Case study: How Hitachi tries to contribute to the creation of a prosperous society by driving innovation, utilizing its advanced technologies
Hitachi has committed, for over a century, to contributing, through innovation, exploratory research, and by developing original technology and products, to the creation of a prosperous society, not least through collaborations with customers, universities and research institutes, aimed to develop creative innovations and solutions.
This case study is based on the 2015 Sustainability Report by Hitachi published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate that CSR/ sustainability reporting done responsibly is achieved by identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment and stakeholders and by measuring, managing and changing.
Abstract
Operating in 140 countries and regions, Hitachi, working with a range of stakeholders, tries to meet the needs and address the challenges of a changing world, through innovative technology and cutting-edge research. In order to contribute to the creation of a prosperous society by driving innovation, utilizing its advanced technologies Hitachi took action to:
- reorganize R&D (Research & Development) to co-create solutions with customers
- reinforce global R&D
- collaborate with universities, research institutes and customers to pursue open innovation
Subscribe for free and read the rest of this case study
Please subscribe to the SustainCase Newsletter to keep up to date with the latest sustainability news and gain access to over 100 case studies. These case studies demonstrate how companies are dealing responsibly with their most important impacts, building trust with their stakeholders (Identify > Measure > Manage > Change).
With this case study you will see:
- Which are the most important impacts (material issues) Hitachi has identified;
- How Hitachi proceeded with stakeholder engagement, and
- What actions were taken by Hitachi to contribute to the creation of a prosperous society by driving innovation, utilizing its advanced technologies
Already Subscribed? Type your email below and click submit
What are the material issues the company has identified?
In its 2015 Sustainability Report Hitachi identified a range of material issues, such as supply chain management, caring for the environment, public policy initiatives, respect for human rights, diversity management. Among these, contributing to the creation of a prosperous society by driving innovation, utilizing its advanced technologies stands out as a key material issue for Hitachi.
Stakeholder engagement in accordance with the GRI Standards
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) defines the Principle of Stakeholder Inclusiveness when identifying material issues (or a company’s most important impacts) as follows:
Stakeholders must be consulted in the process of identifying a company’s most important impacts and their reasonable expectations and interests must be taken into account. This is an important cornerstone for CSR / sustainability reporting done responsibly.
Key stakeholder groups Hitachi engages with:
Stakeholder Group | Method of engagement |
Customers
| · Customer satisfaction activities · Marketing · Website · Advertisement activities |
Shareholders and Investors | · Announcements of financial results (quarterly) · General shareholders’ meetings (annual) · IR events, one-on-one meetings (about 740 times/year) · IR tools: annual reports, business reports, etc. |
Suppliers
| · Procurement activities · Supplier meetings · CSR monitoring (200 companies/year) · CSR audits (20 companies/year, annual) |
Employees
| · Intranet, in-house newsletters · Training (fiscal 2013: average 37.9 hours/person) · Town hall meetings between senior management and employees (45 times/year) · Employee surveys (annual) |
National and Local Governments, Industrial Associations | · International conference participation · Policy council participation |
Local Communities | · Contribution to local communities through business · Participation in volunteer activities |
Academic Associations and Research Institutions | · Open innovation (joint research): collaboration with 246 research institutes in Japan, 85 outside Japan |
NGOs and NPOs | · Stakeholder dialogue (2 times/year) · Dialogue through collaboration |
Global Environment |
How stakeholder engagement was made to identify material issues
Hitachi’s material issues were identified and, also, assessed and validated, regarding their significance for stakeholders and their impact on business, through dialogue with a range of stakeholders, including investors, international organizations and NGOs.
What actions were taken by Hitachi to contribute to the creation of a prosperous society by driving innovation, utilizing its advanced technologies?
In its 2015 Sustainability Report Hitachi reports that it took the following actions for contributing to the creation of a prosperous society by driving innovation, utilizing its advanced technologies:
- Reorganizing R&D to co-create solutions with customers
- In April 2015, Hitachi’s research organization was realigned and 4 Global Centers for Social Innovation, 9 Centers for Technology Innovation and the Center for Exploratory Research were established:
- The 4 Global Centers for Social Innovation (CSI), with researchers positioned in the Asia-Pacific, North America, China and Europe, identify issues in cooperation with customers and co-create new solutions.
- The 9 Centers for Technology Innovation (CTI) focus on: Energy, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials, Systems Engineering, Information and Telecommunications, Controls, Production Engineering and Healthcare.
- The Center for Exploratory Research carries out cutting-edge research aimed to identify and resolve future societal issues.
- Reinforcing global R&D
- For the new Global Centers for Social Innovation (CSI) in the Asia-Pacific, North America, China and Europe to be better able to successfully address regional needs, around 300 of the CSI’s 500 researchers are regionally employed and not Japanese nationals. Collaborating with customers, the Global Centers for Social Innovation develop innovative solutions in different areas, including energy, healthcare, finance, communications, government and industrial policies.
- Collaborating with universities, research institutes and customers to pursue open innovation
- [tweetthis]In order to develop innovative technology Hitachi works together with customers[/tweetthis], research institutes and universities both in and outside Japan – for example, through the Hitachi Cambridge Laboratory, established within Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. In FY 2014, Hitachi worked together with:
- 246 research institutes in Japan, and
- 85 research institutes outside Japan
Which GRI indicators/Standards have been addressed?
The GRI indicator addressed in this case is: G4-EC8: Significant indirect economic impacts, including the extent of impacts and the updated GRI Standard is: Disclosure 203-2 Significant indirect economic impacts
78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards
SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.
Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.
FBRH GRI Standards Certified and IEMA approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE
By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and IEMA approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.
References:
1) This case study is based on published information by Hitachi, located at the link below. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the report’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original, please revert to the original on the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Disclosure Database at the link:
http://database.globalreporting.org/
2) http://www.fbrh.co.uk/en/global-reporting-initiative-gri-g4-guidelines-download-page
3) https://g4.globalreporting.org/Pages/default.aspx
4) https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/gri-standards-download-center/
Note to Hitachi: With each case study we send out an email to your listed address in request for a comment on this case study. If you have not received such an email please contact us.