Ralph Yirikian, VivaCell-MTS General Manager, Discusses Corporate Social Responsibility

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 YEREVAN, Armenia – On April 7, 2015, the American University of Armenia (AUA) College of Business and Economics hosted Ralph Yirikian, VivaCell-MTS General Manager, for a lecture on the contemporary issues of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and business ethics.

Before beginning to discuss CSR and its application in Armenia, Yirikian introduced the stakeholder approach employed by VivaCell-MTS as a socially responsible company. Based on VivaCell-MTS’s experience, Yirikian encouraged future managers and executives to always include and consider the goals and interests of external and internal groups of the organization in the managerial decision-making process.

Yirikian then presented on the principles of stakeholder management, including monitoring, identifying, listening, analyzing, and communicating. He stated: “A corporate executive striving for excellent performance can’t underestimate the importance of thinking strategically about key stakeholders’ concerns, mapping out their values and power bases. Corporate executives should be able to make the right decisions to support and strengthen the alignment of organizational strategies with the most influential stakeholders. Commercial organizations are not living in a vacuum. They are bound by moral obligations to their stakeholders, including but not limited to consumers, customers, regulators, suppliers, shareholders, the natural environment and communities,” Ralph Yirikian commented. 

The speaker provided the audience with special frameworks that help decision-makers address a diverse set of stakeholders with different goals, interests, and values. Yirikian commented that, in developing and implementing sound, long-term CSR strategies, companies should seek feedback from stakeholders with the goal of achieving a mutual understanding.

In less than 10 years, VivaCell-MTS has become popular not only as the telecommunications leader with the largest market share, but also as a leader of innovation. The company was not only the first and only telecommunications operator to offer 4G services, but also the first to introduce and promote the concept of CSR as an essential part of corporate behavior. VivaCell-MTS has implemented numerous projects in a broad range of spheres, thus contributing to their sustainability and the country’s economic development as a whole. The company makes considerable investments into the implementation of innovative projects in the spheres of healthcare, culture, science, children, environmental protection, education, and rural infrastructure.

Ralph Yirikian has held numerous lectures at different educational institutions and forums in Armenia and abroad as part of his voluntary commitment to share his experience and knowledge with future managers and entrepreneurs, enable them find the formula of success in business and effectively manage modern-day business structures, and give them innovative practical knowledge to make Armenia competitive in international markets.

VivaCell-MTS… You are connected!

VivaCell-MTS (K-Telecom CJSC) is Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator, having the widest 2G/3.75G/4G network reach and spreading a wide range of Voice and Data services all across Armenia. Having the best of the Armenian people interest at heart since its launch on 1st July 2005 and in a short period of time VivaCell-MTS has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell-MTS drives innovation and aims at always being at the forefront of any development serving the Armenian mobile communications market. The company follows the guidance provided by ISO 26000 (International Standard of Social Responsibility) and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System). For more information, visit www.mts.am

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Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (“MTS”) is the leading telecommunications group in Russia and the CIS, offering mobile and fixed voice, broadband, pay TV as well as content and entertainment services in one of the world’s fastest growing regions. Including its subsidiaries, the Group services over 100 million mobile subscribers. The Group has been awarded GSM licenses in Russia, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Armenia and Belarus, a region that boasts a total population of more than 200 million. Since June 2000, MTS’ Level 3 ADRs have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol MBT). Additional information about the MTS Group can be found at www.mtsgsm.com

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia and affiliated with the University of California. AUA provides a global education in Armenia and the region, offering high-quality, graduate and undergraduate studies, encouraging civic engagement, and promoting public service and democratic values.

 

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