You're focusing on CSR initiatives. How do you ensure feedback is integrated into strategic planning?

Almost 20 yrs ago when we were advising a city on its development, prepared a ‘ Partnership Document’ for Corporate CSR . This may help private companies now What we did was to do a rapid ‘ Demand Side Requirement’ study . What does the city need ? Better parks ? Cleaner lakes ? Toilets in schools ? Water ATMs in slums ? This we shared with corporates to pick up what they would like to fund or take it up themselves . This process in a way helps corporates pick up projects that need to be picked up plus they get a chance to match their passion and core competence with the projected demand . Worked famously…

Maintaining an open dialogue with all stakeholders makes it possible to receive feedback and adjust the CSR strategy accordingly. While this can help build trust and transparency, and lead to more accurate data, I also think using feedback to align CSR initiatives with customer values and concerns is what drives the impact.

The statement and comments are fine if you’re an established corporation trying to improve or modify your CSR. But if you’re a young company your initial focus should be inward. What do you do really well - better than others? What do you need to drive your business forward that would also benefit the community? One of my tech clients, based in Romania, funds a foundation that teaches teens to code and improve their foreign language skills (especially English) at an annual summer camp. Employees volunteer to help with the teaching. Leverage what makes your company unique and help your community.

- Es importante detalladamente los comentarios y opiniones que se ha. recopilado para identificar tendencias y preocupaciones generales, además de identificar tanto los testimonios personales como los resultados de encuestas. Por ejemplo, si varias personas destacan la falta de proyectos sostenibles, esto señala una oportunidad para reforzar el enfoque en sostenibilidad y así modificar los proyectos y establecer nuevos objetivos según lo aprendido, asegurando que las iniciativas sean más efectivas y alineadas con las expectativas y necesidades de tus stakeholders y aliados.

Examine the feedback you’ve collected for patterns and common themes. Look at both qualitative insights (personal stories) and quantitative data (survey results). For example, if multiple stakeholders mention lack of community involvement, this indicates a potential area for improvement. Determine what the feedback reveals about the effectiveness of your CSR initiatives. This helps you understand what’s working well and what needs adjustment. For instance, if feedback shows that your recycling program is appreciated but underutilized, consider ways to increase participation. Use the insights gained from feedback to refine your CSR strategy. Adjust your initiatives based on what you’ve learned, setting new goals or modifying existing ones.

CSR feedback is not a random exercise but a proper set of KPIs and metrics are to be applied for external and internal purposes , there are thousands of external consultants out there which business is currently recolonized and that apply the right taxonomy even though there is not. Global harmonised set of standardized rules

El análisis sistemático, cualitativo y comprometido de los comentarios -además de considerar los resultados cuantitativos- es fundamental, así como la participación de todos los interesados, sin excepción. No olvidemos que la evaluación pierde parte de su sentido si sólo aparece al final: siempre debe formar parte del proceso, para que podamos ir ajustando sobre la marcha todo lo que haga falta.

Analyze feedback by systematically reviewing the information gathered from stakeholders. Look for common themes, recurring concerns, and actionable suggestions. Prioritize the feedback based on its relevance and potential impact on your CSR strategy. Use data analytics tools to identify trends and quantify the sentiments expressed. This analysis will provide a clear understanding of where improvements are needed and how your initiatives are perceived, allowing you to make informed decisions and refine your CSR approach effectively.

Setting objectives is prime action when it comes to planning for CSR. Yes SMART is a way for it however it needs commitment and communication which foms the backbone of ovjectives. KPIs determined and agreed by stakeholders have a potential to be successful and one being enrolled on them with engagement would not be working

Setting Objectives 1. Align with Business and CSR Goals: Ensure that the objectives derived from the feedback are aligned with both the business's overall goals and the company's CSR vision. Objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). 2. Develop Actionable Plans: Translate the objectives into actionable plans with clear timelines, responsibilities, and resources. Consider setting short-term and long-term objectives. 3. Feedback Loop and Continuous Improvement: Establish a feedback loop where the outcomes of the CSR initiatives are regularly reviewed, and additional feedback is gathered. This allows for continuous improvement and ensures that the CSR strategy remains relevant and effective.

SMART Objectives need to be tracked over time. Use key internal and external resources for monitoring and evaluation. For example your annual impact report or set up an internal working group that meets quarterly to track progress and minute this. I co-founded the green elephant network in one organisation I worked in a we meet regularly to drive sustainability goals internally - we changed internal policies for example being able to take the train rather than short haul fly. Share stories of success along the way and fail forward if a goal isn’t met.

Set objectives by defining clear, measurable goals based on the insights and feedback you’ve gathered. Ensure these objectives align with your overall CSR strategy and address the key areas of concern identified during the feedback analysis. Objectives should be specific, achievable, and time-bound to facilitate tracking progress and evaluating success. By setting well-defined objectives, you create a roadmap for implementing effective CSR initiatives that drive meaningful and sustainable impact.

Integration of feedback into strategic planning is part of the core governance objectives. There should be proactive two way dialogue with stakeholders to understand how the strategy will add (or detract) value for stakeholders. Moving beyond CSR to a purpose driven model would require this as a basic element of good governance.

community engagement is the best way to evaluate if your csr activities are impactful or not. You might be developing schools in a marginalised area whereas the area requires provision of clean drinking water first. So on ground engagement is the only way to ensure effectiveness of csr efforts.

Hay que tener cuidado cuando decimos "involucrar a los equipos". Si bien es necesario involucrar a los equipos, en la mayoría de los casos nos quedamos a nivel de participación de directivos o mandos medios y estos no necesariamente recogen la mirada de quienes están en la primera línea y en contacto directo de los beneficiarios de los programas. Es importante recoger la mirada de quienes están en primera línea porque ellos son quienes mejor saben qué funciona y qué no desde lo operativo y quienes tienen la oportunidad de estar más cerca de los usuarios. Esto me lleva a sostener que los stakeholders, son también "parte del equipo", por lo que su mirada y retroalimentacion es crucial para la toma de decisiones en el nivel estratégico.

Una forma muy efectiva de que la retroalimentación en iniciativas de RSE o RSC se integre en la planificación estratégica es poner como métrica de desempeño el grado de satisfacción de las áreas involucradas. Al ser un eje a evaluar, será imposible que su feedback no sea contemplado dentro de la planificación. Para mí, esta es una gran herramienta, especialmente cuando se trabaja en iniciativas de impacto a una comunidad.

Le pilotage des actions RSE soulève certes de nombreux risques mais aussi et heureusement des opportunités d'amélioration. Ce qui nécessite d'intégrer la rétroaction dans la planification stratégique. Pour cela nous pouvons lors de la conception de notre tableau de bord, définir les indicateurs de moyens, de résultats et d'impact en donnant l'opportunité aux équipes de s'adapter aux réalités opérationnelles qui viennent de l'écoute active du terrain et des feed-back. En procedabt ainsi, nous pouvons nous assurer que la rétroaction est prise en compte dans notre planification, ce qui améliorera notre prise de décision.

Engaging and effective teams are the cornerstone of any successful company. They serve as the cohesive force that binds all processes together. When team members are well-informed, adequately trained, and consistently challenged by their tasks, they are better equipped to integrate feedback into strategic planning. Since projects are executed, stakeholder communication is managed, and analysis and implementation are carried out by teams, their comprehensive understanding of processes directly impacts the effectiveness of strategic CSR planning. In essence, "Engaging teams is crucial for integrating feedback into strategic CSR planning."

To ensure feedback is integrated into our CSR initiatives strategic planning we review it regularly. We gather input from stakeholders, including community members, employees, and partners, through surveys, meetings, and direct communication. This feedback is then analyzed and discussed in our planning sessions to identify areas for improvement. By incorporating this feedback, we can make necessary adjustments to our strategies, ensuring they are effective and aligned with community needs and company goals. This ongoing process helps us stay responsive and committed to making a positive impact.

Review involves measurement and evaluation to determine the effectiveness of your strategy and tactics. The review will provide valuable insights as to whether you are achieving your goals and objectives. Review is not only carried out on external stakeholders, but internal stakeholders to track progress. The aim of reviewing is to know where adjustments are needed. After the entire initiative, a summative evaluation should be done. This will help in future initiatives and programs.

If the CSR projects are understood as innovation drivers, experimental fields, and solid source of data then they have to be included in the organisation structure - intersecutal and intercultural. This implicates an pro active inzersectoral communication and regularly evaluation on projects that includes the outcomes of the CSR projects. The organisation structure and company culture and therefore the company wide understanding of CSR - mission and impact - these are the crucial points.

La revisión debe ser de manera periódica y constante para ello se debe primero establecer objetivos claros y metas precisas y medibles con indicadores para evaluar su avance en el tiempo. Es muy importante la retroalimentación y supervisión para controlar y supervisar que realmente las actividades se ejecuten conforme a lo planificado y coadyuven con los propósitos sociales y ambientales establecidos por la sociedad.

Closing the loop is very critical to run successful CSR initiatives. The impact of CSR projects, if well documented over the years can be very useful feedback to redefine the strategy. Just as all SDG goals are interconnected, CSR projects need a holistic approach as they have the potential to impact lives in multiple ways for any community. Hence consistent efforts are the key, to build impactful CSR projects, that uplift communities in multiple ways and environment as well. Each year the CSR project should enhance and further interconnect all the SDG goals through the impact on the ground.

Use feedback to drive innovation in your CSR initiatives. Be open to rethinking current approaches and exploring new ideas that emerge from stakeholder insights. Implement small, incremental changes regularly. This allows you to test new strategies and adjust based on results and further feedback. Keep your CSR strategy dynamic by anticipating future trends and challenges. This ensures long-term relevance and impact.

Amélioration continue oblige ! Si non quel est le but de suivre des résultats VS les écarts avec les objectifs... l'amélioration continue, la base de tout process qui sait évoluer et s'adapter à la situation du moment. Le monde du business bouge de plus en plus vite, les modes de consommation prennent différentes directions et de plus en plus vite, le suivi et les actions doivent suivre le mouvement, focus les objectifs RSE en phase avec son temps. La roue de Deming tourne de plus en plus vite !

For CSRs, one of the most difficult questions asked by stakeholders to companies hosting the CSR initiative is "how long will the CSR engagement last?"

By daring to iterate boldly and evolve unpredictably, organizations can craft CSR initiatives that not only respond to change but also drive it, creating profound societal impact and lasting change. To truly revolutionize Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), abandon the notion of static strategies. Here's how: - Instead of merely tweaking existing initiatives, embrace radical feedback that challenges the status quo. - Encourage dissenting opinions and unconventional ideas to disrupt traditional approaches. - Align CSR with the core business not just for relevance, but to provoke genuine transformation. - Measure impact not just in terms of success, but in failures that lead to growth.