CSR / Sustainability

These days, companies who want to be leaders in their industry have to be able to demonstrate that their business objectives stretch beyond the balance sheet. As such, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability are transforming from small, one-off initiatives to cornerstone elements of a company’s mission, vision and values.

For the companies that want to get it right and follow best practices, research plays a crucial role.

Our Approach

Specifically, STEWART and PARTNERS works with organizations on the front end to align CSR issues with business goals, and then again on the back end for measurement and evaluation.

Through in-depth interviews with internal executives, plus a combination of primary and secondary research with our clients’ key external stakeholders, the purpose for conducting an upfront materiality assessment is to:

Identify a comprehensive and meaningful set of CSR-related issues and opportunities the company can own and impact
Prioritize these opportunities based on their relevance to business operations and resonance with key external stakeholders
Inform and optimize subsequent decisions regarding which issues to pursue and the level of activity and resources to invest

Measurement and Evaluation

We understand the variety of ways that often exist to measure results. We collaborate with our clients to create plans for measuring long-term results that are aligned with the company’s strategic plan and overall business objectives, including:

Media: Tracking and reporting how your company and its CSR programs are being positioned in traditional media and social media
Attitudinal: Using quantitative opinion surveys to determine if awareness, opinions, or actual behaviors are changing as a result of your company’s CSR programs
Return on Investment (ROI): If the data sets exist and are available, we can work with you to develop econometric models that measure the impact your CSR activities are having on your company’s bottom line relative to other external communications and business activities

Message Development