BRAND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGITALIZATION

Keywords: brand social responsibility, brand development, digitalization, digital transformation, sustainable development, ESG, reputational capital, brand strategy, socially responsible business

Abstract

The article examines the essence and role of brand social responsibility in the context of digitalization. It is substantiated that in the modern marketing environment, social responsibility is transforming from an additional element of company activity into a strategic factor in shaping competitiveness and long-term brand value. It is determined that digitalization significantly changes the nature of brand interaction with stakeholders, increasing the requirements for transparency, openness, and authenticity of social practices. It is noted that the implementation of ESG approaches contributes to increasing consumer trust, investment attractiveness, and the reputational capital of companies. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of brand social responsibility in Ukraine under the conditions of a full-scale war, where priority is given to practices aimed at supporting national defense, ensuring employee safety, supporting socially vulnerable groups, as well as the formalization of responsible corporate programs. Within the study, the key principles of brand social responsibility are systematized, including strategic integration, authenticity, stakeholder orientation, measurability and effectiveness, consistency and long-term orientation, transparency and openness, the interconnection between social and economic value, adaptability to the digital environment, participation and co-creation, as well as compliance with global sustainable development standards. It is proven that their comprehensive implementation ensures the formation of a strong emotional connection with the audience, increases the level of trust, and strengthens the brand’s market position. It is determined that brand social responsibility acts as an important factor in its development in the context of the digital transformation of the marketing environment, as it contributes to harmonizing the interests of business and society. The practical significance of the obtained results lies in the possibility of using the proposed principles to develop an effective brand development strategy, taking into account current challenges and trends of the global market.

References

Friedman M. The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits. URL: https://surl.li/fweemm (дата звернення: 11.03.2026).

Carroll A. B. The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: toward the moral management of organization stakeholders. Business Horizons. 1991. Vol. 34 (4). P. 39–48.

Freeman R. E., Harrison J., Wicks A. Managing for Stakeholders: Survival, Reputation, and Success. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007. 200 p.

Freeman R. E., Martin K. E., Parmar B. L. The Power of And: Responsible Business Without Tradeoffs. New York, NY: Columbia Business School Publishing, 2020. 208 p.

Porter M. E., Kramer M. R. Strategy and Society: The Link between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility. Harvard Business Review. 2006. P. 78–92.

Соціальна відповідальність: теорія і практика розвитку: монографія / А. М. Колот, О. А. Грішнова ; за ред. А. М. Колота. Київ : КНЕУ, 2012. 501 с.

Шаповал В. М. Соціальна відповідальність бізнесу в структурі управління економікою: монографія. Дніпропетровськ: ДВНЗ «НГУ», 2011. 357 с.

Як реалізується соціальна відповідальність бізнесу. YC Market. URL: https://blog.youcontrol.market/sotsialna-vidpovidalnist-bizniesu/ (дата звернення 26.02.2026)

Brands take a stand. 2018 Edelman Earned Brand. URL: https://www.edelman.com/sites/g/files/aatuss191/files/2018-10/2018_Edelman_Earned_Brand_Global_Report.pdf (Дата звернення 01.03.2026)

Задорожна Р. П. Проєкти соціальної відповідальності компаній та їх роль в комунікації бренду. Ефективна економіка. 2021. No 1. URL: http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=8536 (дата звернення 21.03.2026) DOI: 10.32702/2307-2105-2021.1.96

Собко О.М. Соціальна відповідальність бізнесу та розвиток підприємництва в умовах війни. Європейський науковий журнал Економічних та Фінансових інновацій 2024. №1(13). с. 308-317 DOI: http://doi.org/10.32750/2024-0130

Дикань О.В., Компанієць В.В., Бела О.О. Соціальна відповідальність українського бізнесу: стан та актуальні акценти розвитку. Вісник економіки транспорту і промисловості. 2023, № 83, С.284-295. https://doi.org/10.18664/btie.83.300432

Буга Н. Ю., Скорбун С. А. Розвиток соціально-відповідального бренду компанії. Економіка та суспільство. 2024. Вип. 67. https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2024-67-25 (дата звернення 01.03.2026).

Сало Я.В., Пєклун О.С. Соціальна відповідальність брендів у воєнний період: етика та стратегічні рішення. Економіка і регіон. 2025. № 3 (98). С.165-169. https://doi.org/10.26906/EiR.2025.3(98).3913

81% компаній допомагає працівникам в Україні та за кордоном - нове опитування «Делойт» в Україні та Американської торговельної палати в Україні (2022). URL: https://www.deloitte.com/ua/uk/about/press-room/acc-deloitte-survey.html (Дата звернення 20.03.2026)

Сталість українського бізнесу під час війни: що показав «Індекс КСВ 2023» URL: https://thepage.ua/ua/rating/stalist-ukrayinskogo-biznesu-pid-chas-vijni-sho-pokazav-indeks-ksv-2023?utm_source (Дата звернення: 15.03.2026)

Індекс корпоративної рівності 2024: хто увійшов у ТОП-10? Zmina. URL: https://zmina.info/news/indeks-korporatyvnoyi-rivnosti-2024-hto-uvijshov-u-top-10/?utm_source (Дата звернення: 15.03.2026)

5 Ways to Demonstrate Your Brand’s Social Responsibility. URL: https://myhfa.org/blog/5-ways-to-demonstrate-your-brands-social-responsibility/ (Дата звернення: 15.03.2026)

Friedman M. The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits. Available at: https://surl.li/fweemm (accessed March 11, 2026).

Carroll A. B. (1991) The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: toward the moral management of organization stakeholders. Business Horizons, vol. 34 (4), pp. 39–48.

Freeman R. E., Harrison J., Wicks A. (2007) Managing for Stakeholders: Survival, Reputation, and Success. New Haven: Yale University Press, 200 p.

Freeman R. E., Martin K. E., Parmar B. L. (2020) The Power of And: Responsible Business Without Tradeoffs. New York, NY: Columbia Business School Publishing, 208 p.

Porter M. E., Kramer M. R. (2006) Strategy and Society: The Link between Competitive Advantage and Corporate Social Responsibility. Harvard Business Review, pp. 78–92.

Kolot A. M., Hrishnova O. A. (2012) Sotsialna vidpovidalnist: teoriia i praktyka rozvytku [Social responsibility: theory and practice of development] monohrafiya [a monograph] Kyiv: KNEU, 501 p. (in Ukrainian)

Shapoval V. M. (2011) Sotsialna vidpovidalnist biznesu v strukturi upravlinnia ekonomikoiu [Social responsibility of business in the structure of economic management] monohrafiya [a monograph] Dnipropetrovsk: DVNZ “NGU”, 357 p. (in Ukrainian)

Yak realizuietsia sotsialna vidpovidalnist biznesu [How business social responsibility is implemented]. YC Market. Available at: https://blog.youcontrol.market/sotsialna-vidpovidalnist-bizniesu/ (accessed February 26, 2026).

Edelman (2018) Brands take a stand. 2018 Edelman Earned Brand. Available at: https://www.edelman.com/sites/g/files/aatuss191/files/2018-10/2018_Edelman_Earned_Brand_Global_Report.pdf (accessed March 1, 2026).

Zadorozhna R. P. (2021) Proiekty sotsialnoi vidpovidalnosti kompanii ta yikh rol v komunikatsii brendu [Projects of corporate social responsibility and their role in brand communication]. Efektyvna ekonomika, no. 1. Available at: http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=8536 DOI: 10.32702/2307-2105-2021.1.96 (accessed March 21, 2026). (in Ukrainian)

Sobko O. M. (2024) Sotsialna vidpovidalnist biznesu ta rozvytok pidpryiemnytstva v umovakh viiny [Social responsibility of business and entrepreneurship development in wartime]. European Scientific Journal of Economic and Financial Innovation, no. 1 (13), pp. 308–317. DOI: http://doi.org/10.32750/2024-0130 (in Ukrainian)

Dykan O. V., Kompaniiets V. V., Bela O. O. (2023) Sotsialna vidpovidalnist ukrainskoho biznesu: stan ta aktualni aktsenty rozvytku [Social responsibility of Ukrainian business: current state and development priorities]. Visnyk ekonomiky transportu i promyslovosti, no. 83, pp. 284–295. https://doi.org/10.18664/btie.83.300432 (in Ukrainian)

Buha N. Yu., Skorbun S. A. (2024) Rozvytok sotsialno-vidpovidalnoho brendu kompanii [Development of a socially responsible brand]. Ekonomika ta suspilstvo, issue 67. Available at: https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2024-67-25 (accessed March 1, 2026). (in Ukrainian)

Salo Ya. V., Pieklun O. S. (2025) Sotsialna vidpovidalnist brendiv u voiennyi period: etyka ta stratehichni rishennia [Brand social responsibility in wartime: ethics and strategic decisions]. Ekonomika i rehion, no. 3 (98), pp. 165–169. https://doi.org/10.26906/EiR.2025.3(98).3913 (in Ukrainian)

Deloitte, American Chamber of Commerce (2022) 81% kompanii dopomahaie pratsivnykam v Ukraini ta za kordonom [81% of companies support employees in Ukraine and abroad]. Available at: https://www.deloitte.com/ua/uk/about/press-room/acc-deloitte-survey.html (accessed March 20, 2026). (in Ukrainian)

Stalist ukrainskoho biznesu pid chas viiny: shcho pokazav “Indeks KSV 2023” [Sustainability of Ukrainian business during the war: CSR Index 2023]. Available at: https://thepage.ua/ua/rating/stalist-ukrayinskogo-biznesu-pid-chas-vijni-sho-pokazav-indeks-ksv-2023 (accessed March 15, 2026). (in Ukrainian)

Indeks korporatyvnoi rivnosti 2024: khto uviishov u TOP-10? [Corporate Equality Index 2024]. Zmina. Available at: https://zmina.info/news/indeks-korporatyvnoyi-rivnosti-2024-hto-uvijshov-u-top-10/ (accessed March 15, 2026). (in Ukrainian)

5 Ways to Demonstrate Your Brand’s Social Responsibility. Available at: https://myhfa.org/blog/5-ways-to-demonstrate-your-brands-social-responsibility/ (accessed March 15, 2026).

Article views: 3
PDF Downloads: 5
Published
2026-04-23
How to Cite
Vasylchenko, O. (2026). BRAND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGITALIZATION . Economy and Society, (84). https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0072/2026-84-204