Corporate Social Responsibility - A Discussion

This year at The Outsourcing World Summit our Wednesday session will focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Impact Sourcing. So, we're putting this blog out there to get the discussion started...

• What does CSR mean to you and/or your company?
• What should CSR be expected to look like in the industry? 
• How will it will grow and change over time in order to help keep professionals and their organizations ahead of the movement?

Corporate Social Responsibility addresses the social, economic and environmental effects of doing business – defining priorities, integrating social responsibility throughout business, while building social and business value.

Companies have a lot of power – locally, globally, economically. Those embracing CSR devote real time and money to socially conscious investments and programs, alternative energy and social welfare initiatives to benefit employees, customers and the world at large.

Corporate Social Responsibility in outsourcing focuses on three critical areas – people, community and the environment. The “people” component relates to employee issues such as fair pay, good working conditions and diversity, while the “community” area focuses on economic and charitable efforts, both locally and globally. The “environment” aspect relates to green practices that help reduce energy consumption and waste. Practicing CSR is also good business for reasons of sustainability, as well as brand-building.

So, let's get the discussion started...

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A newly published eBook – The Outsourcing Professionals’ Guide to Corporate Responsibility – examines corporate social responsibility policies and practices for outsourcing, including identifying and showcasing policies that IAOP members have adopted, creating a framework for companies to model new CSR policies and develop a network of resources for IAOP members. Written by Bill Hefley, PhD, COP and Ron Babin, DBA, COP, with contributions from IAOP’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee, its publication is the culmination of several years work. It is a one-of-a-kind indispensible management tool for any company involved in outsourcing – whether customer, provider or advisor.
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Kate Tulloch-Hammond, IAOP Manager of Media & Communications