A report by Allegory sets out the urgent need for organisations to act on issues related to Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR) and proposes a framework to support planning.

I’ve been working with the team at Allegory to explore the issue of Corporate Digital Responsibility (CDR). We convened a group of experts from academia, industry, think tanks and professional associations to explore this emerging area of organisational risk.

Today we’ve published a report Corporate Digital Responsibility: What You Need To Know Right Now. It sets out the urgent need for organisations to act on issues related to CDR and provides a framework to support leaders with planning and communication.

The case for Corporate Digital Responsibility

CDR is a broad set of responsibilities related to the application and management of data and digital technologies that has emerged as a critical risk issue for boards in light of high-profile failures in data and digital governance, regulatory issues and data breaches.

These include failures of systems, including the Post Office Horizon scandal, and the misuse of personal data such as the facial recognition system removed from London’s King’s Cross in 2019 amid protests from the public and privacy campaigners. 

There is an explicit expectation when individuals share their personal data with an organisation that it will be handled securely. However, data breaches or leaks have become commonplace. For example, Facebook is under investigation for an alleged breach of EU privacy laws after the personal information of 533 million users was shared online.

Consumer trust is often overlooked in the race to innovate with data and digital technologies, The Organisation for the Review of Care and Health Apps (ORCHA) found that only one in five health and wellbeing apps meets clinical standards and ensures the integrity of patient data. 

“Communications professionals often get involved when a crisis arises, but this is too late! They need to take part in early conversations to address potential and existing issues related to data and digital within an organisation in collaboration with C-suite executives,” said Charlotte McLeod, CEO, Allegory.

Developing a Corporate Digital Responsibility governance framework

To address CDR risk organisations need to develop a framework, underpinned by ethical values, to describe their management of data. This includes spending time navigating data ethics, which involves assessing and identifying potential ethical issues associated with data and digital tech. 

Adopting a multi-function, multi-stakeholder approach is a good starting point outlined in the report. Data and digital responsibility should be embedded within organisational culture and everyone within an organisation should consider it part of their role.

“Communications professionals too have a pivotal role to play in the process of making organisations CDR-fit. To do so, they need to be fully immersed in the issues surrounding data management and processing in their organisations to offer the best professional advice and support possible,” said McLeod, CEO.

Developing a Corporate Digital Responsibility governance framework

The Corporate Digital Responsibility: What You Need To Know Right Now report proposes a six-stage framework that communications professionals can use to help organisations stay on top of CDR:  

1. Landscape analysis and audit – this will ensure the communications function has an overview of internal and external factors related to CDR within an organisation

2. Communication planning – this should mitigate risk and support the organisation with engagement and reporting on CDR to its stakeholders

3. Community of practice - CDR requires a multi-function and multi-stakeholder approach, and the communications function is the right convener to create a forum

4. Horizon scanning - identify and understand issues at the earliest possible point in their emergence

5. Internal communications - employees are a critical audience to ensure that an organisation has a positive culture in relation to CDR

6. Stakeholder engagement underpinned by open and transparent communication – engage external stakeholders in the co-creation of governance around CDR issues

Download the CDR report

Download a copy of the Allegory report: Corporate Digital Responsibility: What You Need To Know Right Now.