Background

Corporate Social Responsibility: What does it mean? Where is it headed? Why should we care?

The term “corporate social responsibility” is often used interchangeably with corporate responsibility, corporate citizenship, social enterprise, sustainable development, triple-bottom line, corporate ethics and in some cases corporate governance. Though these terms are different, they all point in the same direction: throughout the industrialized world and in many developing countries there has been a sharp escalation in the social roles corporations are expected to play. Companies are facing new demands to engage in public-private partnerships and are under growing pressure to be accountable not only to shareholders but also to stakeholders such as employees, consumers, suppliers, local communities, policymakers and society-at-large.

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) encompasses not only what companies do with the profits but also how they make them. It goes beyond philanthropy and compliance and addresses how companies manage their economic, social and environmental impacts, as well as their relationship in all key spheres of influence: the workplace, the marketplace, the supply chain, the community and the public policy realm.

Seeing the growth of CSR in Indonesia, Sampoerna Foundation and Sampoerna School of Business & Mangement-ITB has an initiative to hold a series of dialogs called CSR Exchange 2008 themed Hand-in-Hnad For a Better Indonesia. We believe by way of synergy and collaboration, we will reach a wider impact and meaningful contribution. The CSR Exchange aims to privide and share the knowledge of CSR through the experience of bes practitioners and academics. It cover the following important topics on CSR, stakeholders engagement, issues management and social return on investment.

This program also enhances understanding of how the CSR framework might better support corporate organizations interested in managing the impact of programs on communities through engaging stakeholders and to be an influence in building a successful program.