CSR Lanka conducts first consultation on CSR 2.0 Assessment Tool in Sri Lanka for JIT

A team of members from CSR Sri Lanka conducted a workshop for the Just In Time Group (JIT) recently to assess their current operations against systematic sustainability benchmarks. 

JIT was the first corporate in Sri Lanka to use the internationally recognised diagnostic tool CSR 2.0; demonstrating their investment towards transformative CSR – to enter into the age of responsibility. JIT is one of Sri Lanka’s foremost systems integrators with over two decades’ experience providing timely ICT solutions and service support to a niche market. 

The aim of this assessment was to evaluate JIT’s current preparedness to align business strategies towards achieving long term value creation through systematic sustainability. The team of assessors included CSR SL Chairman Chandula Abeywickrema, CSR SL Director Mahesh Wijewardena (Singer Sri Lanka PLC) and Yasangi Randeni (Asst. General Manager – Sustainability Aitken Spence PLC). 

JIT had a cross sectional team representation including Communications, Legal, HR, Engineering, Secretarial, Managerial etc. for the assessment giving necessary transparent views of their organisation to effectively assess the CSR stage JIT required to strategise their way forward. 

This assessment was co-sponsored by Singer (Sri Lanka) Plc, Aitken Spence PLC and Lanka Impact Investment Network. Over the years CSR SL has being working closely with Dr. Wayne Visser: Founder and Director of the think tank CSR International to promote CSR 2.0.

Many companies tend to practice one of four types of CSR, depending on their level of maturity, namely; defensive CSR (compliance-driven, risk-based), charitable CSR (altruism-driven, philanthropy-based), promotional CSR (image-driven, PR-based), and strategic CSR (product driven, code-based). This theory identifies five principles of CSR 2.0 (creativity, scalability, responsiveness, glocality and circularity)  and four DNA elements of CSR 2.0 (value creation, good governance, societal contribution and environmental integrity).

CSR SL hopes to shape the fabric of sustainable development initiatives of the private sector by increasing awareness of the potential to create long term value through systematic CSR or transformative CSR.

“Transformative CSR is pivotal to making change happen at all levels be it societal, national, organisational and individual level. To keep with the pulse of our stakeholders, we at JIT are moving forward to embrace and transform with greater sustainability and accountability. We are excited to be a part of CSR 2.0 and also as the first company in Sri Lanka to consult on this,” said JIT Head of HR, Legal and Admin Sherene Goonetilleke.

“CSR 2.0 is a strategic engagement that drives corporates towards greater sustainability by identifying key stakeholders namely, shareholders, employees, customers and the environment and ensuring all of their transformation in the process of doing normal business of the company as a business strategy,” said CSR Sri Lanka Chairman Chandula Abeywickrema. 

CSR Sri Lanka is being supported by the United States Agency for International Development and private sector companies to improve the quality of CSR programs to achieve business sustainability and to ensure companies’ responsibility towards their stakeholders such as shareholders, customers, employees, society and the environment to bridge the gap between ad hoc CSR projects and creating sustainable value.