Implementing CSR!

We are a country of excellent Policies and Strategies, but poor implementation and execution 

Michael Porter and Mark Kramer in their Article "Strategy and Society" clearly state the two focus areas of Corporate Social Responsibility.

• Focus on Business Interests.
• Focus on Core Competence.

Most importantly a CSR Policy should also contain an Implementation Strategy: Critical Steps

• Identification of Projects based on the above two parameters
• Setting Measurable physical Targets
• Establish the Time Frame, Time Schedules
• Setup Monitoring and Control Systems
• Design Organizational Mechanisms and Responsibility Structures

Besides the Focus, partnering with local authorities, business associations and NGO's with similar or complimentary competence or business interests can lead to better value addition. In order to make this partnership successful, systems of Need Assessment and Impact Assessment are mandatory. The Synergy with other organizations could enhance the ability to strategize better and hence have better impact on the stakeholders.

Allocation of specific amounts in Budgets also form a valuable parameter to evaluate the CSR activities. Variables such as Profit after Tax, Cost of CSR planned activities could also be defined. Finally, the companies ability to disseminate information on the CSR policies, activities and progress lies the success of Implementation of CSR.

For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them. ~Aristotle