Csr and Companies

""Businesses cannot be successful when the society around them fails" CSR Summit 2014

Having four hundred words to explain what I have learnt on the CSR unit seem very little to explain the main concepts seen in class. I could go from the agency problem present on companies in the management and the stakeholders willing to act in the best interest of the other party, to the definition of sustainability, the changing landscape of companies in the present and their future problems, the CSP model with its matrix of principles, process and outcomes-impacts, the constructive stakeholder process to obtain strategic advantages and the building of competitive advantages.

But it will be too short to fully understand all this concepts. Rather to do this I will focus this report on what really changed my mind, on what really stated an idea that could transform my way on thinking in to the future, and idea worth to be kept to be a possible game changer factor in my upcoming professional experiences.

I will state 2 main ideas that I have consider the more relevant.

"Being Sustainable is Profitable" – Working in the Natura and Patagonia case, has showed me how two successful companies have worked out their way on sustainability with high margin products that consumers value. At the beginning it all may be leverage on the price but at the end the company starts building additional no-cash relations that helps at the end, lowering costs and risks associated with procurement, community management and production. In the case of Natura I believe they have benefit in the following ways for their sustainability and CSR programs:

• Increased skills and motivation (human capital).

• Improved ability to attract and keep employees.

• Increased