stakeholders and the community at the forefront, beyond what is legally required of them.
There is infinite opportunity for businesses to provide tangible benefits to the community, although somewhat dependent on operations and financial situation, the means a business can engage with and support the community is limitless.
A great way to introduce CSR into your business is to start by identifying the needs of the local community, stakeholders or the environment and to develop an idea that addresses or contributes to these.
An example of simple initiatives achievable in small businesses, includes recycling, sustainability measures and offering internal mentoring, training or education incentives.
Further CSR practices, common in medium or large businesses, include grant programs, scholarships, volunteering, community projects and mentoring.
CSR is an aspect of business that is too valuable to be ignored.
It is a great way to engage with stakeholders outside of traditional business operations, increase brand awareness and can contribute immeasurably to organisational culture.
This article is taken from here.