Challenges of aligning corporate social responsibility to corporate strategy for Safaricom foundation
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Date
2012-11Author
Muiruri, Alice N
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Corporate Social Responsibility has become part of the overall corporate strategy
incorporating various stakeholders in the business ecosystem to ensure success and
attainment of objectives. Companies are aligning their CSR strategies with their corporate
strategy to offer unique solutions to the world’s problems. The main objective of this
research was to evaluate the challenges to aligning CSR to corporate strategy in
Safaricom Foundation. The study employed a case study approach to evaluate the
challenges of aligning CSR with corporate strategy. An interview guide was constructed
and interviews conducted with strategists and foundation personnel who have utilized
CSR and corporate strategy initiatives in Safaricom Foundation in order to elicit
responses for an in-depth understanding and analysis of key aspects of the research and
the data analysed using content analysis.
Findings of the study established that Corporate Social Responsibility was found to be a
fundamental part of corporate strategy. Globalization has not affected implementation of
CSR strategy as it is a reflection of the company focus on its strategy and the stakeholder
rather than global benchmarks. Political and regulatory environment is key to ensuring
successful completion of CSR projects.Safaricom Foundation CSR policies are aligned
with the Vodafone policies which are the parent company and are not impediment in the
planning and execution of the CSR strategy. As recommendations, the management and
the cross-functional teams of Safaricom Foundation were encouraged to also benchmark
the CSR program against global standards without necessarily losing the focus on its
corporate strategy. This will facilitate adoption of best practice where applicable.
Publisher
University of Nairobi School Of Business, University Of Nairobi