Shared values for local action

Bertelsmann is a global company with around 100,000 employees working in more than 50 countries. The principle of decentralization is an inherent part of our tried and tested corporate philosophy, which has evolved over decades: Because Bertelsmann firmly believes that the managing directors on site, in a given country and a given market, know best what is good for their business and their employees – as well as what is good for the society in which they build and operate their businesses.

Therefore the principle of decentralization is as valid for our corporate responsibility commitment as for our business activities, because business and social responsibility are inseparable. That is why our corporate divisions and companies develop their corporate responsibility activities independently along their respective value chains and are also responsible for implementing them.

As a result, Bertelsmann companies that rely on natural resources such as wood, water or energy to make their products tend to focus their corporate responsibility activities on environmental programs, whereas other companies place an emphasis on the cultural skills of reading and media literacy.

Group-wide coordination and exchange

Acting in a decentralized manner does not mean proceeding in an aimless or uncoordinated way. Decentralization in a business can only lead to success on the basis of shared values. In our case these are the “Bertelsmann Essentials.”

Also, to ensure the required coordination of our efforts we use established structures - or we set up new ones. In addition to the Environment Task Force "be green", which focuses on environmental and climate issues, the HR management circle, a platform for exchange between the five divisional heads of HR, and numerous HR management groups at company or country level, there are many other subject- or task-related teams. Experts from our corporate divisions regularly come together in these cross-divisional groups to coordinate their actions and views on specific topics.

Because we know that in a large and diverse company like Bertelsmann, there are already many good examples, which everyone can learn from as they continue to develop themselves for the benefit of the company and society.