The State of CSR Annual Review: 2010-2011 shows that CSR is being increasingly linked to positive organisational performance – economic, environmental and social. But there is still a long way to go before corporate social responsibility is truly integrated into business strategy.
Based on the survey responses of almost 500 mid-to-senior level managers across broad spectrum of organisations and industries, the key results show:
- 80 per cent agreed that CSR had contributed to strengthened reputation (less than 40 per cent in 2008); while just over 60 per cent say CSR contributes to reduced costs in their organisations (under 20 per cent in 2008).
- A significant decline in organisations reporting the need to understand climate change, but an increase in organisations using CSR as part of their regulatory response, suggesting Australian organisations are beginning to move towards a ‘business as usual’ approach to managing climate change.
- Reducing environmental impact and building understanding of CSR within their organisations were rated the most important issues for CSR managers this year
- CSR staff and budgets cut in the Global Financial Crisis are rebounding, with a strong increase in hiring and spending forecast for 2011.
The research also identified the ‘CSR Top 20’ - the organisations in various industry sectors with the most advanced CSR capabilities.
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Download the State of CSR in Australia Annual Review including the CSR Top 20 – and a special Industry Snapshot |
NEW: The State of CSR in Australia Insight Series
The Insight Series provides additional insights from a range of findings in the State of CSR in Australia Survey.
Insight Series
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#1: CSR and Governance: Practices and Challenges |
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#2: Universities and CSR: Thought Leadership and Competitive Advantage |
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#3: CSR: Pathway to Innovation |
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#4: Overcoming Obstacles and Gaining Buy-In for CSR [NEW] |
The Insight Series PDFs can be downloaded from our Registered User Area
State of CSR Commentary and Presentations
 At the launch of The State of CSR in Australia Annual Review 2010-2011 (from left to right): director of the La Trobe University Graduate Certificate in Corporate Responsibility program, Dr Suzanne Young; ACCSR Managing Director Dr Leeora Black; former students in the La Trobe Graduate Certificate program, Paul Evans and Jessica Kitch. |
 Discussion at the launch was animated |
A constant theme in the results of The State of CSR in Australia research series has been the growth of CSR as a management practice. This has been reflected in the ongoing tension between improvement in the effect of CSR on organisational performance, while at the same time practitioners continue to report that gaining organisational buy-in and commitment is a major obstacle to implementing effective CSR strategies and practices.
CSR is becoming more effective – but CSR continues to struggle as an organisational function to fulfil its potential. The nature of the CSR function itself is probably the explanation: CSR is the most cross-functional, cross-silo business discipline to emerge so far in the history of management. It requires a profound level of cross-business functionality and integration to be effective. This is a challenge to
most companies, which are founded on vertical accountabilities.
But some organisations are showing how to do CSR well. During 2011 we will update this page regularly with case studies on the CSR Top 20 – the organisations that scored best in our annual review of CSR capabilities in The State of CSR In Australia research series.
Download the Report and a special Industry Snapshot
Keynote speaker, international CSR expert, academic and author, Dr Wayne Visser, at the launch of The State of CSR in Australia Annual Review 2010-2011, providing an insight into future developments in the field.
CSR Top 20 - Top scorers in CSR Management Capabilities
The State of CSR in Australia Annual Review also obtains self-ratings on a range of CSR management capabilities that have been proven to contribute to business performance. The CSR capabilities are rated by multi-item measures and comprise stakeholder engagement, stakeholder values integration, ethical business behaviour, stakeholder dialogue and social accountability.
“Management capabilities show key aspects of the culture and processes for CSR and are a leading indicator of performance,” said ACCSR Managing Director, Dr Leeora Black.
Representatives of the CSR Top 20 companies are congratulated by ACCSR Managing Director Leeora Black at the launch of The State of CSR in Australia Annual Review 2010-2011.
| The 2010/11 CSR Top 20 |
| Top Australian Listed Companies |
| BHP Billiton* |
| Corporate Express Australia Limited |
| Northparkes Mines (Rio Tinto/Sumitomo Group) |
| Rio Tinto* |
| Sensis* (Telstra) |
| Stockland |
| Westpac Banking Corporation* |
| Top Australian Private Companies |
| Arup Australasia |
| CPA Australia Ltd |
| Pacific Hydro |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia |
| Top Foreign Companies |
| Fujitsu Australia |
| Optus* |
| Top Government Business Enterprises |
| Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Landcom* |
| State Trustees* |
| Top NGO's |
| Charities Aid Foundation Australia |
| Mission Australia |
| National Breast Cancer Foundation |
| The Smith Family |
* Repeat appearance in this list
Leveraging CSR capabilities
Australian organisations need to move beyond a focus on risk minimisation and regulatory compliance and develop advanced learning and innovation capabilities if they want to leverage their CSR strategies for competitive advantage, argues Dr Sanjay Sharma in his review of The State of CSR in Australia Annual Review 2010/2011.
Read Dr Sanjay Sharma's full review
Dr. Sanjay Sharma is the Dean of the John Molson School of Business in Montreal, Canada, where he was a force behind the establishment of the global think tank, the David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise. He is a regular visitor to Australia under ACCSR auspices to conduct management training and professional development.
Download the Report and a special Industry Snapshot