CSR and internal, centralised and external areas of responsibility
A company firstly defines its CSR strategy for itself. For example, it needs to be financially viable: even if this is not the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about social responsibility, a company’s strength, its ability to maintain and grow its value over time and to take wise decisions are the building blocks for CSR. This is also true of legal compliance: compliance with regulations, avoiding any sort of loopholes, is also a sign of ethical conduct and demonstrates a sense of responsibilty towards the community. The company’s organisation, its enhancement of its employees, the creation of wealth and well-being all have a direct impact on the people who participate in the creation of a company’s value.
Centralised responsibility covers everything included in the broadest understanding of what CSR stands for: this includes a company’s charter of values, its awareness of environmental issues, respect for human rights along its entire production chain (both internal and external), the selection of its partners, etc..
A third area of responsibility is external: all those projects that do not directly relate to the company’s business operations but are organised by it as part of its CSR programmes such as sponsorships, social initiatives, funding, foundations, etc..