A Multi-Dimensional Social Indicator Framework for Corporate Social Responsibility Program Prioritization

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) planning requires a transparent method for comparing community needs across locations. This study develops a multidimensional social indicator framework to prioritize place-based CSR programs—an exploratory sequential design that combines expert consultation with weighted composite-index analysis. Three purposively selected experts representing academia, CSR practice, and government reviewed six indicators across five dimensions. At the same time, 2023 official statistics were compiled for five administrative areas in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. Direction-aware Min–Max normalization aligned adverse and protective indicators so that higher normalized values consistently represented greater relative need; moderated consensus assigned the largest weight to poverty (0.25). Composite scores ranged from 0.150 to 0.746: Gunungkidul ranked first (0.746), followed by Kulon Progo (0.681), Bantul (0.519), Sleman (0.243), and Yogyakarta City (0.150). The ordering remained unchanged under equal weighting and 12 one-at-a-time ±10% weight-perturbation scenarios, indicating local rank stability. The framework contributes an auditable bridge between social mapping and CSR resource allocation by disclosing indicator definitions, directions, weights, normalized values, and sensitivity results. It is intended as a first-stage screening tool for transparent, evidence-informed, and context-sensitive allocation decisions, not a substitute for community consultation or feasibility assessment. Findings remain conditional on the selected indicators, the three-expert panel, the five-area comparison, and the cross-sectional dataset.