Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2021, 67(7):255-265 | DOI: 10.17221/8/2021-AGRICECON
Approaches of selected organisations in the Czech Republic to promoting the concept of sustainable development and corporate social responsibilityOriginal Paper
- 1 Department of Forestry Technologies and Construction, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University od Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- 2 Department of Human Resources, University of Economics and Management, Prague, Czech Republic
Sustainable development is a concept that is constantly evolving, being discussed at the global, national, and local levels, not only among individuals but also within organisations. However, the importance of this concept lies in its complexity. The article's main goal is to identify the approaches of selected Czech companies to promote the concept of sustainable development and evaluate the basic factors that impact competitiveness. The data were obtained based on quantitative research (questionnaire survey of data collection) in selected organisations (n = 179) and additional qualitative research in the form of individual interviews with representatives of agricultural enterprises (n = 8). Data were processed using chi-square tests and factor analysis to identify latent variables. Key approaches to promoting the concept of sustainable development include an emphasis on process approach, non-financial business performance, and sector stability. The basic factors for competitiveness are quality relationships with stakeholders and the implementation of an integrated management system.
Keywords: agricultural enterprises; competitiveness; factor analysis; integrated management systems; process approach; stakeholder value; survey
Published: July 14, 2021 Show citation
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