Halcyon Identifies

 

Volunteering across boundaries is increasing, as organisations start to connect the dots across their leadership development, corporate social responsibility, and corporate strategy efforts.

 

The World's Most Ethical Companies designation recognises companies that go beyond making statements about doing business "ethically" and translate those words into action.

"Sustainability in the 21st Century: An Action Plan for Business", a new UN paper, argues that today’s confluence of global threats, such as the economic downturn and climate change, provides the most compelling case for business to embrace corporate responsibility.

Problems - 13/02/08

• Responsibility - some experts believe that the concept of "corporate social responsibility" is effectively dead.

Responses - 07/01/08

• Responsibility/Work - a large scale effort is underway to identify individuals and institutions that exemplify "good work" - work that is excellent in quality, socially responsible, and meaningful to its practitioners.

Problems - 03/01/08

• Responsibility - an influential contrarian argues that companies “cannot be socially responsible, at least not to any significant extent" and that governments are responsible for ensuring firms do not act against the interests of society.

Responses - 15/05/07

• Civility - a budget has been proposed for “saving civilisation”.
• Environment - a budget has also been proposed for “restoring the earth”.
• Future - commentators have published technology forecasts for the next 25 years, outlining the benefits average people can expect to see in their lives.
• Poverty - it is now possible to lend money to a specific entrepreneur in a developing country.
• Responsibility - a low-profile leadership group composed of socially progressive entrepreneurs, including some not-for-profit participants, has come together to promote the idea that business can and should be a vehicle for social change.