Description
Don’t be misled by the word social in the title. This is a book about how to improve corporate performance and gain competitive advantage. In Corporate Social Opportunity! Grayson and Hodges challenge perceived wisdom that adherence by business to corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a zero-sum game where the impact on companies is added costs and extra regulatory burden. From their unique vantage point working with leaders of global businesses and of local communities, the authors explain how powerful drivers forcing companies to adopt stringent social, ethical and environmental standards simultaneously create largely untapped opportunities for product innovation, market development and non-traditional business models. The key to exploiting these opportunities lies in building CSR into business strategy, not adding it on to business operations.With examples from 200 companies to illustrate their case, they outline both in theory and practice a seven step process managers can apply to assess the implications of CSR on their business strategy and identify their own corporate social opportunities.
“Corporate Social Opportunity! clearly shows how to combine the natural creativity and innovation of entrepreneurial businesses with a commitment to Corporate Responsibility.”David Varney, Chairman, mmO2
“Corporate social responsibility is not a “bolt-on” to be added once business strategy and planning has been finalised; it needs to be “built in” to strategy decisions and integrated into the planning process. That’s how risks are effectively managed and business opportunities identified.Corporate Social Opportunity!explains how business can best get value from this process.” Jeremy Pelczer, President & CEO, American Water
“The Corporate Social Opportunity!model firmly links CSR to the theory and practice of business strategy and organisational purpose, and is as such indispensable reading for the MBA class and the corporate boardroom.” Professor Gilbert Lenssen, President of the European Academy of Business in Society
“I’ve long believed that maximising value in business requires a solid commitment to values.Corporate Social Opportunity! clearly explains how strong corporate values are key to the challenges of aligning business purpose with societal need, which in turn leads to greater value for companies and communities.” Hank McKinnell, Chairman & CEO, Pfizer Inc.
Cato –
My impression is that this book should be compulsory reading for all company managers in a world where business is starting to take social responsibility extremely seriously, for many reasons. The steps provided in the book represent an admirable framework for company management to structure their approach to integrating social, ethical and environmental issues into the core of their business. The book is packed full of a wealth of references to real cases of CSR, using these to illustrate the mistakes companies can make and the essential nature of stakeholder inclusivity. As well as being an excellent book for practitioners and managers at all levels within companies, this book is an ideal reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students following courses which include a CSR component. I will certainly be referencing it on my own course on corporate governance and accountability. – New Academy Review
| …I would strongly recommend it as an essential text for all those in business working in this area. – The Corporate Citizen Vol. 4 Issue 3
| The core message throughout the book is the need for companies to embrace CSR without being impeded by two main hindrances: fear that puts companies in a defensive position, and treating CSR as a “bolt-on” to business rather than a “built-in” strategy. The ultimate goal, therefore, is to create an environment where numerous CSOs are possible. – Corporate Responsibility Management 1.1
| … proposes a practical seven-step process to help business leaders … instead of “bolt on”, CSR can become a valuable “built in”. – Industry and Environment