Research
Research activities – ZRC IRDO
The work of ZRC IRDO is focused mostly at interdisciplinary research of social responsibility and presenting the results of ZRC IRDO in Slovenia and abroad. The associates of the institute already started publishing contributions at various expert and scientific conferences in Slovenia and elsewhere in 2005. Prof. Emeritus DDr. Matjaž Mulej, Anita Hrast and other members of the IRDO institute regularly participate at scientific and technical conferences in Slovenia and abroad and other expert meetings. Our work is evident from the bibliography of our researchers. We have participated at numerous round tables, seminars, scientific and technical events, etc. The bibliographies of IRDO researchers can be found on www.sicris.si under the codes of individual researchers:
- MATJAŽ MULEJ [08082]
- ANITA HRAST [28701]
So far we have participated at several events of other organisers, including: SKOJ, NVO conference (Podravje, Gorenjska), the Association of economists Maribor (Portorož), SFPO (Krka, Novo mesto), Rotary Maribor, Ljubljana etc., the European Ombudsman and Fundamental Rights Conference, UK + USA CSR conference Ljubljana (+ video-conference), WACRA EPF Maribor, ZKPS Ljubljana (UNIAPAC), ZSU Ljubljana, …
In 2009 we successfully ran for funds and received approval and contracts for two 3-year research projects:
- A requisitely holistic model of measuring employees’ well-being in transitional organizations as compared with both innovative and less innovative ones (in cooperation of EPF UM and IRDO, ARRS)
- The development of formal and informal models of training for the profession of youth worker for inclusion in programs of organisations (in cooperation of IRDO and 16 consortium partners, MŠŠ (ESS)), www.mladinski-delavec.si
We published the following under the framework of our research, e.g. in 2013:
1.-4. Social responsibility beyond neoliberalism and charity. Bentham Science, US et al. Matjaž Mulej, Robert Dyck, with 48 co-authors from 13 countries, Bentham Science. E-book in four volumes. 2014
5. Dialectical systems thinking and the law of requisite holism concerning innovation. Emergent Publications, US. Volume 3 in the series Unity through diversity, Bertalanffy Center, Vienna. Matjaž Mulej, 16 co-authors from 10 countries. 2013
6. Social responsibility – measures and measurement. Systems Practice and Action Research. Guest-editor: Matjaž Mulej, 23 co-authors from 6 countries. 2013
7. Social responsibility – a new socio-economic order. Systems research and behavioral science. Guest-editor: Matjaž Mulej, 30 co-authors from 10 countries. 2014
8. Social responsibility – current challenges. Collection of proceedings of all eight conferences sponsored by IRDO Institute for development of social responsibility, Maribor, about 250 contributions; edited by Anita Hrast, Sabina Kojc and Matjaž Mulej. On average authors are from beyond ten countries. 2013
9. The quest for happiness: conference proceedings: (Series Družbena odgovornost). Edited by Amna Potočnik, Simona Šarotar Žižek, and Mulej, Matjaž. Maribor: Mariborska razvojna agencija (MRA) and Inštitut za razvoj družbene odgovornosti (IRDO), 2013
10. Social responsibility and current challenges 2014: health – personal and/or social responsibility? The 9th IRDO conference. Edited by Matjaž Mulej, Anita Hrast and Sabina Kojc. 2014
National strategy of developing SR
The social responsibility of companies is indirectly connected with the development of Slovenia and contributes to a bigger motivation of employees to work, a better relationship between employers and employees, a positive development of a social picture and the country as a whole. That’s why we in the Scientific Council at the IRDO institute developed an initiative for preparing a national strategy of development of social responsibility. The partnership in developing a national strategy began in 2012 and consists of various experts in the field of social responsibility, representatives of organisations and institutes, and experts, sadly not yet from the highest positions in ministries, as informal participants, because they haven’t received any formal authorisation yet. The partnership is coordinated by the Network of social responsibility in Slovenia – the Ekvilib Institute (organisationally) and the Institute for the development of social responsibility – IRDO (in content). We prepared the design for the Slovenian national strategy for social responsibility, with emphasis on companies. The strategy follows the ISO26000:2010 standard, its scope and principles. It includes key groups of stakeholders (the government, the economy, civil society and media) and intends to prepare plans of action – in areas of relations with the community, employees, environment, market and leadership.