COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014 European Public Policies on CSR: The perceptions SMEs Eleni Apospori, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Communication Athens University of Economics and Business - Research Centre / Business Communication Laboratory COGITA PROJECT – Final Conference Bologna, 23 October 2014

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  COGITA provides input to public policy by supporting the uptake of an Integrated Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)  Three-dimensional approach for integrated CSR associating CSR public policy themes, CSR public policy instruments, and SME fields of action on CSR.  CSR Public policy themes: Awareness Raising, Capacity Building, Transparency, Supply Chains, Branding & Communication  CSR instruments for implementing these policies: Economic, Informational, Partnering, Hybrid, Legal  CSR fields of action: Leadership, Workforce, Market, Environment, Society 2 Introduction The COGITA project

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October Introduction The integrated COGITA approach to CSR X-axis: public policy themes Awareness Capacity Building Transparency Supply Chains Branding & Communication Y-axis: CSR fields of action Leadership Workforce Market Environment Society Z-axis: public policy instruments Legal Economic/Financial Informational Partnering Hybrid

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Public authorities should select an “optimum” mix of CSR policy themes and policy instruments to support SMEs to uptake CSR actions.  Important to have a picture of how SMEs evaluate the dimensions of the integrated CSR concept.  CSR fields of action and public policy themes: o Importance o Degree of public support needed by SMEs o Degree of support provided by public authorities  Public policy instruments: o Importance o Effectiveness 4 Introduction The integrated COGITA approach to CSR

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Survey population: companies operating in the 13 project partner regions.  Sampling unit: SME which may or may not perform CSR activities  Questionnaire structure: o SME’s characteristics o Assessment of CSR fields of action o Assessment of public policy themes o Assessment of public policy instruments o Overall status of CSR at regional level  Scale: o 6-point Likert scale (1 = none / 6 = very high) 5 Introduction Survey methodology

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Sample characteristics o Sample size: 230 companies from 12 countries o 89% are SMEs o 81% already implement some CSR actions o Frequency per country: 6 Introduction Sample characteristics

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Five Fields of CSR Action 7 Analysis of the Results CSR Fields of CSR Action Fields of CSRImportance for your company Support neededSupport offered by public authorities LEADERSHIP (Company owners and managers shape the culture and values of the organisation. They demonstrate the firm’s commitment by managing in a transparent, ethical way and leading by example) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know WORKFORCE (Companies commit to their workforce by respecting employee rights, work/life balance and occupational safety/health, by investing in employee development and training and facilitating diversity and equal opportunity in the workforce) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know MARKET (product safety, service quality, innovation, fair pricing, responsible supply chain management, ethical advertising) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know ENVIRONMENT (biodiversity, recycling, waste and water management, resources and energy efficiency, “greener” supply chains, e.g. reuse of water in production process) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know SOCIETY (Human rights, healthcare, education, poverty, local infrastructure, spreading the word about CSR) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Fields of CSRImportance for your company Support neededSupport offered by public authorities LEADERSHIP (Company owners and managers shape the culture and values of the organisation. They demonstrate the firm’s commitment by managing in a transparent, ethical way and leading by example) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know WORKFORCE (Companies commit to their workforce by respecting employee rights, work/life balance and occupational safety/health, by investing in employee development and training and facilitating diversity and equal opportunity in the workforce) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know MARKET (product safety, service quality, innovation, fair pricing, responsible supply chain management, ethical advertising) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know ENVIRONMENT (biodiversity, recycling, waste and water management, resources and energy efficiency, “greener” supply chains, e.g. reuse of water in production process) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know SOCIETY (Human rights, healthcare, education, poverty, local infrastructure, spreading the word about CSR) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Fields of CSRImportance for your company Support neededSupport offered by public authorities LEADERSHIP (Company owners and managers shape the culture and values of the organisation. They demonstrate the firm’s commitment by managing in a transparent, ethical way and leading by example) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know WORKFORCE (Companies commit to their workforce by respecting employee rights, work/life balance and occupational safety/health, by investing in employee development and training and facilitating diversity and equal opportunity in the workforce) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know MARKET (product safety, service quality, innovation, fair pricing, responsible supply chain management, ethical advertising) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know ENVIRONMENT (biodiversity, recycling, waste and water management, resources and energy efficiency, “greener” supply chains, e.g. reuse of water in production process) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know SOCIETY (Human rights, healthcare, education, poverty, local infrastructure, spreading the word about CSR) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Fields of CSRImportance for your company Support neededSupport offered by public authorities LEADERSHIP (Company owners and managers shape the culture and values of the organisation. They demonstrate the firm’s commitment by managing in a transparent, ethical way and leading by example) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know WORKFORCE (Companies commit to their workforce by respecting employee rights, work/life balance and occupational safety/health, by investing in employee development and training and facilitating diversity and equal opportunity in the workforce) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know MARKET (product safety, service quality, innovation, fair pricing, responsible supply chain management, ethical advertising) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know ENVIRONMENT (biodiversity, recycling, waste and water management, resources and energy efficiency, “greener” supply chains, e.g. reuse of water in production process) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know SOCIETY (Human rights, healthcare, education, poverty, local infrastructure, spreading the word about CSR) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Scale: 1:none 2: very low 3: low 4: moderate 5:high 6:very high

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Importance of CSR Fields of Action 8 Analysis of the Results CSR Fields of CSR Action Scale: 1:none 2: very low 3: low 4: moderate 5:high 6:very high

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Support Needed vs. Support Offered 9 Analysis of the Results CSR Fields of CSR Action Scale: 1:none 2: very low 3: low 4: moderate 5:high 6:very high 5,08 3,55 4,03 3,02 3,04

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Five CSR policy themes 10 Analysis of the Results CSR Policy Themes Importance for your company Support neededSupport offered by public authorities AWARENESS ON IMPACT OF CSR (Awareness among executive board and the employees of the SMEs about the potential positive impact of the CSR) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know CAPACITY FOR CSR (Successful CSR implementation requires the respective skills of employees and resources by the company as a whole) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know TRANSPARENCY OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES (Acting in a transparent way and reporting these environmental, social and governmental factors to various stakeholders like consumers, suppliers, public authorities, investors and society) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (Adopting, implementing and coordinating CSR values, strategies and tactics in all levels of the supply chain, from sourcing the raw materials to the end user) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know CSR BRANDING AND COMMUNICATION (Communication about the CSR actions of the firm to a wide set of stakeholders such as employees and customers, suppliers, business partners etc. The brand then, becomes a promise for the communicated social values) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Scale: 1:none 2: very low 3: low 4: moderate 5:high 6:very high Importance for your company Support neededSupport offered by public authorities AWARENESS ON IMPACT OF CSR (Awareness among executive board and the employees of the SMEs about the potential positive impact of the CSR) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know CAPACITY FOR CSR (Successful CSR implementation requires the respective skills of employees and resources by the company as a whole) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know TRANSPARENCY OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES (Acting in a transparent way and reporting these environmental, social and governmental factors to various stakeholders like consumers, suppliers, public authorities, investors and society) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (Adopting, implementing and coordinating CSR values, strategies and tactics in all levels of the supply chain, from sourcing the raw materials to the end user) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know CSR BRANDING AND COMMUNICATION (Communication about the CSR actions of the firm to a wide set of stakeholders such as employees and customers, suppliers, business partners etc. The brand then, becomes a promise for the communicated social values) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Importance for your company Support neededSupport offered by public authorities AWARENESS ON IMPACT OF CSR (Awareness among executive board and the employees of the SMEs about the potential positive impact of the CSR) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know CAPACITY FOR CSR (Successful CSR implementation requires the respective skills of employees and resources by the company as a whole) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know TRANSPARENCY OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES (Acting in a transparent way and reporting these environmental, social and governmental factors to various stakeholders like consumers, suppliers, public authorities, investors and society) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (Adopting, implementing and coordinating CSR values, strategies and tactics in all levels of the supply chain, from sourcing the raw materials to the end user) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know CSR BRANDING AND COMMUNICATION (Communication about the CSR actions of the firm to a wide set of stakeholders such as employees and customers, suppliers, business partners etc. The brand then, becomes a promise for the communicated social values) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Importance for your company Support neededSupport offered by public authorities AWARENESS ON IMPACT OF CSR (Awareness among executive board and the employees of the SMEs about the potential positive impact of the CSR) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know CAPACITY FOR CSR (Successful CSR implementation requires the respective skills of employees and resources by the company as a whole) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know TRANSPARENCY OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES (Acting in a transparent way and reporting these environmental, social and governmental factors to various stakeholders like consumers, suppliers, public authorities, investors and society) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (Adopting, implementing and coordinating CSR values, strategies and tactics in all levels of the supply chain, from sourcing the raw materials to the end user) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know CSR BRANDING AND COMMUNICATION (Communication about the CSR actions of the firm to a wide set of stakeholders such as employees and customers, suppliers, business partners etc. The brand then, becomes a promise for the communicated social values) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Importance of CSR Policy Themes 11 Analysis of the Results CSR Policy Themes Scale: 1:none 2: very low 3: low 4: moderate 5:high 6:very high

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Support Needed vs. Support Offered 12 Analysis of the Results CSR Policy Themes Scale: 1:none 2: very low 3: low 4: moderate 5:high 6:very high 2,832,87 3,82 4,71 3,80

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Five CSR Public policy Instruments 13 Analysis of the Results CSR Public Policy Instruments Scale: 1:none 2: very low 3: low 4: moderate 5:high 6:very high Importance for your company Effectiveness of instrument INFORMATIONAL (such as seminars, information events, campaigns, branding, training, conferences and the companies) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL (such as tax credits, subsidies, training, coaching, consulting, awards, etc. in order to build the necessary CSR capacity and skills in companies) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know PARTNERING (such as networks, stakeholder dialogues, Public- Private Partnerships, in order to share valuable knowledge and expertise, reduce the costs of action and lead to initiatives that individual SMEs cannot achieve) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know HYBRID (combination of single instruments above like financing joint research activities involving companies and academia) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know LEGAL (regulations, directives, public procurement etc. Legal and political frameworks can set obligatory requirements with regard to the integration of CSR by SMEs) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Importance for your company Effectiveness of instrument INFORMATIONAL (such as seminars, information events, campaigns, branding, training, conferences and the companies) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL (such as tax credits, subsidies, training, coaching, consulting, awards, etc. in order to build the necessary CSR capacity and skills in companies) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know PARTNERING (such as networks, stakeholder dialogues, Public- Private Partnerships, in order to share valuable knowledge and expertise, reduce the costs of action and lead to initiatives that individual SMEs cannot achieve) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know HYBRID (combination of single instruments above like financing joint research activities involving companies and academia) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know LEGAL (regulations, directives, public procurement etc. Legal and political frameworks can set obligatory requirements with regard to the integration of CSR by SMEs) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know Importance for your company Effectiveness of instrument INFORMATIONAL (such as seminars, information events, campaigns, branding, training, conferences and the companies) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL (such as tax credits, subsidies, training, coaching, consulting, awards, etc. in order to build the necessary CSR capacity and skills in companies) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know PARTNERING (such as networks, stakeholder dialogues, Public- Private Partnerships, in order to share valuable knowledge and expertise, reduce the costs of action and lead to initiatives that individual SMEs cannot achieve) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know HYBRID (combination of single instruments above like financing joint research activities involving companies and academia) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know LEGAL (regulations, directives, public procurement etc. Legal and political frameworks can set obligatory requirements with regard to the integration of CSR by SMEs) none  very high  I don’t know none  very high  I don’t know

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Importance CSR vs. Effectiveness of Public Policy Instruments 14 Analysis of the Results CSR Public Policy Instruments Scale: 1:none 2: very low 3: low 4: moderate 5:high 6:very high 4,02 3,98 3,97 4,89 3,67

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Leadership was rated as the most important CSR field of action  More support is needed for actions towards the Workforce of SMEs  More support than needed is offered for actions towards the Environment  The most important policy themes, requiring the most support : Capacity building and Awareness raising o However, Capacity building is rather overlooked by European public authorities  Economic, Partnering and Hybrid instruments are ranked first in terms of importance  Informational instruments are considered as the most effective in implementing CSR policy 15 Discussion Main Findings

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  4 out of 5 (81%) of the responding SMEs desire at least a moderate level of intervention/support of their public organizations.  SMEs express low desire for legal actions.  Regional authorities and companies should collaborate in order to identify the elements of the three-dimensional approach for which SMEs in their region require assistance.  Then, the public authorities should tailor their efforts and instruments in the local context and needs. 16 Discussion Main Findings

COGITA is made possible by Bologna, 23 October 2014  Questions ? 17 Discussion Questions