Guest Writer
The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has been running a promotion dubbed “Realise your dream,†in the name of corporate social responsibility.
By Diana Naisuna
The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has been running a promotion dubbed “Realise your dream,†in the name of corporate social responsibility.
Of all the gifts there are, UEDCL chose to reward its customers with predominantly electrical appliances, ranging from flat irons to microwaves. With all due respect to the management of UEDCL, I strongly believe the company was just exploiting customers instead of exhibiting social responsbility.
According to scholars, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a business strategy in which companies conduct business responsibly, by contributing to the economic health and sustainable development of the communities in which they operate. This is done by offering healthy, safe and rewarding conditions to employees, quality and safe products and services to customers and being accountable to stakeholders and a fair rate of return to them.
Therefore customers must directly benefit from CSR gestures as the practising companies expend part of their profits. On the contrary, it seems UEDCL executes CSR to widen its profit margin. Does UEDCL have to reward customers with electrical appliances which force them to consume more power, in effect worsening their financial position?
Surely, UEDCL can practise CSR in a manner that is less costly to customers. These include, but are not limited to, construction of schools, sponsorship of the arts and cash donations. Assuming that UEDCL has a soft spot for promotions, items such as company T-shirts, umbrellas and bags or foodstuffs that impact on lives positively can be given. This way, UEDCL will be “contributing to the economic health†of her customers.
Alternatively, UEDCL’s social responsibly drive can involve providing quality and safe services to her clients. No doubt, clients would be satisfied if faults like sparking wires on electricity poles were rectified without much hustle.
It does not make sense for one to win a radio set they cannot utilise because for a month, they lack power and UEDCL cannot do anything to help. Provision of quality services or non-electrical gifts to consumers would create a win-win situation for the concerned parties. With excellent services, customers will still consume power and employees will be proud to identify with a company that is a public’s darling.
The writer is a fresh mass
communication graduate
The Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) has been running a promotion dubbed “Realise your dream,†in the name of corporate social responsibility.
Of all the gifts there are, UEDCL chose to reward its customers with predominantly electrical appliances, ranging from flat irons to microwaves. With all due respect to the management of UEDCL, I strongly believe the company was just exploiting customers instead of exhibiting social responsbility.
According to scholars, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a business strategy in which companies conduct business responsibly, by contributing to the economic health and sustainable development of the communities in which they operate. This is done by offering healthy, safe and rewarding conditions to employees, quality and safe products and services to customers and being accountable to stakeholders and a fair rate of return to them.
Therefore customers must directly benefit from CSR gestures as the practising companies expend part of their profits. On the contrary, it seems UEDCL executes CSR to widen its profit margin. Does UEDCL have to reward customers with electrical appliances which force them to consume more power, in effect worsening their financial position?
Surely, UEDCL can practise CSR in a manner that is less costly to customers. These include, but are not limited to, construction of schools, sponsorship of the arts and cash donations. Assuming that UEDCL has a soft spot for promotions, items such as company T-shirts, umbrellas and bags or foodstuffs that impact on lives positively can be given. This way, UEDCL will be “contributing to the economic health†of her customers.
Alternatively, UEDCL’s social responsibly drive can involve providing quality and safe services to her clients. No doubt, clients would be satisfied if faults like sparking wires on electricity poles were rectified without much hustle.
It does not make sense for one to win a radio set they cannot utilise because for a month, they lack power and UEDCL cannot do anything to help. Provision of quality services or non-electrical gifts to consumers would create a win-win situation for the concerned parties. With excellent services, customers will still consume power and employees will be proud to identify with a company that is a public’s darling.
The writer is a fresh mass
communication graduate