Jane Doe
Company Q, a small local grocery store chain located in a major metropolitan city recently closed down a couple of its stores in some high crime neighborhoods due to a consistent loss of revenue. One of the requests that many customers have been making for quite some time was the addition of healthier foods, like organic products to be offered at their stores. There was a lot in of hesitation in providing these requested products because they are high-margin items; however, the company is finally willing to offer some of these products. Recently when a local food bank asked management for the donation of day old food that they could serve to the homeless and hungry, the manager declined. His concern was that employees will be more tempted to steal from the store with the excuse of it being for the food banks by allowing this donation.
Based on the information provided on Company Q, one could confirm that there is a lack of corporate social responsibility (CSR) among those in charge of the business. Several aspects of the decisions that the company makes focus on their profit and bottom line, with very little on the interests of the community. By closing down stores in higher crime areas, hesitating to provide the products that clients were requesting, and declining the donation of food to the food bank, it is easy to see the concern is always on their profit or loss. Therefore, Company Q could use some advice on improving their corporate social responsibility as an important aspect of their business.
There are three strategies recommended to Company Q that could be utilized in creating a plan for becoming an enterprise that can pride itself on its corporate social responsibility. A community development plan, creating shared value, and social education and awareness are ways that the company can move towards higher CSR (Davis, n.d.). Company Q and its management can begin the process by going back to the food bank to inform them that the company has reconsidered the decision and would like to donate the day old food to them, but would also like to build some type of ongoing plan or program with them. The food bank can work in partnership with Company Q on various events that can be planned in conjunction with the two entities that will mutually benefit and gain attention in the community.
One of these events could actually benefit Company Q on drawing attention to their health food and organic products through a class offered to the community where they can taste test various products. Providing tickets to the class at a nominal fee, informing the customers that 100% of the ticket sales will be donated to the local food bank that Company Q regularly donates their food to will not only draw attention to the store, but also provide other benefits. The company will be involved in a philanthropic venture by giving the food bank the funds raised by their class (es), and will also show the community how much the business cares for their community. In turn, customers will begin to shop at the Company Q stores more because of the positive work the business is involved in with the food bank and giving back to the community.
In addition, the management needs to build a trustworthy relationship with their employees and provide some additional perks, such as a discount to shop at the store in order to minimize concern of theft. Often time, when management have good relationships with their employee base, the likelihood of problems like fraud or theft from their employees will be further diminished. The change in attitude towards the employees and community will be a crucial step to take by the owners and managers of the business to see that these new suggestions of corporate social responsibility will be beneficial on multiple levels. Not only will their revenue increase as their reputation gains positive attention in the community, but those individuals associated with the stores will also feel good about the type of workplace they have and the good deeds that are done by the company workers.
Reference
Davis, S. (n.d.). Examples of Social Responsibility Strategies. Small Business Chron. Retrieved
