eThesis - School of Business electronic theses

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This thesis presents an analysis of the corporate responsibility (CR) management system of the Finnish glasshouse growing industry and suggests areas of development based on the analysis. In order to succeed in this, the thesis also develops a framework to analyse CR management systems.

The literature review shows that there are no comprehensive frameworks established for analysing corporate responsibility management systems, and therefore a new framework designed specifically to analyse CR management systems is developed. The framework includes three main analytical parts adapted from Rasche (2009); the content of the system, the processes within the system, and the system’s relation to the context.

The CR management system of the Finnish glasshouse growing industry is quite unique; there are a couple of national horticultural organizations, which guide the CR of the individual glasshouse growers with a CR guideline, audits, internal and external communication and development support. Hence the industry has a cluster approach to managing CR, which is found beneficial in this case, because the growers are all small or medium-sized. The content encompasses all areas of corporate responsibility with a focus on ensuring food quality and safety, preventing risks and ensuring legal compliance.

Potential areas of development are also found. The current system does not completely please the growers, who are supposed to pass the CR audits in the near future, due to several reasons. One main area of development is to increase the perceived benefits of the system and the processes, for example by focusing on those areas of CR that bring both financial and sustainability-related improvements. The thesis also introduces the difficulties related to the management of a system for a heterogeneous group of companies albeit within one specific industry.

The thesis concludes that the improvements of corporate responsibility amongst Finnish glasshouse growers are highly dependent on the same factors as they are elsewhere in the world; the economic situation allowing the investments for increased sustainability and the demands posed by the food retailers and the consumers. Still, it is noted that the horticultural organizations, which control the CR management system, are in a central position in supporting the individual growers. Perhaps one day the Finnish vegetables and flowers will be known not only for their quality but also the high ethical standards used by the growers.