Title: Total responsibility management indicators and sustainable development

Authors: Stefka Gorenak, Vito Bobek

Addresses: Faculty of Commercial and Business Sciences, Toneta Melive 12, Slovenske Konjice 3210, Slovenia. ' University of Applied Sciences FH Joanneum, Alte Poststrasse 149, 8020 Graz, Austria; University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Razlagova 20, Maribor 2000, Slovenia

Abstract: This paper researches the relationship and potential synergies between the quality management and corporate social responsibility (CSR) where emerging systems from the total quality management (TQM) systems to the total responsibility management (TRM) have been compared. The evolution of TRM in companies includes three main components/approaches: inspiration/vision, integration and improvement/innovation. The improvement and innovation elements of TRM create a significant demand for companies to broaden measuring of their performance. TRM indicators focus on stakeholders, together with triple bottom lines of economic, societal and environment issues. Measuring responsibility requires the |cost-benefit| approach. It also urges for more responsibility towards stakeholders and environment. Gorenje Group represents a successful case of implementation of TRM into corporate values, culture, strategies and measurement of sustainable indicators. CSR offers the link between sustainability and long-term competitiveness. These two elements could be promoted through transparency, good governance, concern for the environment and good relations with company|s stakeholders.

Keywords: CSR; corporate social responsibility; TQM; total quality management; TRM; total responsibility management; environmental management; sustainable development; corporate values; organisational culture; sustainability indicators; responsible competitiveness; consumer behaviour; innovation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2010.034763

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2010 Vol.2 No.3, pp.248 - 264

Published online: 21 Aug 2010 *

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