CSR Managers Survey in Central Europe

Key conclusions of the Deloitte’s report “How CSR has influenced Central European societies and economies. Lessons learnt and future trends”:

• CE CSR Managers believe business has had a positive effect on finding solutions to social problems within their countries in recent years, especially in solving environmental problems, supporting education and counteracting unemployment. They think that these areas are of primary importance and businesses should get involved with such matters in future as well. At the same time, the respondents expect stronger commitment to combating corruption than it is observed nowadays
• Three most crucial benefits arising from CSR efforts, as observed by the survey participants, are: increased involvement of employees (65%), improved reputation (55%) and better relations with local communities (53%).
• CE respondents see the best chances for social and economic development of their respective countries in the impact of business on the growth in the competitiveness of the economy (96%), the positive impact of enterprises on the activity in the labour market (96%), and their impact on the knowledge-based economy and intellectual capital growth (91%).
• The majority of the respondents claim that business models are likely to change in the coming years (86%), and to a great extent, the change will be the result of pressure from customers who are increasingly expecting to see socially responsible products and service on the market (75%)
• 76% of Central European respondents expect CSR growth and service professionalization. However, the development of CSR might be slowed down by the following barriers: misconception of CSR as a form of sponsoring (59%), lack of incentives from the state administration (52%) and businesses’ reluctance to invest in CSR initiatives (46%).

The Deloitte survey was carried out among CSR managers in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Hungary, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia. It was conducted along with the survey performed by the Polish Responsible Business Forum among Polish CSR managers to mark the 15th anniversary of CSR partnership in Poland. Both the Polish and Central European surveys present the role of CSR practitioners in promoting social responsibility in companies as well as their insights on the positive effects of CSR on the social and economic condition of each country.