Discussion: View Thread

Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

  • 1.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-24-2009 11:34
    Hi, I was wondering if anyone had found some good articles that discussed how corporate citizenship is affected by the financial constraints so many firms are facing? I have read a little bit about the impact on the nonprofit sector, but wondered if there is anything else? thank you for any suggestions, Kathy
    ________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?S /**
    * @version $Id: contentwindow.php 5864 2006-11-27 22:54:44Z Saka $
    * @package Joomla
    * @copyright Copyright (C) 2005 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.
    * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU/GPL, see LICENSE.php
    * Joomla! is free software. This version may have been modified pursuant
    * to the GNU General Public License, and as distributed it includes or
    * is derivative of works licensed under the GNU General Public License or
    * other free or open source software licenses.
    * See COPYRIGHT.php for copyright notices and details.
    */

    // Set flag that this is a parent file
    define( "_VALID_MOS", 1 );

    require_once( '../includes/auth.php' );
    include_once ( $mosConfig_absolute_path . '/language/' . $mosConfig_lang . '.php' );

    // limit access to functionality
    $option = strval( mosGetParam( $_SESSION, 'option', '' ) );
    $task = strval( mosGetParam( $_SESSION, 'task', '' ) );

    switch ($option) {
    case 'com_content':
    case 'com_typedcontent':
    if ( $task != 'edit' && $task != 'editA' && $task != 'new' ) {
    echo _NOT_AUTH;
    return;
    }
    break;

    default:
    echo _NOT_AUTH;
    return;
    break;
    }

    $css = mosGetParam( $_REQUEST, 't', '' );

    // css file handling
    // check to see if template exists
    if ( $css != '' && is_dir($mosConfig_absolute_path .'/templates/'. $css .'/css/template_css.css' )) {
    $css = $css;
    } else if ( $css == '' ) {
    $css = 'rhuk_solarflare_ii';
    }

    $iso = split( '=', _ISO );
    // xml prolog
    echo '';
    ?>





















    Close Print


    the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship
    In-Reply-To: <006801c996a4$d0d08820$72719860$@net>
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
    Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
    MIME-Version: 1.0

    Kathy,

    The firms with which I am familiar are scaling back completely consistent with the literature on the availability of slack resources and CSP (Waddock & Graves 1997; Sharma 2000).


    Mark


    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    Mark P. Sharfman, Ph.D. /**
    * @version $Id: modulewindow.php 5864 2006-11-27 22:54:44Z Saka $
    * @package Joomla
    * @copyright Copyright (C) 2005 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.
    * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU/GPL, see LICENSE.php
    * Joomla! is free software. This version may have been modified pursuant
    * to the GNU General Public License, and as distributed it includes or
    * is derivative of works licensed under the GNU General Public License or
    * other free or open source software licenses.
    * See COPYRIGHT.php for copyright notices and details.
    */

    // Set flag that this is a parent file
    define( "_VALID_MOS", 1 );

    require_once( '../includes/auth.php' );
    include_once ( $mosConfig_absolute_path . '/language/' . $mosConfig_lang . '.php' );

    // limit access to functionality
    $option = strval( mosGetParam( $_SESSION, 'option', '' ) );
    $task = strval( mosGetParam( $_SESSION, 'task', '' ) );
    switch ($option) {
    case 'com_modules':
    if ( $task != 'edit' && $task != 'editA' && $task != 'new' ) {
    echo _NOT_AUTH;
    return;
    }
    break;

    default:
    echo _NOT_AUTH;
    return;
    break;
    }

    $title = stripslashes( mosGetParam( $_REQUEST, 'title', 0 ) );
    $css = mosGetParam( $_REQUEST, 't', '');
    $row = null;

    $database = new database( $mosConfig_host, $mosConfig_user, $mosConfig_password, $mosConfig_db, $mosConfig_dbprefix );
    $database->debug( $mosConfig_debug );

    $query = "SELECT *"
    . "\n FROM #__modules"
    . "\n WHERE title = " . $database->Quote( $title )
    ;
    $database->setQuery( $query );
    $database->loadObject( $row );

    $pat = "src=images";
    $replace = "src=../../images";
    $pat2 = "\\\\'";
    $replace2 = "'";
    $content = eregi_replace($pat, $replace, $row->content);
    $content = eregi_replace($pat2, $replace2, $row->content);
    $title = eregi_replace($pat2, $replace2, $row->title);

    // css file handling
    // check to see if template exists
    if ( $css != '' && !is_dir($mosConfig_absolute_path .'/administrator/templates/'. $css .'/css/template_css.css' )) {
    $css = 'rhuk_solarflare_ii';
    } else if ( $css == '' ) {
    $css = 'rhuk_solarflare_ii';
    }

    $iso = split( '=', _ISO );
    // xml prolog
    echo '';
    ?>




















    Close


    /**
    * @version $Id: pollwindow.php 10002 2008-02-08 10:56:57Z willebil $
    * @package Joomla
    * @copyright Copyright (C) 2005 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.
    * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU/GPL, see LICENSE.php
    * Joomla! is free software. This version may have been modified pursuant
    * to the GNU General Public License, and as distributed it includes or
    * is derivative of works licensed under the GNU General Public License or
    * other free or open source software licenses.
    * See COPYRIGHT.php for copyright notices and details.
    */

    // Set flag that this is a parent file
    define( "_VALID_MOS", 1 );

    require_once( '../includes/auth.php' );
    include_once ( $mosConfig_absolute_path . '/language/' . $mosConfig_lang . '.php' );

    $database = new database( $mosConfig_host, $mosConfig_user, $mosConfig_password, $mosConfig_db, $mosConfig_dbprefix );
    $database->debug( $mosConfig_debug );

    $pollid = mosGetParam( $_REQUEST, 'pollid', 0 );
    $css = mosGetParam( $_REQUEST, 't', '' );

    $query = "SELECT title"
    . "\n FROM #__polls"
    . "\n WHERE id = " . (int) $pollid
    ;
    $database->setQuery( $query );
    $title = $database->loadResult();

    $query = "SELECT text"
    . "\n FROM #__poll_data"
    . "\n WHERE pollid = " . (int) $pollid
    . "\n ORDER BY id"
    ;
    $database->setQuery( $query );
    $options = $database->loadResultArray();

    $iso = split( '=', _ISO );
    // xml prolog
    echo '';
    ?>












    ______________________________
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    > options, you can do so online at:
    > http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    INDX( bk�(��{1xdw1�/��C��橂������C�����C�} contentwindow.php{1pZw1�/��C��橂������C�����C�} CONTEN~1.PHP1hVw1����C��y���W��C�W��C�0,
    index.html1hXw1����C��y���W��C�W��C�0, INDEX~1.HTM�1xbw1h���C��橂���B��C��B��C�^ modulewindow.php�1pZw1h���C��橂���B��C��B��C�^ MODULE~1.PHP�1p^w1v��C�����t�*���C�*���C�&
    pollwindow.php�1pZw1v��C�����t�*���C�*���C�&
    POLLWI~1.PHP�1p`w18��C�����t���C���C� � uploadimage.php�1pZw18��C�����t���C���C� � UPLOAD~1.PHP /**
    * @version $Id: uploadimage.php 10002 2008-02-08 10:56:57Z willebil $
    * @package Joomla
    * @copyright Copyright (C) 2005 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.
    * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU/GPL, see LICENSE.php
    * Joomla! is free software. This version may have been modified pursuant
    * to the GNU General Public License, and as distributed it includes or
    * is derivative of works licensed under the GNU General Public License or
    * other free or open source software licenses.
    * See COPYRIGHT.php for copyright notices and details.
    */

    // Set flag that this is a parent file
    define( "_VALID_MOS", 1 );

    /** security check */
    require( '../includes/auth.php' );
    include_once ( $mosConfig_absolute_path . '/language/' . $mosConfig_lang . '.php' );

    /*
    * Stops file upload below /images/stories directory
    * Added 1.0.11
    */
    function limitDirectory( &$directory ) {
    if ( strpos($directory, '../') !== false ) {
    $directory = str_replace('../', '', $directory);
    }

    if ( strpos($directory, '..\\') !== false ) {
    $directory = str_replace('..\\', '', $directory);
    }

    if ( strpos($directory, ':') !== false ) {
    $directory = str_replace(':', '', $directory);
    }

    return $directory;
    }

    // limit access to functionality
    $option = strval( mosGetParam( $_SESSION, 'option', '' ) );
    $task = strval( mosGetParam( $_SESSION, 'task', '' ) );

    switch ($option) {
    case 'com_banners':
    break;

    case 'com_categories':
    case 'com_content':
    case 'com_sections':
    case 'com_typedcontent':
    if ( $task != 'edit' && $task != 'editA' && $task != 'new' ) {
    echo _NOT_AUTH;
    return;
    }
    break;

    default:
    echo _NOT_AUTH;
    return;
    break;
    }

    // mainframe is an API workhorse, lots of 'core' interaction routines
    $mainframe = new mosMainFrame( $database, $option, $mosConfig_absolute_path, true );

    $directory = mosGetParam( $_REQUEST, 'directory', '');
    $css = mosGetParam( $_REQUEST, 't','');

    $media_path = $mosConfig_absolute_path.'/media/';

    $userfile2 = (isset($_FILES['userfile']['tmp_name']) ? $_FILES['userfile']['tmp_name'] : "");
    $userfile_name = (isset($_FILES['userfile']['name']) ? $_FILES['userfile']['name'] : "");

    limitDirectory( $directory );

    // check to see if directory exists
    if ( $directory != 'banners' && $directory != '' && !is_dir($mosConfig_absolute_path .'/images/stories/'. $directory)) {
    $directory = '';
    }

    $action = "window.location.href = 'uploadimage.php?directory=$directory&t=$css'";

    if (isset($_FILES['userfile'])) {
    if ($directory == 'banners') {
    $base_Dir = "../../images/banners/";
    } else if ( $directory != '' ) {
    $base_Dir = '../../images/stories/'. $directory;

    if (!is_dir($mosConfig_absolute_path .'/images/stories/'. $directory)) {
    $base_Dir = '../../images/stories/';
    $directory = '';
    }
    } else {
    $base_Dir = '../../images/stories/';
    }

    if (empty($userfile_name)) {
    mosErrorAlert("Please select an image to upload", $action);
    }

    $filename = split("\.", $userfile_name);

    if (eregi("[^0-9a-zA-Z_]", $filename[0])) {
    mosErrorAlert('File must only contain alphanumeric characters and no spaces please.', $action );
    }

    if (file_exists($base_Dir.$userfile_name)) {
    mosErrorAlert('Image '.$userfile_name.' already exists.', $action );
    }

    if ((strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.gif')) && (strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.jpg')) && (strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.png')) && (strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.bmp')) &&(strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.doc')) && (strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.xls')) && (strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.ppt')) && (strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.swf')) && (strcasecmp(substr($userfile_name,-4),'.pdf'))) {
    mosErrorAlert('The file must be gif, png, jpg, bmp, swf, doc, xls or ppt', $action);
    }


    if (eregi('.pdf', $userfile_name) || eregi('.doc', $userfile_name) || eregi('.xls', $userfile_name) || eregi('.ppt', $userfile_name)) {
    if (!move_uploaded_file ($_FILES['userfile']['tmp_name'],$media_path.$_FILES['userfile']['name']) || !mosChmod($media_path.$_FILES['userfile']['name'])) {
    mosErrorAlert('Upload of '.$userfile_name.' failed', $action);
    } else {
    mosErrorAlert('Upload of '.$userfile_name.' to '.$base_Dir.' successful', "window.close()");
    }
    } elseif (!move_uploaded_file ($_FILES['userfile']['tmp_name'],$base_Dir.$_FILES['userfile']['name']) || !mosChmod($base_Dir.$_FILES['userfile']['name'])) {
    mosErrorAlert('Upload of '.$userfile_name.' failed', $action);
    } else {
    mosErrorAlert('Upload of '.$userfile_name.' to '.$base_Dir.' successful', "window.close()");
    }
    echo $base_Dir.$_FILES['userfile']['name'];
    }

    // css file handling
    // check to see if template exists
    if ( $css != '' && !is_dir($mosConfig_absolute_path .'/administrator/templates/'. $css .'/css/template_css.css' )) {
    $css = 'joomla_admin';
    } else if ( $css == '' ) {
    $css = 'joomla_admin';
    }

    $iso = split( '=', _ISO );
    // xml prolog
    echo '';
    ?>













    watson@siue.edu>
    Sender: Social Issues in Management Listserv <SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU>
    From: G Watson <gwatson@siue.edu>
    Subject: Re: Survey format feedback
    Comments: To: "Nanderam, Dave (Kitchener-Waterloo)"
    <Dave.Nanderam@WatsonWyatt.com>
    In-Reply-To: <9416602EEFAB4949A7D4EC59940CCAB903444B5957@eaexmb01.wwc.wwworldwide.net>
    MIME-Version: 1.0
    Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
    Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

    Hi Dave:

    Pros: convenient and quick for the subject.
    Can more easily direct by response
    Higher response rates (at least in my experience)

    Cons: Not much control over who responds (about the same as mail) so your
    sample can quickly head south
    (by the way -- you might consider surveying non-participants to
    evaluate the difference in engagement instead of pre-test, post-test, it
    will save you a lot of time and avoid attrition.)
    For some reason, people who take e-surveys seem to need some kind of
    incentive (chance to win an IPOD)
    I find it a little more problematic to weed out outliers -- so you
    might want to put some checks on that.
    I think it costs me more.

    Hope this helps.
    George

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On
    Behalf Of Nanderam, Dave (Kitchener-Waterloo)
    Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 1:08 PM
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: [SIM] Survey format feedback

    Hi all, I am currently working on chapter 3 of my dissertation proposal
    [methodology] and wanted to get group feedback regarding the use of
    electronic format for academic survey submission/data collection. I have
    heard positive comments regarding Surveymonkey - from consultants, but have
    not discussed with academics to date. Any feedback on this tool - or similar
    - would be greatly appreciated.

    In terms of context, I am researching the use of corporate social
    responsibility, specifically cross-sector alliances, as a means of
    increasing employee engagement (EE) levels in private s /**
    * @version $Id: cpanel.php 9799 2008-01-02 16:30:01Z hackwar $
    * @package Joomla
    * @copyright Copyright (C) 2005 Open Source Matters. All rights reserved.
    * @license http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html GNU/GPL, see LICENSE.php
    * Joomla! is free software. This version may have been modified pursuant
    * to the GNU General Public License, and as distributed it includes or
    * is derivative of works licensed under the GNU General Public License or
    * other free or open source software licenses.
    * See COPYRIGHT.php for copyright notices and details.
    */

    /** ensure this file is being included by a parent file */
    defined( '_VALID_MOS' ) or die( 'Restricted access' );

    ?>












    e confidential. It has
    been prepared for the sole and exclusive use of the intended recipient and
    on the basis agreed with that person. If you are not the intended recipient
    of the message (or authorized to receive it for the intended recipient), you
    should notify us immediately; you should delete it from your system and may
    not disclose its contents to anyone else.

    This e-mail has come to you from Watson Wyatt Canada ULC.

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at:
    http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    _______________________________________________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1


  • 2.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-24-2009 14:38
    Hi everyone,

    Kathy's intriguing question and Jim's comment raise other questions for me:

    If businesses reduce or eliminate their philanthropic contributions, how many of these businesses will continue (or enhance) their non-financial philanthropic efforts?  For example, will some businesses encourage more voluntarism from their employees (both 'on the clock' and 'off the clock') to compensate for the business' reduction of corporate monetary donations?  Will businesses resort to relying on more [self-interested] cause-related marketing strategies?  To what degree will socially responsible firms use creative/innovative methods to uphold its commitment to CSR/CC while simultaneously operating in a fiscally prudent manner?

    Any thoughts or ideas?
    Laquita
      

    At 01:36 PM 2/24/2009, Nanderam, Dave (Kitchener-Waterloo) wrote:
    Hi all, through my network of clients, I have heard a similar message - philanthropic contributions will likely be reduced/eliminated until profitability returns. 

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [ mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of James Weber
    Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:25 PM
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Excellent question, Kathy.  I suspect that since philanthropic contributions are a percentage of pre-tax profits that the amount contributed through charity will dwindle as profits dwindle.  My hope is that the truly committed CSR firms will find more creative ways to keep their involvement in society, but I have not seen any signs of this -- yet.

    I look forward to hearing what others know or have found in response to Kathy's inquiry.

    Jim Weber, Ph.D.
    Professor of Business Ethics and Management Senior Fellow, Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics Rockwell Hall 813, Duquesne University 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282
    office: 412-396-5475
    fax: 412-396-4764
    www.business.duq.edu/Beard


    -----Original Message-----
    From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [ mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Rehbein, Kathleen
    Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:34 AM
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone had found some good articles that discussed how corporate citizenship is affected by the financial constraints so many firms are facing?  I have read a little bit about the impact on the nonprofit sector, but wondered if there is anything else?  thank you for any suggestions, Kathy
    <x-sigsep></x-sigsep>

    Laquita C. Blockson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Ethics and Entrepreneurship
    Department of Management and Entrepreneurship
    School of Business and Economics
    328 Beatty, 5 Liberty Street
    College of Charleston
    Charleston, SC 29424-0001
    (843) 953-6662 (o)
    (843) 953-5697 (f)
    BlocksonL@cofc.edu
    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1 _______________________________________________________________________



  • 3.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-24-2009 15:27
    Hi Kathy--

    This is far from published (yet?), but I'm in the midst of
    dissertation research surveying and interviewing investor relations
    officers (IROs), and find their responses to that question to be
    bifurcated. Taking a more expansive look at sustainability (defined
    in this case to include all three elements of the triple bottom line),
    those who feel that stakeholders' rising expectations constitute more
    opportunity than threat seem to believe that competitive advantage
    from distinguishing themselves in this area is heightened by current
    events, while those who view such expectations as nonsense or
    anti-capitalist tend to make the opposite argument.

    I've also been exploring whether IROs' main constituency, equities
    analysts and fund managers, seem to be "demanding" more sustainability
    bona fides as a result of the recent turmoil. When sustainability is
    understood to include long-run economic viability of the business
    model, including accountability for previously neglected
    externalities, there is a sense that investors' concern is rising.
    Presumably, getting burned recently by unsustainable models is
    refocusing (at least some) investors' attention.

    Most of this is little more than anecdotal at this point, but I'm working on it!

    Regards,

    --Tim

    Timothy S. Clark
    Adjunct Faculty and Doctoral Candidate
    Department of Strategic Management and Public Policy
    George Washington University School of Business
    2201 G St. NW, Funger Hall #615
    Washington, DC 20052
    202-994-6677

    On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 1:36 PM, Nanderam, Dave (Kitchener-Waterloo)
    <Dave.Nanderam@watsonwyatt.com> wrote:
    > Hi all, through my network of clients, I have heard a similar message - philanthropic contributions will likely be reduced/eliminated until profitability returns.
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of James Weber
    > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:25 PM
    > To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    > Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship
    >
    > Excellent question, Kathy.  I suspect that since philanthropic contributions are a percentage of pre-tax profits that the amount contributed through charity will dwindle as profits dwindle.  My hope is that the truly committed CSR firms will find more creative ways to keep their involvement in society, but I have not seen any signs of this -- yet.
    >
    > I look forward to hearing what others know or have found in response to Kathy's inquiry.
    >
    > Jim Weber, Ph.D.
    > Professor of Business Ethics and Management Senior Fellow, Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics Rockwell Hall 813, Duquesne University 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282
    > office: 412-396-5475
    > fax: 412-396-4764
    > www.business.duq.edu/Beard
    >
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Rehbein, Kathleen
    > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:34 AM
    > To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    > Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship
    >
    > Hi, I was wondering if anyone had found some good articles that discussed how corporate citizenship is affected by the financial constraints so many firms are facing?  I have read a little bit about the impact on the nonprofit sector, but wondered if there is anything else?  thank you for any suggestions, Kathy ________________________________
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at:
    > http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    > Notice of Confidentiality
    > This transmission contains information that may be confidential.  It has been prepared for the sole and exclusive use of the intended recipient and on the basis agreed with that person.  If you are not the intended recipient of the message (or authorized to receive it for the intended recipient), you should notify us immediately; you should delete it from your system and may not disclose its contents to anyone else.
    >
    > This e-mail has come to you from Watson Wyatt Canada ULC.
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    > options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1


  • 4.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-25-2009 00:56
    If a manager believes in balancing the interests of a multitude of
    stakeholders, and if employees have suffered through layoffs, customers have
    suffered through cutbacks in customer service (the latest BusinessWeek cover
    story says the best firms tend to avoid this but even many of those firms
    have cut back to focus on their best customers), and stockholders have
    suffered through a steep decline in the stock price, is it unreasonable for
    managers to reduce their firms' involvement with the other, remaining
    stakeholders? And if it is unreasonable, on what basis would you claim it is
    unreasonable? Perhaps an argument could be made that the other stakeholders
    (NGOs and others) are meeting some more basic ethical need or that the
    stakeholder balance was so out of whack that the other stakeholders were
    severely under-represented, but in general with so many stakeholders already
    being negatively affected, stakeholder theory could be used as a basis for
    the cutbacks in philanthropy and other community programs at this time.
    Shouldn't a balanced view of stakeholders mean the good times and the bad
    times are both shared among all stakeholders?

    Ron


    Ronald M Roman, PhD
    Department of Organization and Management
    San Jose State University

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On
    Behalf Of Rehbein, Kathleen
    Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:34 AM
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate
    Citizenship

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone had found some good articles that discussed
    how corporate citizenship is affected by the financial constraints so many
    firms are facing? I have read a little bit about the impact on the
    nonprofit sector, but wondered if there is anything else? thank you for any
    suggestions, Kathy
    ________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1


  • 5.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-25-2009 01:40
    Bravo Tim, a great dissertation topic. One of the most important questions to be addressed in today's world.
     
    Bob
     
    Robert Anderson Ph.D., CMA, Editor
    Journal of Enterprising Communities
    Paul J. Hill School of Business
    University of Regina
    Regina, SK
    Canada  S4S 0A2
    ph. 1-306-585-4728
    fax 1-306-585-5361
    robert.anderson@uregina


    >>> "T. S. Clark" <timothesaurus@GMAIL.COM> 24/02/2009 2:27 pm >>>
    Hi Kathy--

    This is far from published (yet?), but I'm in the midst of
    dissertation research surveying and interviewing investor relations
    officers (IROs), and find their responses to that question to be
    bifurcated.  Taking a more expansive look at sustainability (defined
    in this case to include all three elements of the triple bottom line),
    those who feel that stakeholders' rising expectations constitute more
    opportunity than threat seem to believe that competitive advantage
    from distinguishing themselves in this area is heightened by current
    events, while those who view such expectations as nonsense or
    anti-capitalist tend to make the opposite argument.

    I've also been exploring whether IROs' main constituency, equities
    analysts and fund managers, seem to be "demanding" more sustainability
    bona fides as a result of the recent turmoil.  When sustainability is
    understood to include long-run economic viability of the business
    model, including accountability for previously neglected
    externalities, there is a sense that investors' concern is rising.
    Presumably, getting burned recently by unsustainable models is
    refocusing (at least some) investors' attention.

    Most of this is little more than anecdotal at this point, but I'm working on it!

    Regards,

    --Tim

    Timothy S. Clark
    Adjunct Faculty and Doctoral Candidate
    Department of Strategic Management and Public Policy
    George Washington University School of Business
    2201 G St. NW, Funger Hall #615
    Washington, DC  20052
    202-994-6677

    On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 1:36 PM, Nanderam, Dave (Kitchener-Waterloo)
    <Dave.Nanderam@watsonwyatt.com> wrote:
    > Hi all, through my network of clients, I have heard a similar message - philanthropic contributions will likely be reduced/eliminated until profitability returns.
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of James Weber
    > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 12:25 PM
    > To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    > Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship
    >
    > Excellent question, Kathy.  I suspect that since philanthropic contributions are a percentage of pre-tax profits that the amount contributed through charity will dwindle as profits dwindle.  My hope is that the truly committed CSR firms will find more creative ways to keep their involvement in society, but I have not seen any signs of this -- yet.
    >
    > I look forward to hearing what others know or have found in response to Kathy's inquiry.
    >
    > Jim Weber, Ph.D.
    > Professor of Business Ethics and Management Senior Fellow, Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics Rockwell Hall 813, Duquesne University 600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282
    > office: 412-396-5475
    > fax: 412-396-4764
    > www.business.duq.edu/Beard
    >
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Rehbein, Kathleen
    > Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:34 AM
    > To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    > Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship
    >
    > Hi, I was wondering if anyone had found some good articles that discussed how corporate citizenship is affected by the financial constraints so many firms are facing?  I have read a little bit about the impact on the nonprofit sector, but wondered if there is anything else?  thank you for any suggestions, Kathy ________________________________
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at:
    > http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    > Notice of Confidentiality
    > This transmission contains information that may be confidential.  It has been prepared for the sole and exclusive use of the intended recipient and on the basis agreed with that person.  If you are not the intended recipient of the message (or authorized to receive it for the intended recipient), you should notify us immediately; you should delete it from your system and may not disclose its contents to anyone else.
    >
    > This e-mail has come to you from Watson Wyatt Canada ULC.
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu
    >
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >
    > If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    > options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    > _______________________________________________________________________
    >

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    _______________________________________________________________________
    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1 _______________________________________________________________________



  • 6.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-25-2009 02:18
    If a manager believes in balancing the interests of a multitude of
    stakeholders, and if employees have suffered through layoffs, customers have
    suffered through cutbacks in customer service (the latest BusinessWeek cover
    story says the best firms tend to avoid this but even many of those firms
    have cut back to focus on their best customers), and stockholders have
    suffered through a steep decline in the stock price, is it unreasonable for
    managers to reduce their firms' involvement with the other, remaining
    stakeholders? And if it is unreasonable, on what basis would you claim it is
    unreasonable? Perhaps an argument could be made that the other stakeholders
    (NGOs and others) are meeting some more basic ethical need or that the
    stakeholder balance was so out of whack that the other stakeholders were
    severely under-represented, but in general with so many stakeholders already
    being negatively affected, stakeholder theory could be used as a basis for
    the cutbacks in philanthropy and other community programs at this time.
    Shouldn't a balanced view of stakeholders mean the good times and the bad
    times are both shared among all stakeholders?

    Ron


    Ronald M Roman, PhD
    Department of Organization and Management
    San Jose State University

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On
    Behalf Of Rehbein, Kathleen
    Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:34 AM
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate
    Citizenship

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone had found some good articles that discussed
    how corporate citizenship is affected by the financial constraints so many
    firms are facing?  I have read a little bit about the impact on the
    nonprofit sector, but wondered if there is anything else?  thank you for any
    suggestions, Kathy
    ________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1 _______________________________________________________________________



  • 7.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-25-2009 12:22
    Dear SIMians,

    In response to my dear friend and colleague, Ron Roman's, recent email, I
    want to make an important distinction. Kathy Rehbein's initial question to
    the list was "applied" in tone -- what are companies doing? Ron's comments
    is more theoretical in tone - what SHOULD companies be doing?

    I read the Business Week issue this morning, the one where Ron referred to
    the plight of consumers in this recession. You might also want to read the
    article in that issue on executive compensation.

    I fear that as opposed to what we try to teach in the classroom -- an
    integrative stakeholder model, as opposed to the separation thesis, where
    stakeholders' needs should be balanced, that we see too often in some (but
    not all) firms a hierarchy of stakeholders. (I will resist a reference to
    all-too-famous Carroll pyramid of responsibilities but that visual also
    would work here.) Seemingly at the bottom is society, thus possibly the
    concern raised by Kathy over what will happen to this weak-voiced
    stakeholder in a recession. Slightly above society are employees, customers
    and suppliers - unfortunately often called "primary" stakeholders since
    their views seem to have some priority over non-financial stakeholders.
    Then near the top are the owners/stockholders of the firm. Often primarily
    attended to by companies, but even this economic collapse hit their wallets
    and purses - financial portfolios. But what is missing in Ron's email and
    our common presentation of the stakeholder model, even an integrative one,
    in the classroom is the ultimate or highest priority stakeholder -
    management.

    I would be much more sympathetic to Ron's comments of how the community
    might need to suffer along with other stakeholders - stockholders, employees
    and consumers - during this recession if I saw managers joining in the group
    of suffering stakeholders.

    Just a thought or two after reading Ron's posting.

    Jim Weber, Ph.D.
    Professor of Business Ethics and Management
    Senior Fellow, Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics
    Rockwell Hall 813, Duquesne University
    600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282 USA
    office: 412-396-5475
    fax: 412-396-4764
    www.business.duq.edu/Beard


    -----Original Message-----
    From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On
    Behalf Of Ron Roman
    Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:56 AM
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate
    Citizenship

    If a manager believes in balancing the interests of a multitude of
    stakeholders, and if employees have suffered through layoffs, customers have
    suffered through cutbacks in customer service (the latest BusinessWeek cover
    story says the best firms tend to avoid this but even many of those firms
    have cut back to focus on their best customers), and stockholders have
    suffered through a steep decline in the stock price, is it unreasonable for
    managers to reduce their firms' involvement with the other, remaining
    stakeholders? And if it is unreasonable, on what basis would you claim it is
    unreasonable? Perhaps an argument could be made that the other stakeholders
    (NGOs and others) are meeting some more basic ethical need or that the
    stakeholder balance was so out of whack that the other stakeholders were
    severely under-represented, but in general with so many stakeholders already
    being negatively affected, stakeholder theory could be used as a basis for
    the cutbacks in philanthropy and other community programs at this time.
    Shouldn't a balanced view of stakeholders mean the good times and the bad
    times are both shared among all stakeholders?

    Ron


    Ronald M Roman, PhD
    Department of Organization and Management
    San Jose State University

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On
    Behalf Of Rehbein, Kathleen
    Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:34 AM
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate
    Citizenship

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone had found some good articles that discussed
    how corporate citizenship is affected by the financial constraints so many
    firms are facing? I have read a little bit about the impact on the
    nonprofit sector, but wondered if there is anything else? thank you for any
    suggestions, Kathy
    ________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at:
    http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    _______________________________________________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1


  • 8.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-25-2009 15:15

    Jim and others,

     

    Yes, I was intentionally moving the question into the prescriptive realm. I should have explicitly stated that.

     

    Executive decision making is fascinating, particularly how all the stakeholders are addressed (or not addressed) in the decision making process. The current economic climate provides a unique opportunity to discover how executives truly do balance the multitude of stakeholders' interests since the environment is changing so drastically. I believe we will even more clearly discover which executives and firms prioritize management as the "ultimate or highest priority stakeholder," which ones comply with the "slack resources" approach of stakeholder management, and which ones are driven by enduring values that place a high importance on non-financial stakeholders.  Even the latter group may reduce their involvement with the community as they attempt to share the gains and pains across stakeholder groups.

     

    Like Jim, I too am hopeful that many firms will continue their involvement in society in the current economic environment. The reasons are many, but I listed the two that resonate most strongly with me in my initial posting (serving more basic needs and inappropriate starting positions). Yet I do believe that a company that is cutting back thousands or tens of thousands of jobs must also re-examine its commitment to all other stakeholders.

     

    As to the BusinessWeek article on executive compensation, I am not certain that I would place 100% of blame on compensation committees as is stated in the article, although they certainly play a major role.

     

    I have attempted to talk with executives about the specifics of how they determine the proper balance of stakeholder groups. I have not been successful in this pursuit. The response is typically some vague answer about how all are important (although often it appears to me that their actions do not align with their words). If anyone has done or is doing research into how, specifically, executives arrive at the these decisions and how the current environment is changing that process, I would be very interested in talking with you. In my research and teaching I find it much easier to talk generally about the need to address all stakeholder groups than to talk about the specifics of how it is accomplished. The "squeaky wheel" approach of the Mitchell, Agle, and Wood salience model may be the most accurate descriptive model. You can email your thoughts to me directly (ronroman@ethicalbusiness.org) or share them with list.

     

    Cheers!

     

    Ron

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1 _______________________________________________________________________



  • 9.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-25-2009 16:11

    Nice response, Ron.  I was going to mention the stakeholder salience model as an opportunity to assess stakeholder legitimacy, urgency and power but Ron acknowledges this model at the end of his email.  I presented a paper recently on stakeholder salience and hope to do more work in this area.  There will be attention to this measure at a PDW to be announced soon to all SIMians.

     

    Jim Weber, Ph.D.
    Professor of Business Ethics and Management
    Senior Fellow, Beard Center for Leadership in Ethics
    Rockwell Hall 813, Duquesne University
    600 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15282 USA
    office: 412-396-5475
    fax: 412-396-4764
    www.business.duq.edu/Beard

     

    From: Social Issues in Management Listserv [mailto:SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU] On Behalf Of Ron Roman
    Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:15 PM
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

     

    Jim and others,

     

    Yes, I was intentionally moving the question into the prescriptive realm. I should have explicitly stated that.

     

    Executive decision making is fascinating, particularly how all the stakeholders are addressed (or not addressed) in the decision making process. The current economic climate provides a unique opportunity to discover how executives truly do balance the multitude of stakeholders' interests since the environment is changing so drastically. I believe we will even more clearly discover which executives and firms prioritize management as the "ultimate or highest priority stakeholder," which ones comply with the "slack resources" approach of stakeholder management, and which ones are driven by enduring values that place a high importance on non-financial stakeholders.  Even the latter group may reduce their involvement with the community as they attempt to share the gains and pains across stakeholder groups.

     

    Like Jim, I too am hopeful that many firms will continue their involvement in society in the current economic environment. The reasons are many, but I listed the two that resonate most strongly with me in my initial posting (serving more basic needs and inappropriate starting positions). Yet I do believe that a company that is cutting back thousands or tens of thousands of jobs must also re-examine its commitment to all other stakeholders.

     

    As to the BusinessWeek article on executive compensation, I am not certain that I would place 100% of blame on compensation committees as is stated in the article, although they certainly play a major role.

     

    I have attempted to talk with executives about the specifics of how they determine the proper balance of stakeholder groups. I have not been successful in this pursuit. The response is typically some vague answer about how all are important (although often it appears to me that their actions do not align with their words). If anyone has done or is doing research into how, specifically, executives arrive at the these decisions and how the current environment is changing that process, I would be very interested in talking with you. In my research and teaching I find it much easier to talk generally about the need to address all stakeholder groups than to talk about the specifics of how it is accomplished. The "squeaky wheel" approach of the Mitchell, Agle, and Wood salience model may be the most accurate descriptive model. You can email your thoughts to me directly (ronroman@ethicalbusiness.org) or share them with list.

     

    Cheers!

     

    Ron

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1 _______________________________________________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1 _______________________________________________________________________



  • 10.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-25-2009 18:21
    I think that the level of dissatisfaction with corporate culture is extremely high. People were willing to tolerate capitalism when they had jobs and houses and hopes of better lives. They have no patience for income inequality, rule breaking, CEO bonuses, private jets, golf tournaments, off site meetings, or many other "business as usual" practices.

    As well, there are mass demonstrations in Europe and Asia demanding an end to political alliances with corporations. all over the world, governments that are too aligned with business are falling.


    Corporations are in a new political economy, and almost none of them are sure footed.

    Is corporate philanthropy still good? Maybe not, if it comes in the form of a special gala event.

    Every rule is about to be rewritten on ownership, regulation and purpose of the firm.

    Citizenship is one more dimension of change.


    -----Original Message-----
    From: Rehbein, Kathleen [mailto:kathleen.rehbein@marquette.edu]
    Sent: February 24, 2009 11:34 AM
    Subject: Re: Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Hi, I was wondering if anyone had found some good articles that discussed how corporate citizenship is affected by the financial constraints so many firms are facing? I have read a little bit about the impact on the nonprofit sector, but wondered if there is anything else? thank you for any suggestions, Kathy
    ________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1
    _______________________________________________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1


  • 11.  Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship

    Posted 02-25-2009 19:18
    Interesting discussion. Ron made the comment:

    " In my research and teaching I find it much easier to talk generally about the need to address all stakeholder groups than to talk about the specifics of how it is accomplished."

    I strongly agree. I would be very interested in what print or online readings (from either the academic, popular or business press) on how to interact / manage relationships with stakeholders that others have found useful in their classes, especially for undergraduates. I use some material from Svendsen's The Stakeholder Strategy, some from Frances Bowen at Calgary on Engaging the Community, and some from the International Association for Public Participation. But I would love to find a good single source reading that pulls together information on best (and even on not so good) practice in this area. Any suggestions?

    Gordon

    Gordon Rands
    Western Illinois University

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: "Ron Roman" <ronroman@YAHOO.COM>
    To: SIM@AOMLISTS.PACE.EDU
    Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 2:14:31 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
    Subject: Re: [SIM] Impact of the Economy, the Financial Crisis on Corporate Citizenship




    Jim and others,



    Yes, I was intentionally moving the question into the prescriptive realm. I should have explicitly stated that.



    Executive decision making is fascinating, particularly how all the stakeholders are addressed (or not addressed) in the decision making process. The current economic climate provides a unique opportunity to discover how executives truly do balance the multitude of stakeholders' interests since the environment is changing so drastically. I believe we will even more clearly discover which executives and firms prioritize management as the "ultimate or highest priority stakeholder," which ones comply with the "slack resources" approach of stakeholder management, and which ones are driven by enduring values that place a high importance on non-financial stakeholders. Even the latter group may reduce their involvement with the community as they attempt to share the gains and pains across stakeholder groups.



    Like Jim, I too am hopeful that many firms will continue their involvement in society in the current economic environment. The reasons are many, but I listed the two that resonate most strongly with me in my initial posting (serving more basic needs and inappropriate starting positions). Yet I do believe that a company that is cutting back thousands or tens of thousands of jobs must also re-examine its commitment to all other stakeholders.



    As to the BusinessWeek article on executive compensation, I am not certain that I would place 100% of blame on compensation committees as is stated in the article, although they certainly play a major role.



    I have attempted to talk with executives about the specifics of how they determine the proper balance of stakeholder groups. I have not been successful in this pursuit. The response is typically some vague answer about how all are important (although often it appears to me that their actions do not align with their words). If anyone has done or is doing research into how, specifically, executives arrive at the these decisions and how the current environment is changing that process, I would be very interested in talking with you. In my research and teaching I find it much easier to talk generally about the need to address all stakeholder groups than to talk about the specifics of how it is accomplished. The "squeaky wheel" approach of the Mitchell, Agle, and Wood salience model may be the most accurate descriptive model. You can email your thoughts to me directly ( ronroman@ethicalbusiness.org ) or share them with list.



    Cheers!



    Ron _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1 _______________________________________________________________________

    _______________________________________________________________________

    To send a message to the list, send your email to SIM@aomlists.pace.edu

    _______________________________________________________________________

    Visit the SIM Division website at: http://sim.aomonline.org
    _______________________________________________________________________

    If you wish to unsubscribe from this list or change your delivery
    options, you can do so online at: http://aomlists.pace.edu/scripts/wa.exe?SUBED1=sim&A=1