Businesses have had a positive impact on finding solutions to social problems in Central Europe in recent years. Most often, they have helped to solve problems associated with the environment, education and unemployment. That is the conclusion of a study by Deloitte entitled CSR Managers Survey 2015 in Central Europe based on the opinions of 179 CSR managers from ten Central European countries, including the Czech Republic.
The study focused on opportunities and obstacles of corporate social responsibility in the last 15 years. At the same time, it presented a forecast of further development in this sector in the next 15 years. The study notes that companies can support the social and economic development of their countries by influencing the growth of competitiveness, employment rates, linking supply and demand on the labour market, and the growth of knowledge capital.
CSR will become more important
The most effective CSR methods and tools include volunteering, programs focused on ethical behavior, and communication with all stakeholders. These activities help companies mainly by strengthening employee involvement and awareness of ethics. From the external perspective, CSR improves the reputation of companies and brands.
The biggest obstacles to the further development of CSR include an incorrect perception of social responsibility as a form of sponsoring, lack of incentives from the state and employers' reluctance to invest in CSR. However, business models will fundamentally change in the coming years due to pressure from customers for socially responsible products and services. The number of socially responsible companies will grow.
The entire study is available online here.
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