Stakeholder dialogue
The stakeholder dialogue is an instrument of so-called CSR management ( Corporate Social Responsibility ) in companies and institutions.
Stakeholders are people or institutions who have a "stake", that is, an interest or a claim in a company. Conducting a structured form of discussion with such groups is part of CSR. The following definition applies to the stakeholder dialog: "A stakeholder dialog is a single, structured conversation between company representatives and stakeholder groups to determine the interests of the stakeholders and their subjective perception of the company in a discursive process, without any obligations going beyond the conversation." High-ranking company representatives should be included as an indicator of the seriousness of the entrepreneurial will to enter into dialogue. The dialogue should be carried out or moderated by an external, impartial organization.
The advantages of stakeholder dialogues are: promoting understanding of CSR in the company, recognizing the concerns of the stakeholders and their possibilities of influencing them, conveying interests, preventing conflicts, monitoring trends, identifying key issues, making suggestions for CSR policy and models, Informing stakeholders about CSR activities, using the stakeholders' know-how, recognizing strengths and weaknesses before going public (for example with the first CSR report). In addition, they often open up opportunities for long-term communication processes and collaborations .
The most important rules - especially for the participants in the company - require:
- take seriously
- Openness and honesty
- Postponing marketing issues
- correct and good listening
- Appreciation and patience for foreigners