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The Responsible Business—New book by SIM member

  • 1.  The Responsible Business—New book by SIM member

    Posted 03-06-2011 19:13
    Having seen my message, I now realize that you can easily read the full
    message and may not even have the book title. My apology: I don't post
    very often to lists.

    Here's the info on the book, from its website:
    http://carolsanford.com/about-the-book/. I've read portions pre-publication
    and found it quite interesting.
    The Responsible Business: Reimagining Sustainability and Success, by Carol
    Sanford. Jossey-Bass, March 2011.

    Some excerpts about it:
    What is this book about? The future of business and changing the
    conversation we are having about responsibility. We move the conversation—

    * From a Position Approach to a Pervasive Approach (e.g. from a CSR
    department or officer TO HOW we do business in everything) We would not
    manage the development of people or costs as though a function did it for
    the whole company. It is the responsibility of every manager and
    employee.(Reimagining Responsibility)

    * From Measuring Efforts TO Measuring Effects (e.g Stop measuring and
    reporting activities and practices; instead measure and report what was
    change in stakeholders lives) (Reimagining Success)

    * From "Giving back" TO "Giving as"- e.g The future of giving is in "how" we
    do business everyday and not what we do afterward, besides that, or in
    addition to (Reimagining Giving)

    * From Less Harm TO Increased Vitality: of ecosystems, communities,
    customer's lives, suppliers' success, employees' meaning, and investors'
    role in pervasive responsibility. It is not about doing less harm or even
    doing good. It is important to work with each system to increase its
    capacity to be alive and contributing; as well as evolving vitality and
    viability every day.(Reimagining Wholes)

    * From Fragmentation TO Incorporation - e.g. instead of dozens of
    certifications from third parties, that fragments the work to stay
    certified, responsibility is incorporated into the business and reported by
    effects achieved. The root of the term "Corporation" means the Body of the
    Whole, not the sum of the parts. (Reimagining Corporate)

    * From Triple Bottom Line TO Quintessential Top Line - Bottom line is three
    arenas, which get measured and reported separately (2 in terms of less harm
    [social and environment] and one [investors] which is reported in terms of
    increased wealth. These arenas are still within the limits of the old
    choices). To move to a systemic web of five stakeholders that put the
    customer and their life back in, see communities as unique living entities
    to be evolved, and embraces suppliers as co-creative partners, not merely
    links in a chain is added considered. A Bottom Line is what is left after
    all is made and sold. Top Line is the growth of health of the stakeholders
    and the system that "makes them up" as it works together. The System of Five
    working together to make it better for all through time is the
    Quintessential Top Line.

    Much more information on the website and in the book....

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