Corporate social responsibility in Poland: the Responsible Business Forum 2002‐2007 report perspective

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to show the approach to the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Poland. It also intends to characterize the process of the implementation of its assumptions subject to Polish economic conditions. At the same time, it aims to pay special attention to the role of small and medium‐sized enterprises. Design/methodology/approach - The approach to the concept of CSR in Poland is outlined on the basis of the result of studies conducted over the years 2002‐2007 as published in the Responsible Business in Poland reports by the Responsible Business Forum. Findings - In spite of the fact that this paper only shows a single segment of a greater whole, the picture of CSR in Poland that emerges from the reports, demonstrates continuous growth in awareness of this subject matter. In the case of companies, worth stressing is the fact that the balance is slowly shifting from expressing mere interest and declarations of undertaking actions in the future to real implementation of ventures and programs tied with responsible business. However, domestic companies are still plagued by a lack of knowledge and familiarity with instruments facilitating the effective implementation of the standards and principles of responsible business. Research limitations/implications - A significant limitation of the picture of CSR in Poland, as presented in this paper, is the scope and character of sources used. They are restricted to six Responsible Business in Poland reports. Practical implications - In spite of the fragmentary character of this analysis, its results demonstrate a need to undertake research into current implementations of the concept of responsible business in the small and medium‐sized enterprise sectors. In practice, this sphere remains untouched under Polish conditions. Originality/value - The paper presents interesting information on the approach to CSR in Poland.