CSR (CR),CROSS-SECTOR

COLLABORATION AND THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE

Fredrik Björk, Malmö University

CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility

US – 1950s ”Business can also be

responsible” Initial focus: Internal

(Employees and their families) Eventually – more focus on local

community Today – Global perspectives

Meaning…?

Social responsibility – or responsibility towards society?

What do we mean by ”social”? Environment and sustainability

becoming more important issues Corporate responsibility (CR)

Dimensions

Ethics: Code of Conduct, product liability

Social: Diversity in the workplace, equality, employee participation, community involvement

Environment: Sustainable resource use, healthy products, "pure" product chain

Challenges – and a case for business? The sustainability megatrends:

climate change, resource shortages and demographic changes present both opportunities and risks for business

Climate change and water shortage are the two most pressing long-term trends that require global solutions.

People are starting to realize the economic repercussions. The financial market is beginning to see the risks but also the emerging opportunities.

Challenges – and a case for business?

On a corporate level: Who will gain and who will lose from these trends? How is it possible to differentiate between companies that are ready and the ones that are not?

New approaches to analyzing and investing in companies

New approaches to auditing and consulting

In tune with stakeholders A wider notion of

stakeholders – and stakeholders interests

Global Regarding

”nature” as a stakeholder?

Criticism! Milton Friedman: “The Social

Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits”

Criticism!

Public relations - marketing Seen as an ”extra” - no

commitment Foggy definitions ”Green washing”/”White washing”

CSR – one aspect of cross-sector collaboration

Cross-sector collaboration

Business Civil society

Government

Why cross-sector collaboration?

Challenges need wider solutions

Knowledge and commitment – other perspectives

Access to resources – tangible, but also aspects such as trust

How do we do it?

six principles for developing collaboration - partnership

1. recognising and accepting the need for partnership;

2. clarity and realism of purpose;

3. commitment and ownership;

4. developing and maintaining trust;

5. creating clear and robust structure

6. monitoring, measuring and learning

One step further

Social capital – important in creating informal accountability mechanisms

Leadership and organisational culture – negotiations and dislogue

‘Implementation’ is an important element of collaboration - associated with different organisational logics:How will the outcomes be sustained?

For business: Triple bottom line

”People, Planet, Profits. In that order!”

Accountability How to communicate what you are

doing? Social return on investment Ecosystem services

Social Return on Investment (SROI)

Measuring the social and economic value created by an activity

Stakeholder perspective Monetary value on things that do

not have market value. Giving the beneficiaries a voice in

decisions on resource allocation.

Ecosystem services

Resources and processes provided by natural ecosystems are called ecosystem services

They are essential to the earth's life support system

Contribute to human well-being Ex. The climate system; pollination etc.

Ecosystem services

in general not ascribed any value or adequately quantified in terms comparable with economic services

Often considered as “commons” The paradox: Without these seemingly

‘worthless’ services, the socio-economic systems of the earth would grind to a halt

so in a sense their total value to society and economy is infinite.

CSR (CR), cross-sector collaboration and the triple bottom line CR – creating

value for business Cross-sector

collaboration creates oppurtunities

Collaboration makes it easier to meet the triple bottom line!