Learning at workplace: Learning at workplace: testing of SOCIALSME testing of SOCIALSME inovation in Lithuanian inovation in Lithuanian

SMEsSMEs

Dr. Žaneta PiligrimienėDr. Žaneta Piligrimienė

Kaunas University of TechnologyKaunas University of Technology

CSR is not a benefaction, rather it CSR is not a benefaction, rather it is an intelligent and educated is an intelligent and educated

self-interest.self-interest.

CSR represents not the aims of the CSR represents not the aims of the company, but the way how the company, but the way how the company seeks for those aims.company seeks for those aims.

CSR and the economic crisisCSR and the economic crisis

• CSR is more relevant than ever in the CSR is more relevant than ever in the context of economic crisis. It can help to context of economic crisis. It can help to build (and rebuild) trust in business, which build (and rebuild) trust in business, which is vital for the health of Europe's social is vital for the health of Europe's social market economy.market economy.It can also point the way to new forms of It can also point the way to new forms of value of creation based on addressing value of creation based on addressing societal challenges, which may represent a societal challenges, which may represent a way out of the crisis.way out of the crisis.

/European Commission/

CSR in Lithuania in times of CSR in Lithuania in times of crisiscrisis

• There is more theoretical knowledge and understanding about CSR in Lithuania, but less actual practice in this field. SMEs in Lithuania still lack the initiative in CSR field. Crisis determined use of less expensive initiatives of SR but it did not change the general attitude of the employer to the employees, partners, clients and society.

/R.Kairelis, The chairman of evaluation committee for National Award of

Responsible Business//

• Irresponsible actions in finance sector is one of the factors that brought a world finance crisis and that invites to think about the model of the “new economy”. Crisis determined the decrease in some CSR activities, especially in such as employee training and social promotion. But on the other hand, present situation shows that CSR is no longer the luxury, but the necessity . There are less questions about why we have to save resources, why the loyalty of employees is important and why the trust in a company is crucial.

/L.JakulevicieneManager of the United Nations Development Programme Office in

Lithuania/

CSR in Lithuania in times of CSR in Lithuania in times of crisiscrisis

• Crisis forces companies to make a drastic reduction of costs in order to survive. In this situation there is a very big temptation to save at the expense of good works. The question “what to choose: damage size or CSR principles?” is common among SMEs and in this situation the dilemma is the most painful for employees.

/R.BarysasEditor of the daily paper “Verslo zinios” (business news)/

CSR in Lithuania in times of CSR in Lithuania in times of crisiscrisis

Awards in a category of Small and Medium enterprises• Employer of the Year - JSC “PakMarkas”

– for good industrial work conditions and informal attitude to people.

• Partner of the Year – A.Astrauskas firm “First Step”– For consistent development of the partnership with local

community.

• Environmental Enterprise of the Year – JSC “ATEA”– For reorganization of business proceses according to the

principles of environment protection.

• Socially Responsible Company 2009 – JSC “Renerga”– For fostering sustainable business, educating young peopleand efforts to develop green energy.

CSR in Lithuania in times of crisisCSR in Lithuania in times of crisis::National Responsible Business National Responsible Business

Awards 2009Awards 2009

Life long learningLife long learning

• All learning activity undertaken throughout All learning activity undertaken throughout life, which results in improving knowledge, life, which results in improving knowledge, know-how, skills, competences and/or know-how, skills, competences and/or qualifications for personal, social and/or qualifications for personal, social and/or professional reasons.professional reasons.

Terminology of European Education and Training Policy (2004)

Need for life-long learningNeed for life-long learning

• The skills necesary for the work places in the knowledge economy are continually changing. It forms the need to ensure the possibilities for lifelong learning. According to EU program for learning, everybody – from schoolchild to adult – has to be encouraged to participate in the various forms of learning.

Benefit of LLL in times of Benefit of LLL in times of crisiscrisis

• Life long learning in part solves the problem of unemployment: the society could use the knowledge and skills of mature, senior people.

Changing understandingChanging understanding

““You can not teach the old dog for the You can not teach the old dog for the new tricks”new tricks”

““The brain without work is dead”.The brain without work is dead”.

Situation with LLL in Situation with LLL in LithuaniaLithuania

• The level of LLL in Lithuania was about 5.3% in 2007, 4.9% in 2008, and 4.2% in 2009. A decline is determined by economical crisis?

Life Long Learning and Life Long Learning and learning at workplacelearning at workplace

• According to Knapper and Cropley (2000), the term “life-long learning” in the european context was began to use by emphasizing the links between learning and workplace, i.e., learning was understood as the way to react to changes in the labor market.

„„Everything that we have to Everything that we have to learn to do, learn to do,

we learn by doing“ we learn by doing“ -Aristotel-

SOCIALSME 6SOCIALSME 6xx3 concept3 concept

FOSTERING THE SOCIAL FOSTERING THE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN SMEs RESPONSIBILITY IN SMEs

THROUGH LEARNINGTHROUGH LEARNING

Lithuanian SMEs that Lithuanian SMEs that participated in participated in field field testingtesting

• JSC DanvitaJSC Danvita• JSC Mazasis salonasJSC Mazasis salonas• JSC Kedainiu grudaiJSC Kedainiu grudai• JSC EmprekisJSC Emprekis• JSC VerolodaJSC Veroloda

JSC Danvita JSC Danvita Manager – Nerija UrnieManager – Nerija Urniezzieneiene

• A modern medium sized bakery, situated in Zarasai, supplies a wide variety of baked products. Shows the great concern in solving ecological and social issues, tries to use eco-friendly materials, seeks to decrease the level of packaging materials. The company constantly tries to improve its activities, involving employees at all stages and is open for the initiatives.

• The reason for participation in testing:– Changing business environment, understanding that

sustainable development is essential in order to be able satisfying growing needs of the consumers; intent to incorporate CSR principles in all activities.

Testing in JSC DanvitaTesting in JSC Danvita

JSC Mazasis salonasJSC Mazasis salonasOwner, manager – Alfredas PasakarnisOwner, manager – Alfredas Pasakarnis

• A Lithuanian-capital, family company, founded in 1994, near Kaunas, in a picturesque town called Raudondvaris. From the very beginning the main activity of the company was mass textile sewing services for Scandinavian and Western European markets. The company has extensive experience in sewing women’s and children’s clothes. The company seeks to learn the new methods of sewing and techniques application while analyzing cases of good experience. It has a strong basis for the development of innovative activities through its engagement in the community and in social educational projects.

• The reason for participation in testing– Experience in other projects determined an understanding of the

value of participation in such kind of projects. Interest in CSR.

JSC Kedainiu grudaiJSC Kedainiu grudaiManager – Darius KarpaviciusManager – Darius Karpavicius

• A modern grain processing enterprise, situated in Kedainiai. The company seeks for being socially responsible with the activities directed into environment protection. Together with the Ornitology Unit form Kaunas Tadas Ivanauskas Zoology Museum, it has founded a public establishment “Foundation for the Development of Nature Protection Projects”. It is also an initiator of the project “Protection of white-tailed sea eagles in Lithuania”.

• The reason for participation in testing:– Realizing itself as socially responsible company; interest in

strategic approach on learning at workplace.

JSC EmprekisJSC EmprekisManager – Tomas VaitkeviciusManager – Tomas Vaitkevicius

• Small consulting and research company (public institution), situated in Kaunas. The activity is mainly related with the estimation of average prices of cars based on announcements from internet and newspapers. The company is active in employee learning, also supports children talented in music.

• The reason for participation in testing:– The company is very adoptive for innovations, always

seeks to acknowledge with the new products. Interest in innovations and in the subject of SR induced the participation.

JSC VerolodaJSC VerolodaOwner, manager – Robertas PakrosnisOwner, manager – Robertas Pakrosnis

• Small company that was established in 2000, situated in Kaunas, offering services for all main vehicle units. The SR activities in the company are build on learning activities (employees regularly attend seminars on mechanics and other professional topics) as well as social sponsoring in cooperation with Kaunas Professional School.

• The reason for participation in testing:– The creation of high competent individuals is possible when a

company pays an appropriate attention to the development of employees. Decided to participate because of the believe that members of SR organizations have to be stimulated to learn and improve, to get information about learning possibilities and be able to make a knowledge exchange.

Testing in JSC VerolodaTesting in JSC Veroloda

The main effectThe main effectss of testing for of testing for companies companies

• More comprehensive knowledge and better understanding of SR.

• Cognition of influence of SR on companys’ results. • Motivation for employees to improve. • Better microclimate at work..• Understanding of how to learn and what are the

benefits of learning. • Evoked interest of employees on learning activities. • Realized responsibility for the results of work. • Learned how to be more socially responsible. • Involvement of employees into the process of

performance improvement. • Identification and evaluation of learning needs,

development of a learning programme and understanding how learning can influence employees’ behaviour and approach to work.

General evaluation of SOCIALSME General evaluation of SOCIALSME 6x3 methodology by managers of 6x3 methodology by managers of

SMEsSMEs• All managers found the SOCIALSME 6x3

methodology useful.• All companies plan to go on with the activities

they developed during the testing process.• They believe that the knowledge acquired during

the testing process would help to raise the competitiveness of the company, because the people and their knowledge is the greatest asset.

Thank You all Thank You all !!