csr middle east 2010 survey
TRANSCRIPT
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What do Middle Eastern Executives think about CSR?Sustainability Advisory Group
July 2010
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Middle Eastern Executives Agree:
CSR is a driver for growth and innovationHigh-level survey results
Following the success of last year’s inaugural regional CSR survey, Sustainability Advisory Group conducted the 2nd survey exploring executive views on corporate responsibility and sustainability in the Middle East. The high-level results are presented in this document.
For more information about the survey contact:
Maria Sillanpaa +971 (0)50 719 [email protected]
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What do regional business executives think about CSR?
Over 150 respondents to the survey
8 participating countries:The Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE.
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
Majority of respondents work in CSR, strategy and business development
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
Great variety of different types of respondents
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
Understanding of CSR is maturing
65% believe ‘minimising negative and maximising positive impacts’ is the most appropriate definition of CSR
- up almost 10 percentage points on last year.
65% DO NOT think community investment is an adequate definition of CSR
- up from 53% last year.
Less than 8% view community investment to be THE core definition
- down from 17% last year.
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
Current business priorities
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
CSR can…
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
How important will these issues be to your business in the next 10 years?
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
How effectively are issues being addressed?
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
30 - 50% respondents believe issues of:•water conservation •climate change•waste management•ecological health•energy conservation•access to resources and •green buildings
are not really addressed by, or considered applicable to, their business.
There’s still complacency towards critical issues
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
CSR is not yet well translated into management processes
Over half respondents said that they have a clearly articulated CSR strategy, signed off at the highest level.
Numbers drop when asked if CSR is integrated into management processes:
• Part of KPIs: 28% yes, only 14% formally
• Bonus scheme: 33% yes, only 11% formally
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
Barriers to CSR…
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
CSR is increasing in importance in the current economic climate
2009
2010
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
How important is CSR in this economic climate?
“As companies are suffering with the reduction in their bottom line they have less funds allocated to CSR.”
“We have time to understand how unsustainable the previous way of conducting business was and establish more efficient and effective ways.”
“The future of the company is uncertain and that leads managers to think of the use of investing time, people and money in something that will not
directly benefit them.”
“It's unfortunate that the market is a little immature to comprehend the importance of CSR during the current economic climate.”
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
Call for awareness
“More needed to be done to build awareness”
“CSR concept is still quite nebulous even to senior executives thus the need for awareness campaigns…judging its benefits
in more concrete ways”
“CSR is a moral responsibility of every human on this universe - this awareness has to be
created.”
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
Call for government support & incentives
“There should be government incentives for companies to incorporate CSR and also local government support.”
“I think the Government of UAE should take initiative in this regards. Government should make them realise the
importance of CSR.”
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What do regional executives think of CSR?
Other comments?
“…limited specialized publications in Arabic. This prolongs the dominant confusion, consequently the local
experience and ideological input.”
“CSR could serve as a bridge between business across the Middle East. Mutual work on defining the issues of the
region as well as long term partnerships to advance solutions”
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To find out more about Sustainability Advisory Group and how
we can help you to deliver long term value, contact:
Maria Sillanpaa
Mobile: (UK) +44 7710 597 498
Mobile: (UAE) +971 50 719 4042
www.sustainabilityadvisory.net