On Corporate Social Responsibility

Exploding batteries! Rootkit DRM! Controversial advertising!

Sony just keeps getting into scrapes after scrapes.

BusinessWeek explores the company’s multiple missteps in more words and greater eloquence than I can muster right now. 

"Rather than putting an end to the matter, though, Sony’s explanations for the problem continue to raise troubling questions about the electronics manufacturer. More than a year after Howard Stringer became chief executive officer and was tasked with turning the company’s flagging fortunes, the list of Sony corporate blunders is getting as long as the number of divisions he controls."

Read the full article here. 

Fortune magazine features an interview with Anwar Ibrahim on the role of businesses in contributing to corruption in developing countries.

"Business has to be part of the development process, so we made intense efforts to promote the private sector. I strongly support market reforms, deregulation, privatization, all the mantras of today’s global economy.

But for this to work, we need business to be accountable, and we observed serious flaws in this regard. In my experience, business can tend toward cronyism, corruption and other poor practices in the absence of a free press, a vibrant civil society and effective law enforcement."

The full interview is available online here. 

A strong stance against corruption is one of the UN Global Compact’s Ten Principles. In many developing countries, where rule of law and institutional oversight is relatively weak, bribery may be seen as necessary to get the wheels of bureaucracy turning in favour of one’s business and investment needs. I doubt that many see such payments as corruption, but as business costs involved in succeeding in the local business environment. There may be a possible defence if the host nation has different laws and standards than the company’s home nation — but an offence like corruption likely appears in every country’s statute books. No excuse for dodging accountability this time.

I just saw Anwar on the BBC channel yesterday, speaking on the World Communication for Develoment panel. Seems like he’s getting pretty busy eh.

British mobile-phone operator Vodafone has topped the list at the 2006 Global Accountability Rating study. The survey, conducted by AccountAbility and CSRnetwork, measures six criteria, ranging from stakeholder engagement to performance management, at the top 50 companies on Fortune’s Global 500 list. Fourteen other large companies were included so that there were at least ten in each of five industry sectors. The results were published in Fortune last Monday.

The Top Five: Vodafone, BP, Royal Dutch/Shell, Électricité de France and Suez  (French water company)

+ Full ranking

+ More on the global Accountability Rating

+ Full story in Fortune

31 Oct - 2 Nov: Eco-Products International Fair

Event dedicated to environmentally-friendly products and services. Flex that consumer muscle of yours and learn how to spend with a conscience. Free.

31 Oct - 2 Nov:  "Growing the Eco-nomy" – Learning from the Best Eco-practices

Featuring international speakers, the programme includes topics on corporate environmental planning and management, green procurement, eco-design and product development, consumer labelling schemes, alternative fuels, water and climate change management. Registration required.

2 Nov: Singapore Compact for CSR - Inaugural Distinguished Lecture

Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, Chairperson of the UN Global Compact Foundation delivers his personal sharing and insight on "Why am I a Social Responsibility Champion". This inspiring lecture is presented by the Singapore Compact for CSR, the national society driving the CSR movement. Registration required.

3 Nov: People, Planet and Profits

Join the CSR Student Movement for an informal dialogue on the ideas and workings behind corporate social responsibility! This intimate session encourages sharing, active discussion and peer learning. If you know nothing about CSR, this will be a splendid introduction for you. 5pm, Committee Room 2 (Yusof Ishak House). Free.

6 Nov: People, Planet and Profits

 Join the CSR Student Movement for an informal dialogue on the ideas and workings behind corporate social responsibility! This intimate session encourages sharing, active discussion and peer learning. If you know nothing about CSR, this will be a splendid introduction for you. 5pm, CR 3-4, Bukit Timah Campus. Free.