The working group „ Socially Responsible Business” deals with issues regarding social accountability on every level of human and social group activity, including corporate social responsibility of both small and medium companies. The group adopts wider perspective of social responsibility than the one of traditional CSR that comes down to social activities of the companies. 

The aim is to scrutinise corporate social responsibility but also local government activities, or more broadly: public sector, NGOs, informal groups and consumers, producers, and intermediate traders. In general the group wishes to present the concept of social accountability based on a broader concept of sustainable social, economic and spatial development. Social responsibility is being considered through three dimensions: social, financial and environmental accountability.The phenomenon of corporate social responsibility is currently very common and applied by many companies however many of them use this instrument rather as a marketing tool to improve their image, not as a solely social activity. Also many firms adopt a narrow understanding of this idea: social workplaces preoccupied with issues regarding employees and never the out-group individuals. The group of experts wishes to diagnose the reasons for such phenomena and present future perspectives for application of this tool in Poland.

The group will deal with socially accountable business both theoretically and practically. One part of the study will be dedicated to presentation of the case history in this matter, both at home and abroad. Questions posed will be social accountability regarding gender equality, potential contribution of CSR to environmental protection, and IT responsibility. Another considered issue will be consumer responsibility for market choices made, regarding products and services as well as responsibility of the producers of products and services.The working group “Socially Responsible Business” assembles in plenary sessions and also within subgroups dealing with particular subjects. An attempt for a broader look at CSR not as a solely corporate activity but also as a certain social stance of universal character is a highly innovative approach towards the subject matter. The work group’s research will effect in publication of a scientific book presenting current state of knowledge on socially accountable business.