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Corporate Citizenship: The Social
Responsibility of Businesses
There is no one clear,
operational definition to understand the term Corporate Citizenship (CC).
This concept is often composed of the same meaning as Corporate
Responsibility or Corporate Social Responsibility. Corporate Citizenship
describes the commitment of the citizens within a corporation.
In
the United States, corporations who consider their social obligation as an
important condition for the company’s success has become a matter of
course. In Europe, mostly larger businesses are following this path and
have given the idea of citizen commitment more thought. The motive for
these corporations to take part in Corporate Citizenship differs. Some see
it as their moral commitment, others as a way to give back to the
community in appreciation of their success. Still others consider
Corporate Citizenship as a way to insure their own existence.
Corporate
Citizenship goes way beyond the scope of financially-orientated donations
and corporate sponsoring. All the resources in a business such as money,
human resources, technical know-how, organizational capabilities and even
the existing knowledge beyond the core business could be made available to
society on a certain scale.
In CC, multifaceted instruments find
their use:
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Corporate Giving
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Corporate Volunteering
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Contributions/Donations
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Voluntary/Community services
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Sponsoring
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Employee engagement
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Foundations/Endowments
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Employee leave-of-absence
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Financial resources
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Human resources
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Material resources
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Temporary/seasonal resources
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Services
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There is also an opportunity to work together with
charitable non-profit organizations (social institutions, associations,
societies…) in CC.
The following services are possible:
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Donations, sponsoring, endowments/foundations, interest-free loans
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Professional know-how, lobbying, information, contact procuration
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Machine leases, building/space leases, office leases (encluding
equipment, such as copiers, car pools, etc.)
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Consulting services, order transfers
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Material goods such as products
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Voluntary positions, leave-of-absence, employee commitment, mentoring
Businesses are straying away from money and product donations. As
Corporate Citizenship is deemed to be more strategically relevant,
services that can be associated with core competencies are being
increasingly offered. Employees and other stakeholders are integrated in
activities in order to create a connection between societal and business
goals. With the idea of a win-win situation, mutual advantages ought to be
generated.
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