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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
6.28.2005 ET
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CSR News from:
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New Research Report And Peer-To-Peer Network Promote Integration Of Corporate Citizenship Into Core Business Strategy
The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College invites companies
to join Levi Strauss & Co., Abbott, Verizon, AMD and other companies in an
exciting new Business Network on Integrating Corporate Citizenship
(CSRwire) CHESTNUT HILL, MA - At its best, corporate citizenship is the
strategic connection of a company's profit motive to the social and
environmental goals of society. Yet, for many companies, corporate
citizenship or corporate social responsibility is still rooted in
unaligned practices that emphasize philanthropy, volunteerism or
environmental sustainability and not within a cohesive strategy.
During a two-year study, researchers with The Center for Corporate
Citizenship at Boston College went inside eight companies to discover the
challenges and successes of middle-level executives who were initiating
the integration of corporate citizenship across business lines and up and
down the company. The research examined the strategies and tactics of more
than a dozen professionals who were willing to take risks and find ways to
engage colleagues across business units and up and down the command
chain.
Details of this research are contained in the new report, Integration:
Critical Link for Corporate Citizenship. (A PDF copy can be downloaded
at http://www.bcccc.net/index.cfm?fuseaction=document.showDocumentByID&DocumentID=743;
registration is required).
New peer-to-peer network created
To extend the lessons from the research and add the experiences of dozens
of other industry leaders, The Center for Corporate Citizenship is
creating a peer-to-peer network that will allow companies to benchmark
their activities and delve more deeply into strategic and operational
challenges and create strategies and solutions. Through web-based and
in-person convenings company executives charged with incorporating
citizenship will share insights, collaborate and develop long-term
relationships with other practitioners who understand the reality of
corporate citizenship work today.
Theresa Fay-Bustillos, vice president of worldwide community affairs and
executive director of the Levi Strauss Foundation is a founding member of
the network. "I joined the Business Network because it's a venue where I
can brainstorm with peers, learn from other industries, and have access to
the staff at the Boston College Center on Corporate Citizenship, said
Fay-Bustillos. "At Levi Strauss & Co., no one has the same role that I
have in driving corporate social responsibility. The ideas, the
relationships, keep me inspired to make progress on such a tough yet
important business issue, corporate citizenship."
The Business Network on Integration is being launched with the support of
the companies that participated in the original research project: Abbott,
AMD, Agilent Technologies, Levi Strauss & Co., Petro-Canada, Unocal, and
Verizon.
"Integrating corporate citizenship into the core strategy has become a
business essential," said Bradley K. Googins, executive director of The
Center for Corporate Citizenship. "There is so much to learn about this
emerging discipline which is why so business professionals are willing to
share their internal challenges and learn from each other."
The formal kick-off of the network will come in September 2005 when
members participate in a Boston-based meeting that will include peers and
industry experts. Membership in the network will also provide companies
with a series of conference calls and web-based discussions; on-line tools
including discussion forums, member profiles and news briefs; issues papers
and research. The charter membership fee of $9,500 for one company
reprehensive (or $13,500 for two) includes access to all convenings and
available resources. A two-year commitment is discounted.
The Network will focus on corporate citizenship strategy, practice and
implementation. The agenda for convenings and discussion forums will be
shaped by Network members. Potential topics include:
Gaining executive buy-in and involvement
Engaging employees and the lines of business
Institutionalizing corporate citizenship through values
Assessing performance and results with new measurement strategies
Leveraging the value of a non-financial report
Accelerating action through innovative change processes
Developing a common vision for corporate citizenship throughout the
company
Adding value through dialogue with third-party and external
stakeholder groups
Companies interested in more information about the Business Network on
Integration should contact Kristen Zecchi at 617-552-8680.
About The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College
The Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College is a
membership-based research organization that for 20 years has been
committed to helping businesses leverage their social, economic and human
assets for the good of society. The Center works with its 350 member
companies to help them define, plan and operationalize their corporate
citizenship. For more information visit www.bc.edu/corporatecitizenship.
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