Managing a CSR Report

Situation: This energy company was seeking to take a more strategic approach to maintaining and enhancing its license to operate in developing countries by hiring a senior manager to lead its new corporate sustainability department. It was also seeking advice on the drafting and development of its first corporate sustainability report.

Challenge: The company did not have a well established corporate sustainability function nor had it produced a corporate sustainability report. It was unsure of how to structure the department, how to develop a corporate sustainability report or what sort of board committee structure it might wish to develop to oversee its corporate social responsibility activities.

Actions:

o Undertook desktop research and interviewed six senior executives and two external stakeholders to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the company’s existing approach to corporate social responsibility

o Developed a report recommending a corporate sustainability department structure and a position description for a corporate sustainability leader

o Provided advice to junior sustainability manager on the process of developing a sustainability report and provided feedback on the draft report

o Undertook interviews with potential candidates for the corporate sustainability leader and with their referees

Results: The company hired a corporate sustainability leader; developed a structure for its corporate sustainability function and published its first sustainability report.