Pursue positive social impact

CR&S practitioners are expected to understand an organisation’s impacts on society, demonstrate empathy for people and society, and maintain and advocate positive social impact. 

In doing so, CR&S practitioners are expected to see business activity and impact through a social lens, and use this lens to improve specific aspects of an organisation’s social performance. They will also promote the role an organisation can play in delivering positive social impact.

Advocacy should be directed at internal colleagues, including senior management. Advocacy should also be directed at external stakeholders throughout an organisation’s value chain, which might include suppliers, business partners and consumers.

This may require practitioners to challenge accepted behaviours, standards and practices. It will demand personal leadership and commitment, a grounded understanding of an organisation’s impacts, and excellent and creative communication skills.   

Awareness

  • Understand the main social issues, including wellbeing, inclusion and diversity, labour and human rights, and their relevance to an organisation, domestically and internationally.  
  • Identify the main social risks faced by an organisation and what an organisation’s strategy should be in relation to those risks.
  • Identify an organisation’s principal social impacts through the entire value chain, through a systematic approach entailing both qualitative and quantitative assessments, where appropriate.
  • Keep informed regarding, and where appropriate contribute to, the latest debate and thinking on social issues, and the role of business in society. 
  • Understand the statutory and legal requirements around how business operates in society, and ensure compliance. 

Advocacy and Advice 

  • Encourage concern for an organisation’s societal impacts both within an organisation and with key stakeholders outside an organisation. 
  • Develop a compelling narrative that promotes internal understanding of an organisation’s social impacts and the role of business in society. Share this narrative with key external stakeholders. 
  • Encourage senior management to proactively address any negative social impacts of an organisation and its suppliers and embrace the positive role that an organisation can play within society.
  • Provide coherent, accurate, and objective advice on social issues and persuade other of its applicability to the business. 

Compliance 

  • Comply with, maintain, support or develop (as appropriate) effective policies and procedures concerning human rights, ethical sourcing, bribery and corruption and community impact.

Strategy

  • Identify opportunities for reducing negative social impact and enhancing positive social impact on the societies in which an organisation operates. 
  • Develop a compelling strategy and business case for an organisation to pursue those opportunities.

Stakeholders 

  • Form strong relationships with relevant stakeholders, especially in community and civil society organisations. 
  • Consider the views of stakeholders, understand their main concerns and their impact on the business, and engage in constructive dialogue on social issues.
  • Demonstrate empathy for people and society. 
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration with external organisations on addressing social impacts.

Communication 

  • Develop effective metrics to assess the impacts of social initiatives. 
  • Communicate the results of social initiatives internally and externally using the most appropriate and effective media.