Social Corporate Responsibility (Other (Not Listed) Sample)

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Social Corporate Responsibility
INTRODUCTION
Businesses and academic researchers have shown increasing levels of interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) during recent years. The concept of corporate social responsibility is gaining a greater importance in the ever-changing business world. Corporate leaders face a dynamic and challenging task in attempting to apply societal ethical standards to responsible business practice and leadership (Maak & Pless, 2006, p.6; Burchell, 2008, p.1). Companies especially those operating worldwide are required to consider the social, economic, and environmental aspects of their business so as to be able to build shareholder value.
This paper looks at issues of CSR auditing system basing on the analysis of current CSR materials and the Group being a company engaged in business that helps in children’s development creativity and ability by offering play tools and learning (Charkham, 2005). The company offer toys, learning and playing experiences and teaching materials for children in more than 125 countries. Its head office is in Billund, Denmark. The paper also looks at creating a framework for CSR auditing attuned with a current profitably fruitful environmental audit system (Habisch, Jonker & Schmidpeter, 2005, p.337).
It also examines the perceptions of CSR in different sectors and the role it plays in those sectors. It emphasizes the key issues surrounding the establishment of an applied CSR auditing procedure in organizations such as LEGO. It further explores the possibility of developing practical measurement systems for CSR, and examines the procedures that are currently being implemented.
KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED WHEN AUDITING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRACTICE
Formal strategic process helps in measuring a company’s actual social performance against the social objectives it has set for itself, and how decision-making, mission principles, and mission statement and business conduct are matched with social responsibilities. The audit helps in analyzing the interests and objectives of its workers and stakeholders (Habisch, Jonker & Schmidpeter, 2005, p.337). The company’s goal is usually to find out which nonprofit organizations and social causes their employees would like to support, and how they can incorporate their employees’ interests into the business plan. What employees have done in the past is discussed and what other companies are doing in your business space is found out.
The auditing process can be conducted internally or externally by an outside consultant who will not be biased, which will be more beneficial to the company. Once the social responsibility audit is complete it may be distributed internally, or both internally and externally, depending on the company’s goals and findings. Some publish a separate periodic report on their social initiatives such as booklets or magazines and later have it available on their Web site. At present, nearly all publicly traded companies include a section in their annual report devoted to social responsibility activities (Habisch, Jonker & Schmidpeter, 2005, p.41).
CSR Framework for LEGO
The audit may be used for more than simply monitoring and evaluating a company’s social performance. The auditing process can be used to scan the external environment and to determine the company’s shortcomings, then find ways of launching new social initiatives within the company. Companies searching to differentiate themselves in their marketplace start with an audit to help them creative new social cause marketing initiatives with projects that do not directly bring profits. These initiatives aid in capturing market share from direct competitors, and even help introduce new products. Here are some of the key issues that have to be looked into in the process (Habisch, Jonker & Schmidpeter, 2005):
CSR AUDIT FRAMEWORK
Model for CSR Audit Framework for LEGO
Key CSR models for LEGO
Environmental policy
Organizations focused on diminishing their environmental effect ordinarily make an arrangement of environmental standards and benchmarks, frequently including formal objectives. At least, most such explanations express an organization's plans to regard the earth in the configuration, generation, and conveyance of its items and administrations. That is, to submit the organization to be in full consistence with all laws and go past agreeability at whatever point conceivable; and make an open-book policy whereby workers, group individuals and others can be educated of any conceivably unfavorable impacts the organization may have on nature.
Environmental audit
Prior to an organization endeavors to decrease its effect on nature, it is vital that it first picks up a full comprehension of it. For most organizations, this as a rule includes an environmental audit. The objective of audits is to comprehend the sort and measure of assets utilized by an organization, product offering or office, and the sorts of waste and discharges produced. A few organizations likewise attempt to evaluate this information in fiscal terms to comprehend how everything adds up effect. This likewise serves to set needs in the matter of how an organization can get the best profit for its endeavors.
Employee involvement
Leadership organizations perceive that to be successful, an environmental policy needs to be grasped by workers all through the association, not simply those whose work is identified with the environment. To do that, organizations take part in an assortment of exercises, particularly training, to help representatives comprehend the environmental effect of their employments and to backing their endeavors to roll out positive improvements. A few organizations go further, helping workers get to be all the more environmentally dependable all through their every day lives, helping them construct a genuine environmental ethic. Other than instruction, numerous organizations make motivators, prizes, and recognition programs for representatives who exhibit their environmental duty.
Green procurement
To help guarantee that their merchandise and processes are environmentally mindful, numerous organizations look to purchase greener items and materials from their suppliers. A few organizations partake in purchasers' gatherings in which they influence their aggregate purchasing clout to push suppliers to consider option items or processes.
Green products
Goods themselves may be designed to be all the more environmentally well disposed, with respect to, for instance, the control of emanations, clamor, lessened wellbeing and dangers, and diminished vitality prerequisites.
Stakeholders
Essentially, all CSR activities are founded on the principle of voluntary approach. For this reason, stakeholders are capable of observing environmental externalities that are every so often not verifiable (.p4).
1 Shareholders: a CSR audit gives shareholders enough pride and satisfaction that the company is doing well not only financially, but also in charity activities that improve the lives of those in the community, who, presumably, do business with LEGO.
2 Customers: LEGOs customers gain more confidence in the operations of the business by virtue that the company is grateful enough to give back to them by donating the society through CSR programs. Some of the CSR programs directly benefit customers. For instance, sponsoring community members for further studies or improving health facilities in the business establishment neighborhood has a direct positive impact on LEGOs customers.
3 Suppliers: material, software, and hardware vendors or suppliers of LEGO have more confidence in working with the company when they know that their partner is engaged in open CSR activities. It is a sign of taking responsibility to appreciate a relationship the business has enjoyed in a given locality over time.
4 Employees: this is a crucial element in CSR activities. They are responsible for running CSR programs and have direct and indirect benefits from such programs. They are sometimes allowed to select or nominate projects or communities that CSR programs should target to benefit many people.
5 Local business community: this consists of people in the community neighboring the premises of a business. Too often, corporations believe that they have a responsibility to offer charitable donations for community projects in their neighborhood as a ‘give back to society’.
6 Society: often, companies such as LEGO have an international business presence in one way or another. Carrying out CSR improves their image across a wider society and brings in greater benefits including shareholding, improved brand adoption, and revenue (.p4).
7 Government: the government where LEGO operates is also an important stakeholder. The government regulates businesses in several ways and is keen on the observation of CSR guidelines in a competitive market.
Situation Analysis 
The company has to consider whether it has violated any of its Corporate Social Responsibilities, Its suppliers, any of its buyers and any of its direct competitors. In addition, whether any of them has ever violated any of their responsibilities and the reason for that.
The company’s mission statement and how it aligns with its responsibilities to the community and stakeholders (Maak & Pless, 2006, p.6). Its goals, corporate values, and whether the business plan reflects the findings also form part of the situation analysis. What the community and stakeholders think about the company and the industry, the competitors, the end users, and the customers and whether the findings are positive or negative and the trends and directions are analyzed.
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