Would it be wrong for me to say that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Social Entrepreneurship (SE) are two movements from two different sectors but it reflects one development? It reflects an integration of the business sector and the citizen sector; an attempt from both sectors to restore the balance in the development of our society.
CSR is a business’ commitment to contribute to sustainable economic development, working with employees, local community etc. in order to improve the quality of life of those who are involved. In other words, it is a business’ way to improve the social condition of a community or society. Whereas SE is typically a private person or non-governmental organization that has adopted the entrepreneurial approach to solve a social problem. In many ways, the two movements reflect a central development: an integration of the business sector and the citizen sector. The interesting question is: why does it happen?
In general, a society comprises of 3 main sectors: the public (states and governmental organizations), the business and the citizen sector (can also be called as civil society). For years there has been a separation between those; each sector with its own mission, values and agendas. It does not mean that they are not related to each other; they are. However, the role of each sector was more defined, e.g. improving social condition was not one of the business’ tasks; it belongs mostly to the state or is supported by the citizen sector. But history clearly shows that it is not sufficient that each sector has their own agenda. Rather, to build a better world, a better collaboration and dialog must be created across the three sectors where learnings and inspirations must take place. Businesses must learn that even though their decisions are based on profit-maximazing motives, the consequences of those always have a social impact and they must be responsible for it. On the other hand, NGOs integration towards the business sector happens because of two reasons: one is the pressure to find sufficient funding. It makes some NGOs want to become self-sufficient and thereby look for business solutions to generate funds. The other reason concerns the performance pressure; NGOs must prove to the public, supporters that their actions create tangible results. Therefore some NGOs began to learn from the business sector about how they can become more efficient and productive etc. There is simply a synergy that both parties can benefit from it.
But there can also be another explanation for why the integration of the sectors is happening right now. From a personal level, we all seek for balance and it can happen consciously or not. A balance can happen when we know how to integrate different parts of ourselves; solving the puzzle that makes up our personality. It can be work and life balance; family-oriented or freedom lifestyle. Academic careers versus practical experiences etc. Each of us has our own needs, our own puzzle to solve. However, regardless how it can be, we all seek for balance, a state of consciousness where we can find peace within ourselves. How does it “translate” to our society?
In many way, I also see how our society- regardless where each of us lives- always seek to define and find its own balance and this also reflects in the integration of the business and citizen sectors. To integrate, we must see the whole situation from a higher perspective. And if we look at the development of our society from a higher perspective, it clearly shows that we are out of balance. Polarization between the rich and the poor becomes more enforced more and more each day. Social problems are increasing in almost every society. The more advance we are technologically, the more damages we can create and destroy the earth. And luckily, there are more of us who become more conscious about this development, and chose to do something about it. And HOW we do it, always matters more than what we do. Hopefully, the CSR and SE movements are showing to the rest of the world how socially conscious businesses can be managed- profitable with a positive social impact. It’s not an easy task- integration is never easy- but it can be done. And that is a message of hope for a better world.
