UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABILITY BY LARGE CZECH COMPANIES

In our paper we present results of our research aimed at understanding sustainability by large companies domiciled in the Czech Republic. The findings show that concept of corporate sustainability is well known among these companies, nevertheless there are substantial differences among companies both in breadth and depth in which they address sustainability. Based on our research question we in interviews identified several key dimensions, specifically existence of a vision related to sustainability; understanding sustainability in general; specific activities in the area of sustainability; motives for and against involvement in sustainability-related activities; outset of sustainability-related initiatives; key stakeholders; highlighting the importance of going over and above the legal requirements of corporate sustainability management. Consequently we addressed these key dimensions in detail and obtained results that to a large extent confirm findings from the previous literature. Interestingly, analyzed organizations relatively often emphasized social dimension of sustainability and especially the importance of education (both of internal and external subjects). By these activities organizations hope to increase their reputation and persuade civil society about their usefulness and thus justify their existence. Nevertheless economic dimension of sustainability is still considered of extreme importance and activities in the other traditional dimensions of sustainability (environmental, social) are understood as a support for ensuring sustainability of an organization per se.