FabianPattberg.com

Listening to a CSR Critic

November 3rd, 2009 - 7:31 pm

radio Listening to a CSR CriticToday I listed to a radio show here in the UK with the focus on CSR and one of the guests in the station was a self declared CSR critic.

His main argument against promoting CSR best practice for organizations was that:
“CSR only costs companies money. And by following the CSR route we will make the world a poorer and over regulated place.”

What a statement. This statement really made angry and just showed me how much work we still need to do to convince skeptics but especially the public that CSR best practice is common business best practice.

Here is the link to the radio show for you to make up your own mind:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00njb1p/You_and_Yours_03_11_2009/

The show is about an hour but really worth listening too. I can only recommend it.

Picture Credit: Robert Scoble

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  • Healthy discussion this one at BBC. I agree that there is a lack of information of what CSR is not only in the corporate world but within stakeholders in general (public). And from there one could add the question of what companies claim to be doing in line with a CSR practice is in fact CSR. The necessity of a 3th party involved? I would add that media has its share of responsibility in this, since a number of journalists don't know enough about this theme. Consequently, how can they publicize it correctly?
  • Hi Maria. Thanks for the comment. Yes media has to play its role and I agree that many journalists do not really know what CSR is about. But maybe this is exactly the problem. Is CSR to complicated maybe?
  • Just one thing Fabian, and you're right - you can't write on music if you don't know the music field; the same for CSR. It's not complicated but journalists have to know what it's about if they want to write about it.
  • I absolutely agree Maria. Very well said.
  • I would say that CSR is NOT complicated. (It's a scary acronym, perhaps, and that' all). The thing is that journalists find that companies want to show their bright side and for that reason they aren't able to do what they would like to do. Journalists find a lobby that they just can not fight. Of course there are remarkable exceptions to the rule. Here in Portugal I know at least one exception. And I can tell you that the founder and CEO of the company is adored here in Portugal. He is a brave guy with enough money to send those who deserve it to go to, well you know what I mean -:)
  • christinearena
    What a fabulous web site you have. It's my first time here! I'm late to the party, I realize;-) With respect to the CSR critic, one issue I feel the CSR industry has been struggling with is definition. Because there is no clear definition of CSR, the wider public is left to draw it's own conclusions. If one defines CSR as a practice which translates narrowly into regulatory and philanthropic efforts, then logic follows that such a practice would create at worst costs for companies and at best only modest returns. The most effective form of CSR translates into intelligent investments in unmet social and environmental needs and problems, in ways that also serve shareholder interests - thus producing significant triple bottom line returns for companies. In the latter case, everybody wins. So perhaps this idea of whether people are "for" or "against" CSR depends on what lens they are looking through.
  • Hi Christine. Glad you like the site and thanks for the comment. I agree that the definition topic is a tough one. And it really depends from which angle you view a certain problem/topic such as CSR. But I believe that there needs to be something mandatory which keeps us humans from straying from our common goal to save the planet. I believe no one would say no if we where to ask them to do their bit.
    This critic here in the show just did not show any respect for the current CSR best practice which I found really annoying to say the least.
  • christinearena
    Hi Fabian. You are absolutely right, my friend. Why is it that so many people walk around with this awareness switch turned off inside of them? What happened to these people? As a civilization and planet we are facing a code red, all hands on deck situation, but so many individuals and corporations can only think about their own self-interest and short-term financial goals. I am sick and tired of those people and corporations, which is why my writing and blogs have become so aggressive lately. Believe me, I'm with you. It is annoying, to say the least. That's why the CSR industry needs to carve out a very clear value proposition and language right now. People in the industry need to be a lot clearer about what this is (productive and mandatory) and isn't (cause marketing, PR or a regulatory albatross). The arguments need to be made - and won - publicly.
  • I am of the same opinion Christine. My writing has become more straightforward lately as well. It makes me especially angry when I already here these so called leaders saying that a consensus at Copenhagen will not happen. The only thing I can say in return: Then make it happen.
    I also think that it is our responsibility to initiate change. Hopefully this blog plays a part in promoting change. But this is what others need to decide.
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