The Concept of Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate social responsibility (C.S.R.) is a developing idea that lacks a broadly acknowledged meaning at the moment. Generally, the concept is understood by how businesses incorporate environmental, social, and economic issues into their moral standards. Furthermore, they may entail customs, strategic plans, choices, and operational processes that are straightforward and accountable, thereby improving internal practices, creating wealth, and improving society. As challenges of sustainable development gain prominence, how businesses handle them has become a component of C.S.R.
Qatar Airways’ corporate social responsibility means that the ideas depict the link between a company and the rest of society. Specifically, they aim to increase communication between the business sector and the larger community. Apart from providing financial information of interest to investors, the reports also detail the company’s relationship with the whole spectrum of its stakeholders, including its workers, customers, and public members. Further, they also include information on suppliers, the government, and the environment.
Qatar Airways Current C.S.R. Analysis
Environmental
Qatar Airways Organization is dedicated to protecting the natural environment. By recognizing the Group’s contribution to global economic and social development, a policy underscores the grounding in the global aviation industry and the State of Qatar’s commitment to environmental sustainability (Sulistya, 2020). Furthermore, the corporation is still working to alleviate the impacts of the recent pandemic, and as such, they are resolute in its pursuit of environmental leadership.
The corporation is hell-bent on addressing the concern of the environment, for instance.
Climate Change
A focus on short-term profitability must be allowed to put the well-being of future generations at risk of being jeopardized. As a result, airport authorities should engage in environmentally friendly activities that are socially responsible and aimed at reducing waste and harmful emissions to water and soil through the implementation of innovative technologies or the investment in environmentally friendly infrastructure. This implies that they consider the environmental consequences of their operations and look for solutions that will assist in mitigating the impacts of such activities. Qatar Airplane’s stakeholders should include their staff and urge them to save resources such as paper, electricity, and water, among other things. Additionally, ongoing laboratory testing should be carried out to monitor the environmental consequences and, if required, to take prompt remedial action when any danger of excessive emission is detected.
Operations and Infrastructure
Qatar Airways is the first airline in the Middle East to join the I.A.T.A. Turbulence Aware data-sharing program, ensuring a better flight in the air with reduced fuel consumption. Moreover, they deployed the Fuel Optimization Program: Since 2015, Qatar Airways flight operations group has developed more than 70 fuel optimal control initiatives targeted at lowering fuel usage. Consequently, they used Performance Based Navigation (P.B.N.) (Sulistya, 2020). It proved crucial in identifying possibilities to minimize fuel usage throughout all flight stages and increase cumulative airspace effectiveness with Performance Based Navigation (P.B.N.)
Sustainable Aviation Fuels (S.A.F.)
Qatar Airways is a member of the one global alliance. The organization endorsed the World Economic Forum’s Clean Skies for Tomorrow Coalition’s aim to reach 10% S.A.F. by 2030 (Environmental Sustainability, 2022). While the fundamentals of S.A.F. adoption continue to gather pace, barriers such as scalability and manufacturing and roll-out costs persist. In this regard, Qatar Airways is collaborating with all industry partners to provide a feasible road forward for sufficient S.A.F. implementation.
Technology
The technical idea allows the company to operate with one of the most technologically advanced fleets in the sky. As a result, Qatar Airways is dedicated to reducing carbon emissions by selecting aircraft with energy-efficient designs. Their fleet includes a combination of contemporary and fuel-efficient vehicles, decreasing pollutants and less noise. On the other hand, they invest in technical enhancement packages for aircraft and engines. Consequently, it contributes to the reduction of drag and the improvement of efficiency.
Noise and Air
Qatar Airways is committed to constantly meeting and exceeding industry standards for noise and air quality; for example, modern airplanes have quieter engines than in the past.
With aerodynamic advancements and more contemporary, quieter engines, their fleet combination of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s is much quieter than their antecedents, with a sound impact of at least 15 percent less than that of the previous generation. Finally, by employing the noise control that works, the organization mitigates noise effects from incoming and leaving aircraft by using the ICAO balanced approach to aircraft noise management and adhering to noise abatement regulations.
Waste and Water
Qatar Airways reduces waste and seeks possibilities to reuse or recover resources for other uses throughout other activities, according to the concepts of the recycling economy. The corporation initiative encompasses all phases of operations and includes reducing single-use plastic, decreasing food waste, material recycling, and water conservation. In particular, the organization uses the elimination of single-use plastics. In this regard, restaurants onboard eating encounter has resulted in an upsurge of more than 70 percent in biodegradable and recyclable goods, whereas 80 percent of tray products now adhere to the single-use plastics prohibition. Moreover, material recycling each year has also been critical. The cuisine department at Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways’ hub, recycles thousands of tons of packaging materials and 52 tons of magazines, and more than 5,000 liters of cooking oil.
In addition, to the now Food waste reduction procedures detailed, the organization Q.A.C.C. partners with a local Qatari charity, Hifz Al Naema, to repurpose leftover food and drinks for charitable purposes around Qatar. Every day, Q.A.C.C. and Hifz Al Naema disperse between 200 and 300 kg of food and beverages, including entire fruits and cereals. Finally, the ramification of conservation of water methodology, Qatar Airways, the first air carrier to implement General Electric’s ‘360 Foam Wash’ system, set up traditional water wash techniques on G.E. engines. At Hamad International Airport, reprocessed wastewater is used for irrigation, and water from air conditioners can be used for cleaning.
I.A.T.A.’s Environmental Assessment Program (IEnvA)
Qatar Airways are the first aircraft organization in the Middle East to be certified with high levels of I.A.T.A. The accreditation encompasses the airline’s whole management framework, including flight operations, catering and cabin services, aircraft service and repair, cargo ground maintenance, and corporate activities (Bui, 2018). Progress in the organization’s environmental performance is accomplished by integrating our policy into all company processes and educating all personnel to help us achieve their environmental targets.
Wildlife Protection
Qatar Airways has a zero-tolerance policy on the movement of illicit animals and wildlife items. Illegal wildlife trade is the world’s fourth-biggest unlawful trade, with an approximate annual value of $19 billion. The trade involving jeopardized animals and plants’ well-being is unnecessary and has devastating repercussions for international wildlife conservation. In this way, the need for jewelry, decorations, and dubious medicinal treatments is encouraged. Smugglers might use international aviation to move threatened animals inadvertently (Corporate Social Responsibility, 2018). Qatar Airways is dedicated to: Creating awareness, Enhancing identification, and Industry knowledge and best practices sharing.
Social Projects and Community Support
The Continued Involvement of Virtual Communities
COVID-19 has altered the way businesses engage with their workers, stakeholders, and communities for the foreseeable future. There has been a change of normality throughout the last two years as communication in organizations has transformed due to the pandemic. For example, new meetings such as webcasts, virtual team meetings through zoom platforms, and other forms of online collaboration have proved to be. They will remain for the sustainability of corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Equity and Diversification
Equal chances, customized assistance, and inclusiveness of individuals of all origins are critical C.S.R. themes for the unforeseeable future. Fairness and workplace diversity are gaining traction as more firms provide training sessions focused on these problems and will provide solutions to help their workers develop and sustain trust, dedication, and a safe work environment. In the future years, more businesses will prioritize diversity, equality, and inclusion within the communities they serve. It is beneficial since diversity, equality, and inclusion influence career choices made by marketing sector professionals.
Volunteer Programs for Employees
Employee volunteer programs are a terrific method for businesses to boost team morale, raise work satisfaction, and play a positive role in the community all at the same time. Therefore, there is a tendency to continue to expand, and its influence will undoubtedly be seen in 2022. Following COVID-19, virtual working has risen threefold, with several firms and their workers providing community services like internet teaching and mentorship, live training sessions, and administrative support to charitable groups.
Benefits of the C.S.R. Strategy
Corporate social responsibility (C.S.R.) is a need in today’s culture. C.S.R. manifests itself in a variety of ways. Businesses of all sizes are expected to develop a proactive C.S.R. strategy that benefits people and the environment and adapts to the present social and economic situation.
Virtual Programs Improve Employee Engagement
There are multiple advantages to virtual community participation for employees of an organization following the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, they will accommodate workers from various parts of the globe and assure employee safety during a pandemic. As a result, the organization will benefit from cheaper operational expenses and a smaller carbon impact. Employee engagement is not simply a KPI to gauge C.S.R. effectiveness; it’s a good indicator to advance other company performance data. Motivated workers experience a 17 percent that will boost production, therefore possibly improving by 21 percent more, and might have 41 percent fewer absenteeism. Innovation will further rise in an involved workplace; therefore, translating this into financials, disengaged workers cost organizations $450 and $550 billion yearly.
The project can be improved to be effective in the organization in many ways.
- Create a Positive Faculty Experience: The most significant approach to expand the company’s online impact is for faculty who design and deliver online programs to have a positive encounter with staff and clients. This is a more time-consuming and costly road to dissemination, but it is also built to last. Establishing strong partnerships to manage the organization’s online activities will also enable the executives to give faculty the tools and support their needs required for developing and delivering online courses.
- Iterate: The state-of-the-art in online education is changing vibrantly. New tools, methods, and approaches become accessible at a quick rate. The training program must be updated regularly. The organization will have to create better than what is available in the virtual application. The statistics can inform an organization’s improvements to its online initiatives. In the sense that it will evaluate the level of client and staff engagement, virtual contact is visible education. One of the cornerstones of a successful online program is a dedication to a data-driven approach to continual development.
Possible and Fitting C.S.R. Initiatives for Qatar Airlines Company
Google Flights Incorporates CO2 Waste in Flight Search Engine Lists
For the organization, google flights incorporating CO2 waste in flight search engine lists will be the best initiative to be incorporated by Qatar Airlines. This is because flying is still the most convenient mode of transportation for those who require or desire to travel quickly and far; hence safety of clients when flying should be of the utmost fundamentals. While clients growingly experience at least flight shame before booking a flight, the desire, and necessity to travel means that air travel will not be phased out anytime quickly. Therefore, planes powered by fossil fuels are the only mode of mass transportation (Epstein, 2019). Consequently, there is every reason to assist people in translating their environmental consciousness into actions that will reduce their carbon footprint. For example, Google Flights now shows projected CO2 release on its reservation web pages and search results. Along with price and time, users can now filter by emission, and if trains are available on their route, Google highlights them. Moreover, Lite Flights are often applied in air carriers, a chart and aviation-themed technology and design studio’ which draws on regularly revised search results and plans to expand its reach. Thus, adopting it will prompt the organization to one of the most carbon-efficient flights.
Corporate Policies that Benefit the Environment
Qatar Airport has placed a bottle return machine in certain terminals, allowing travelers to reduce trash while also supporting their chosen charity. Passengers will now dispose of their liquid cans and bottles at the terminal’s security checkpoint into a bottle return machine that has been specially designed for this purpose. Passengers who bring single-use cans and bottles can also donate to the charity of their choice at the same time; hence environment will be conserved.
The Business Case for C.S.R. Strategy, its Uniqueness, and Forecast
The business case is a term that relates to the underpinning assertions or rationales for why the corporate sector should acknowledge and progress the C.S.R.’s cause. In Qatar airlines the business the adoption of cost and risk reduction as a business case for the C.S.R. strategy is fundamental. For instance, its importance in rationalizing cost and hazard minimization asserts that participating, in particular, in C.S.R. activities would lower the firm’s wasteful capital expenditures. Hence, risk exposure can be underscored from the framework. Furthermore, it is unique in that it details the fundamental premise that shareholder expectations might jeopardize a firm’s existence and that its economic interests are served by reducing such dangers via a minimum degree of social or environmental performance.
The strategy will be critical in the long run in terms of finance of the airline policies and practices relating to equal employment opportunities. For instance, the C.S.R. efforts, including equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws and practices, will benefit shareholders in the long run by lowering costs and risks. Explicit statements, the reasoning goes, are vital to demonstrating an inclusive policy that decreases employee turnover by enhancing morale. This reasoning is compatible with others who assert that a lack of diversity may increase turnover and absenteeism among dissatisfied personnel.
S.M.A.R.T. Goals for the Organization Project
Specific
To meet the company’s effective communication during and after the pandemic, the organization must be sure of its objectives, such as enhancing virtual community programs. In particular, facilitating virtual communication during flights will be necessary to achieve the program’s goal. As a result, Qatar airline’s objective will have a high number of passengers regardless of the social distance and the number of users traveling per day on the organization’s site, checking it monthly.
Measurable
Qatar Airways establishes precise criteria for tracking its progress toward achieving a customer-friendly environment. When the organization monitors its progress, it will ensure that they meet its deadlines, remain on track, and enjoy success. Appropriate measurement reveals their current position on the progress chart and the amount of work remaining. Prior to ending the day, it’s critical to review the job they have completed, as this will help raise Qatar’s team members’ morale and motivate them to work more.
Achievable
When the organization elects vital objectives, they start thinking about how to achieve them. For instance, Qatar Airways develop tactics, talents, and skills to accomplish a COVID-19-free environment in airplanes. Almost any objective will be achieved with careful planning. Hence, rendering previously unattainable goals become achievable. The organization is ensuring diverse ambitions attainable with economic resources are incorporated. Since defining the objectives strengthens their self-esteem, it builds the traits that help them attain objectives. Similarly, every project manager should create realistic and team-acceptable objectives. Thus, it is useful for Qatars Airlines project managers to know each team member’s skills and shortcomings. So the project manager knows what to allocate to whom.
Realistic
Despite the fact that it is nearly impossible to eliminate the COVID-19 virus by social distancing, it is inconceivable that everyone’s concentration will be on achieving a simple project. The objective will be relevant to the people who will work on it. Setting unreasonable expectations might lead to disastrous efforts. All the goals, milestones, and objectives contained in the project should be feasible. Thence, necessary to examine elements including resources, expenses, time, and dangers. Realistic is thus about the practicality of the aims. They must have the ability, resources, and authority to get started and accomplish. Thence, the aim is generally feasible if the company sincerely feels that it can be realized.
Time-bound
People live with the COVID-19 virus; hence, there should be no hast when setting an objective. In this regard, preparation is required to spend time on a project appropriately. Furthermore, without a deadline, corporations will not be able to accomplish their assignment on time. Hence, manage their Manage the firm’s resources well to avoid missing deadlines. Noting the objectives on a piece of paper or a project management tool is not enough. Instead, it includes methods like enlisting the proper people, creating a framework, and identifying high-impact activities.
Launching Campaigns for C.S.R. Initiatives via the Press
The airline foundation will hire a press expert, a chief social media strategist, who will start looking for ways to push the foundation’s work in front of the public. The expert will begin with press releases promoting the foundation’s entrepreneurship initiatives. Then he will further establish media tools on the foundation’s website, such as a media tip sheet and a list of specialists journalists could contact for comments. Thence, it will lead to article ideas being taken up by various individuals and other companies. Moreover, the Airport department will opt to send the executive director on speaking tours to promote the corporation’s success in implementing COVID-19 combating strategies to achieve safety. Underscoring the program’s primary goal, “No individual’s lives can be at stake for traveling during this pandemic. ” Hence, customers and other partner companies will know and trust the organization. Spreading the word is one method to create that connection and trust.
Conclusion
Ideally, corporate social responsibility and corporate are the trending notions that exacerbate the fundamentals of organizations today. In Qatar Airways’, corporate social responsibility means that the ideas postulate the connection between the organization and society. In this regard, the incorporation of economic, environmental, and social issues such as climate change technology and child support funds has ensured the smooth running of the company. Furthermore, the C.S.R. strategy proved beneficial in improving employee engagement. In addition, coagulation of C.S.R programs with SMART goals is vital for achieving Qatar Airways’ unprecedented success and
projects.
References
Bui, N. D. V. (2018). The green profiles: using social media for communicating corporate environmental issues to external stakeholders.
Corporate Social Responsibility. (2018). Qrcargo.com.
Environmental sustainability | Qatar Airways. (2022). Qatarairways.com; Qatar Airways.
Epstein, A. H., & O’Flarity, S. M. (2019). Considerations for reducing aviation’s CO2 with aircraft electric propulsion. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 35(3), 572-582.
Social projects | Qatar Airways. (2022). Qatarairways.com; Qatar Airways.
Sulistya, I. A. P., & Ginaya, G. (2020). Corporate social responsibility implementation on aviation company: A case study in Qatar Airways. International Journal of Green Tourism Research and Applications, 2(1), 41-46.