System and tools of the contemporary social responsibility

Straipsnyje nagrinėjama socialinės atsakomybės (SA) priemonių sistema. Pateikiami SA priemonių tarptautinės sistemos ir socialiai atsakingo pelno modeliai. Atskleidžiama naujų SA sričių – socialiai atsakingo investavimo ir religinės-etninės socialinės atsakomybės esmė ir turinys. Pateikiami SA priemonių diegimo Lietuvoje ir pasaulyje sugretinimo rezultatai. Objektyvesniam SA priemonių diegimo atskirose pasaulio regionuose bei šalyse palyginimui siūloma naudoti du naujus santykinius rodiklius – sertifikuotų organizacijų kiekis 1 mln. atitinkamos šalies gyventojų ir sertifikuotose įmonėse dirbančiųjų kiekis, skaičiuojant 1 mln. šalies ar regiono gyventojų.This article analyzes the peculiarities, interrelationships and development of social responsibility activities. A socially responsible business which adopts the concept of sustainable development is increasingly often in need of adequate conduct of supply chain partners. The complex of tools to achieve socially responsible activities consists of SA 8000 (Social Accountability), OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series), ILO-OSH:2001, Global Compact, GRI, QualEthique, ISO 26000:2010 and other tools and can be integrated in one organization. The content of two new CSR fields – socially responsible investment and religion-ethnic social responsibility are disclosed in the article. Findings. The paper provides benchmarking and analysis of the development of these tools in Lithuania in the context of European and multinational businesses. The new original models of the system of social responsibility tools, ethical profit assurance and international benchmarking of implementation of social accountability management systems are presented in the article. For the purpose of benchmarking of the level of corporate social responsibility activities in different counties and regions, the author proposes to use two new comparative indicators – the number of SA 8000 certified enterprises per 1 million of the population by country and the number of employees at SA 8000 certified enterprises per 1 million of the population of the country. The success and sustainability of SA 8000 implementation in a company depends on factors such as: core values, collaboration culture, partnership, decision-making based on consensus of all stakeholders, a positive attitude to all aspects of life (including problems, taken as challenges); personal example of top managers; energy and wish of people to strive for continuous improvement; the impact of services provided to improve the quality of life (focus on the needs of clients, related people, society); the readiness of company processes to meet SA 8000 requirements. CRS is implemented in order to satisfy the growing requirements of constantly expanding stakeholder groups related with a company‟s activities, which have a direct positive effect on the company. The definition of stakeholder groups over the last decades has become broader and now includes consumers, workers, investors, suppliers, international organizations, civil society organizations, public bodies (central government and local authorities), business associations and professional unions, education institutions, local communities, the media. A company which understands the expectations of stakeholders and the importance of their requirements can obtain long-term benefits from CSR implementation (positive image, increased customer and employee loyalty, which in turn increases sales, favourable supplier conditions, positive attitude of social organizations)