Responsible Business Guide: A Toolkit for Winning Companies

RBG
Responsible Business Guide: A Toolkit for Winning Companies
Making the Decision
Most companies say 17 they would easily move from philanthropic “check-writing” to a level
where CSR is integrated into the business model. This is easier said than done, because
company decision-makers typically have little guidance readily available when trying to
develop a CSR strategy. Entrepreneurs say there is little use for them in academic discussions
on how desirable it is for a company to be responsible or in success stories of large companies
in other countries who have spent almost as much telling the story as on living it.
SMEs often say CSR is a luxury for only big, rich companies. But really, CSR in its essence
has to do simply with behaving responsibly. In fact, the only costs involved in being
responsible are costs any far-sighted business would assume any way – unless its owners
cut corners on quality, exploit people and natural resources, or keep what was not theirs
to keep, such as taxes or payables.
Ethics is the new
competitive environment.
Peter Robinson, CEO, Mountain
Equipment Co-op
The Responsible Business Framework (RBF) provides a road
map for establishing and maintaining a pattern of behavior
that can help demonstrate a company’s values as part of its
day to day operations. Over the long term, this behavior is
certain to yield dividends reserved for socially responsible
businesses. If as a decision-maker, you feel your business is at a stage where it requires a
systematic approach to CSR, you would wish to ascertain whether the RBF works for your
company. Here are some of the questions companies typically ask themselves. Take a
moment to see where you stand.
Responsible Business Initiative 21