Company owners, managing directors and CSR managers from CR4SME project partner companies met for the first time at FHWien der WKW for a workshop on the topic of responsible corporate management.
The Competence Team for Sustainable, Strategic and Opportunity-Oriented Management of SMEs (CR4SME), funded by the City of Vienna, organized a workshop for representatives of the companies participating in the CR4SME study: In 2017, a comprehensive picture of the integration of responsible corporate management in eight companies was drawn using a previously developed diagnostic model. Subsequently, the central results of the study were presented to the companies, within the framework of individual workshops and implications and measures were developed. Through a detailed analysis, the competence team supports the participating SMEs in identifying strengths and opportunities and developing starting points for possible strategic measures (more detailed information in German on these case studies can be found here.)
The CR4SME team analyzed companies known as best practice examples in their industry. Now it was time to bring together the owners, managing directors and CSR managers of the project’s partner companies. Team leader Dr. Daniela Ortiz led the workshop together with FH-Prof. Dr. Christina Schweiger, co-head of the research cluster “SMEs & Family Business” at FHWien der WKW and expert for strategic change.
The aim of the half-day workshop was to develop concrete measures to promote sustainable strategies in the companies, including improving the involvement of employees in the strategic achievement of objectives. (Which structures can/should be set up for this? Which methods exist? How can these be implemented in the respective company?) The focus was on the strengthening of internal change processes that efficiently integrate social and environmental aspects into management.
Entrepreneurs deal with similar issues, and could therefore also profit from this sort of exchange. The discussions during the workshop and at lunch were characterized by great openness and mutual appreciation. At the same time, all those involved took concrete approaches with them, which they would like to implement in their organizations. The inspiring exchange also led to new project ideas and further plans to collaborate.
