Corporate Social Responsibility through A+Standard System

As Russian companies invest lavishly in social projects, their corporate websites and social networks become the vehicles to demonstrate their achievements in the area. Although the Internet provides an excellent platform to establish the feedback with target audience and increase the efficiency of corporate social responsibility (CSR), far from all companies make use of the chance, diminishing the effects of their social investments.

As Russian companies invest lavishly in social projects, their corporate websites and social networks become the vehicles to demonstrate their achievements in the area. Although the Internet provides an excellent platform to establish the feedback with target audience and increase the efficiency of corporate social responsibility (CSR), far from all companies make use of the chance, diminishing the effects of their social investments.

This was the message sent by RIAC Program Director Ivan Timofeev in his address at the session of the CSR Committee of the Russian Managers Association that took place on October, 2 with participation of Gazprom Neft, MTS, Uralsib, Severstal and other major Russian corporations.

The session saw a discussion of possible ways of maximizing the CSR representation on the companies’ web-sites. Dr. Timofeev presented the A+Standard system of assessing and developing Internet resources of the Russian exporting companies. The assessment of CSR representation on web-sites is one of the system elements. While speaking, Ivan Timofeev analyzed a number of Russian and foreign cases, as well as offered some recommendations for advanced display of the CSR efforts on corporate web-sites.

The session was moderated by Igor Sobolev, Chairman of the CSR Committee and Deputy Head of Uralsib’s Department of External Communications. He said that despite the growing role of the CSR and its significance for a company’s image, it is still difficult to find complete information both on the company’s website and in the annual report. To this end, the Russian Managers Association jointly with Russian International Affairs Council is setting up a special nomination Best CSR Presentation on Company’s Website within the PEOPLE INVESTOR-2013 contest of corporate projects.

The forum participants asked numerous questions about the A+Standard methodology, application and adaptation for various sectors of economy.

The follow-up discussion of the A+Standard procedures and the opportunities the system provides for the Russian exporting companies will be held by RIAC on November, 5.

For application to participate in the workshop and additional details phone 8 (495) 225 62 83 (ext. 127).

Contact: Anna Kuznetsova.

E-mail: aplus@russiancouncil.ru

See additional materials in russian at: /aplusstandard/