Corporate Social Responsibility in Cooperrative Entreprises:Folksam, Coop Konsum,HSB and Folksam

ABSTRACT Title: Corporate Social Responsibility in Cooperative Enterprises: Folksam, Coompanion, HSB and Coop Konsum. Level: Final assignment for Bachelor’ degree in Business Administration Author: Rachel Mpambara Supervisor: Maria Fregidou-Malama Examinator: Akmal Hyder Date: 2012 - May Aim: The Aim of this study is to investigate what CSR is and how it is applied in cooperative companies such as: Folksam, Coompanion, HSB and Coop Konsum. Method: Qualitative case studies in cooperative companies were performed during this study. The research is based on interviews with six employees from the four companies. Results and Conclusions: My study shows that Coop Konsum, Folksam, HSB and Coompanion work with CSR activities to have a good image and trust from members and customers. The companies perform CSR activities such as taking responsibility for members and employees allowing them the right to participate and decide, environmental activities like making sure that suppliers follow environmental requirements, satisfy customers’ needs for example make sure that the customers get all important information they need to start their own business, get involved in ethical and social activities like no discrimination issues or helping poor people. The companies face challenges in the future but they will continue to work with CSR, to focus more on environmental and issues concerning the society. My conclusion is that CSR activities are found in the value specification of cooperatives therefore one cannot separate CSR from cooperative companies. Suggestions for Further research: The main limitation of the study is that I conducted six interviews with employees in the four companies. A deeper understanding would demand to perform more investigations, like doing interview with both employees and managers, in order to get more information in this study