Our society is undergoing profound transformation, fundamentally reshaping all areas of life. Dynamic crises and the volatility of established structures define this new reality. Events are becoming more complex and less predictable. This no longer affects politics alone — businesses, too, are increasingly in the spotlight. In light of the unprecedented challenges facing society today, stakeholders expect companies to commit to clear principles and contribute to solving global problems.
In its study “Corporate Citizenship 2024” FleishmanHillard analyzes the current state of corporate responsibility in Europe. Against the backdrop of today’s societal challenges, the study examines how companies understand the impact of their business activities, act responsibly, and communicate their efforts.
As transformation continues, traditional CSR measures are no longer sufficient to meet the expectations of investors, customers, NGOs, policymakers, and an increasingly critical public. Corporate responsibility must instead be fully integrated into business strategy. Companies need to view and manage their societal impact and financial performance as an interconnected whole. A comprehensive corporate citizen can make a meaningful contribution to transformation, manage reputational and business risks, and strengthen resilience in the face of current and future crises.
“Risk management and reputation management are becoming increasingly complex. Regardless of past or current crises, questions around corporate responsibility are being raised more frequently — and each time, a company’s licence to operate is at stake. The great transformation offers an opportunity to proactively align business and communications strategies with evolving expectations.”
– Hanning Kempe, CEO Deutschland
About the Corporate Citizenship Study
FleishmanHillard’s “Corporate Citizenship 2024” study examines corporate responsibility in the context of societal transformation. It first analyzes current developments and their implications for businesses, concluding that companies must comprehensively consider both the intended and unintended consequences of their activities.
Based on an analytical framework, the study explores how eleven Western European companies define, implement, and communicate corporate citizenship. It develops a definition of a comprehensive corporate citizen — one that integrates key principles of responsibility while accounting for industry- and company-specific characteristics. The findings begin at the strategic and communications level and are applicable to organizations of all industries and sizes.
Download now: “Corporate Citizenship: Reputation and Risk Management in the Great Transformation.”
