Social development is about improving the well-being of all individuals in society so that they can reach their full potential. The success of society is linked to the well-being of each and every citizen.
Likewise, social development means investing in people. It requires the removal of barriers so that all citizens can walk towards their dreams with confidence and dignity. It is about refusing to accept that people living in poverty will always be poor. It is about helping people to advance on their path to self-reliance.
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Social development encompasses a commitment to individual and social well-being, and the opportunity for citizens to determine their own needs and those of their society and influence the decisions that affect them. Social change incorporates public concerns in the development of social policies and economic initiatives.
Until relatively recently, social development was conceived in terms of a set of desirable outcomes: higher income, longer life expectancy, lower infant mortality, more and better education, etc. Recently, the emphasis has shifted from results to the conditions, strategies and public policies conducive to achieving those results.
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But little attention has yet been paid to the underlying social process of development that determines how society formulates, adopts, initiates, and organizes; and few attempts have been made to formulate such a framework. However, there are some recognized theories and principles, which will be briefly discussed.
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In this article you will find:
Principles of social development
All people have the right and the opportunity to grow develop their own skills and contribute to their families and communities in a meaningful way. If they are healthy, well educated and skilled to enter the workforce and can earn a decent salary, they are better equipped to meet their basic needs and be successful. Their families will also do well and the whole of society will benefit.
Learning must start early in life. By investing in early learning initiatives, we can ensure a greater degree of success among our citizens. Ensuring that children get off to a good start in their education goes a long way toward increasing their future success.
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An affordable, high-quality child care system is also needed for society to be successful. When people know that their children are well cared for, they can be more productive at their jobs.
When employers have good employees, your business is more likely to be successful. When businesses are successful, the economic situation of a community improves. An investment in good child care programs today can provide many long-term economic benefits for society.
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Also, a safe and affordable place to live is very important in helping people achieve self-sufficiency. It is the center of family life; where families can live safely, raise children, build community relationships, and care for aging parents. Without a decent place to live, it is difficult to function as a productive member of society.
Importance at the business level
The world is facing a series of transformations, be they economic, social or even environmental. The labor market, therefore, is affected by daily and social changes.
The market and the way of consuming changes every day. Today we have concepts such as minimalism, sustainable fashion and others that did not exist recently. This just shows that consumers are changing and companies must keep up with these changes or they will be left out of the market. One of these changes refers to corporate social development.
People are more concerned with purchasing business products and services than they are concerned with employees, who pay what due, that they care about the environment and the surrounding community, that is, that they have positive impacts inside and outside the business. When an organization shows that it is committed to the community inside and outside its company, people feel more secure and confident to do business with it. As such, there are many advantages to being a socially responsible company.
Your brand will have a better reputation and will also be more recognized in the market for the actions it promotes. In addition, companies of this type tend to attract the best talent in addition to becoming highly competitive.
Social responsibility in companies
Social responsibility includes actions that are developed by companies that seek to contribute to the construction of a fairer society and to the preservation of the environment. It is the sum of the voluntary acts of the organizations that orient their activities towards well-being social, carry out their business with the objective of the collective interest and not only profit, since they prioritize the set.
It is linked to the concept of sustainable leadership, which is based on three areas: cultural, social and environmental. The first is linked to the construction of an ethical organizational culture; the second is related to the idea that the company exists to serve society and profit is the result of the effort made for this purpose; the third is the concern of the company for the preservation of the environment.
A socially responsible company is constantly involved in social action, which should not be confused with well-being, but with the total commitment of the institution with its social function, the main reason for its existence. The organization is responsible for the impacts of its decisions and activities on society and the environment, always adopting an ethical behavior, acting with transparency and taking into account the expectations of its stakeholders.
The companies are managed in accordance with the laws, regulations and guidelines. In addition, the processes are structured in an integrated manner with all stakeholders.
It is noteworthy that these are not mere attitudes to prevent penalties and reduce taxes, or to comply with current legislation. In fact, the gains of a socially responsible company are invaluable and are achieved in the long term.
