Saving the World at Work

Corporate social responsibility is becoming a very important part of the business. An organization can easily gain lots of media attention by contributing towards the welfare of the society which was not possible even through advertisements also. Thus corporate social responsibility has become an important part of Branding strategies for an organization. Moreover investors also are not only interested in high stock prices or in maximizing profits; they also want to know the means by which profits are maximized. Thus it is a requirement of an organization to work in accordance with the benefit of the environment. Any steps taken by an organization which is against environment can degrade it within seconds. It is all because the kind of technology we are using. It takes only seconds for information to spread within employees of an organization and outside people through blogs etc. Any steps taken by an organization for the benefit of environment attract customers too. For example customers look for ecofriendly car before buying. Thus no doubt technology and awareness of people has made organizations more accountable. So it is necessity of a company to take part in responsibility revolution as they can’t survive without it.
Rakesh Kumar Mishra
IMDR, Pune, India

Hello
Scenario has changed, no longer any body want to work for an individual every body wants to work for the development and support of an organization. For the sake of self satisfaction and satisfaction at work people do try innovative ideas and unlike earlier situation even front line employees are empowered to implement ideas to some extent. This article is talking about Responsibility Revolutions which in sense indicating towards changing attitude of corporate world, how new era CEOs has changed the thinking line of business from only profit making to some social responsibility. This changing thought has given a name in corporate world “Corporate Social Responsibility” and it is all about companies identifying risks and carrying out their business in a manner that produces a positive impact on society, the environment and their business. See what this exactly mean that one can not sustain in current market without holding some social responsibility and any ways for the survival of the business one need to generate profit so both should go simultaneously.
Increasing numbers of tools and technology has created much transparency, author is talking about, and it’s true now days one can not build its image out of published matter or whatever is served to the public, almost every did of a company is accessible through net and all related news can pass out through email within seconds. So companies are more accountable as per consumer, employees or stake holder’s demand.
Author is talking about consumer are no longer casual they are demanding more in terms of showing there social responsibility as given example of eco friendly car, but in my view this might be the condition of developed country where people are going for second or third car or might be in our country also but number of consumers will be very less. See once one has fulfilled his/her basic needs not in physical sense, at mental level (people having very less monetary security can also think for social responsibility and in contrast economically sound person also can not think off) than only he/she can think of losing some monetary gain for some social responsibility.
Article is taking about how companies can be greener, here what I conclude from the term green all the way is holding social responsibility, as talked in article company can be greener by donating some fund to government or NGOs, by fixing broken communities, company can be greener by using eco friendly power options, company can be greener by empowering the employee.
Hari Priya
IMDR, Pune, India

In the interview with Tim Sanders, we came to know more about corporate social responsibility and sustainability and reponsibility revolution.
Companies do fulfill some societal needs so as to give some positive impacts on the customer,so trust will be build upon the consumers' mind, which ultimately leads to profitability and sustainability of the company.
If every employee contributes something to the company it will make a big difference in total.
Now-a-days top level management welcome the ideas from each and every employee for the betterment of the organisation.Some of the companies have forum to express their ideas in front of top level management.So reverse mentoring is beneficial for the organisation.
Really technology made companies more accountable.customers know more about companies just a single click on internet. Also companies take feedback from the customer instantly about their product and services, which makes two way communication easier.companies help NGO's, aid finncially to poor merit students. I had seen most of the companies helped a lot during aftermath of super cyclone in Orissa on 1999. People had came to know more about the compny and also positive mindset built mong them.
I do not think the end of casual customer absolutely.We know use of polythene is harmful to the environment, however customers demand it at the retailer.Another example is that after Sunita Narain,chairman of CSE found that there is more pesticide percentage in soft drinks almost all the soft drink products, there had no such major impact on sales of these. In so many situation customer is not worried about more. Car buyers still ask about price and mileage and also maintenance. They ask questions like whether it fulfills euro-2 or euro-3 norms, because of government norms and regulations.In the same way shareholders invest those companies which kept aside some funds for the society,because these companies are more trustworthy and profitable to invest.
How do companies become more green? compnies should reduce wastage of energy, and produce non-conventionl sources.IT companies building is tightly closed with glass. So they use power throughout the day.It also leads to global warming.Industries from developed countries like America and Australia are not ready to accept Kyoto protocol norms.So these industries contribute to pollution.Not each and every compnies follow quality or environmental norms always.
If they would do, then that would be better for the society and environment.Otherwise we should air our voice against non-conformance to these standards.

Hello
Scenario has changed, no longer any body want to work for an individual every body wants to work for the development and support of an organization. For the sake of self satisfaction and satisfaction at work people do try innovative ideas and unlike earlier situation even front line employees are empowered to implement ideas to some extent. This article is talking about Responsibility Revolutions which in sense indicating towards changing attitude of corporate world, how new era CEOs has changed the thinking line of business from only profit making to some social responsibility. This changing thought has given a name in corporate world “Corporate Social Responsibility” and it is all about companies identifying risks and carrying out their business in a manner that produces a positive impact on society, the environment and their business. See what this exactly mean that one can not sustain in current market without holding some social responsibility and any ways for the survival of the business one need to generate profit so both should go simultaneously.
Increasing numbers of tools and technology has created much transparency, author is talking about, and it’s true now days one can not build its image out of published matter or whatever is served to the public, almost every did of a company is accessible through net and all related news can pass out through email within seconds. So companies are more accountable as per consumer, employees or stake holder’s demand.
Author is talking about consumer are no longer casual they are demanding more in terms of showing there social responsibility as given example of eco friendly car, but in my view this might be the condition of developed country where people are going for second or third car or might be in our country also but number of consumers will be very less. See once one has fulfilled his/her basic needs not in physical sense, at mental level (people having very less monetary security can also think for social responsibility and in contrast economically sound person also can not think off) than only he/she can think of losing some monetary gain for some social responsibility.
Article is taking about how companies can be greener, here what I conclude from the term green all the way is holding social responsibility, as talked in article company can be greener by donating some fund to government or NGOs, by fixing broken communities, company can be greener by using eco friendly power options, company can be greener by empowering the employee.
Hari Priya
IMDR, Pune, India

What i think is the summary of this article is the revolution in the attitude of companies towards the corporate social responsibility. Many of us say that CSR is also being followed by many Indian companies. What I think about Corporate Social Responsibility is operating a business that meets or exceeds the ethical, legal, commercial and public expectations that society has of business.
What i think is that now a days many companies use it as a tool for brand building and while doing this the decibel level is higher than the actual impact of the work done. I want to say that there is nothing wrong in brand building but it has to be commensurate with the impact created. If we take the examples of companies like Reliance , Wipro, Tata, SAIL, GAIL etc, they are very much known for their CSR work but actually the work done by them is very less as compare to hype they create.
Take example of TATA, We know that TATAs are known for their CSR Some 66 percent of the profits of its investment arm, Tata Sons, go to charity. They still pays full health and education expenses for all employees, and runs the schools and a 1,000-bed hospital in Jamshedpur.
If we take the example of NANO the much talked about car in recent past. WE have taken as a CSR and consider it as a car for ommon man. But what TATAs did actually is they have just remove features, make a flat car with no curves, RTV style, put an iron rod for the gearshift, install a lawn mower engine and sell that as India’s cheapest car. Individuals, not corporates- do charity. if i find scope of expansion and innovation on MARS, so help me i will leave the planet for the bigger and better deal! who are we kidding here, lets admit that we belong to the shrewd and narcissistic species called MAN.
I think its good marketing and nothing more. Recently, Tata Motors announced plans to build a new factory in West Bengal. The factory is to be built on farmland. The company purchased farmland from farmers for an agreed upon amount. The poor, and mostly uneducated, farmers now believe they were cheated in the transaction (i.e., not given a fair price for their land) and rightly want more compensation. The company responded by saying the price paid was fair and the government responded by beating up the protesting farmers.
I do not understand the mentality of the government and companies like Tata Motors. They don't mind paying a huge premium when purchasing foreign owned companies. However, when dealing with its own poor and therefore, most vulnerable people, they don't have any problems cheating them out of what they deserve. After all, business is business, right?
A few months ago, Tata Steel - controlled by the same Tata family who control Tata Motors - purchased Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus for 6.2 billion Euros or 12.2 billion Dollars. The final price paid represented a premium of 64 percent to Corus's pre-bid share price! The deal made Tata Steel the world's fifth largest steelmaker. The company had to take on a huge debt load for the purchase and most analysts concluded the deal was expensive.
This is a very typical and sad example of robbing from the poor to pay the rich. Tata Motors would not have to pay, what would have amounted to a few thousand dollars more, to fairly compensate the farmers for their land (forget about premium!).
Also if you observe the condition of workers in Tata steel plant in Bangladesh, you will find that the wages given by the company is not commensurate to the work done by the workers.
On the other habd if you take the example of Investment Baron Mr. Warren Buffet, he has donated 80% of his wealth to Bill and Melinda Gates foundation which we haven’t seen anywhere.
Thus I would like to say that its individuals, not corporates-who do charity, because corporate don’t be ethical because they have started their business to earn the profit and they use CSR as a brand building tool.
Regards,
JAI BHAGCHANDANI
IMDR,PUNE, India

My understanding from the given article is that, during the epoch of industrial revolution almost every company tried to cash in the profits by any means they could which has resulted in many environmental and social problems. The time has come for organisations to accept the responsibility and help the world to get better. Performing such activities will not be futile as living standards of people will enhance it will also increase their purchasing power, which is ultimately going to add in the organisations pockets. This can be explained with number of middle class people in the country who are biggest buyer class. But the problem here is that, there is not any assurance for organisations which are contributing to the society will get the benefits in the same proportion for their contribution.
I would also like to mention about the innovation, which has been spoke about in the article. ‘Invention’ is a break through product which is unique in its attribute, while ‘innovation’ is change in the product or its better version or modified product. In today’s world there is little scope for invention as some major inventions like refrigerator, TV and oven are already done. So these days what so called ‘intelligent’ engineers do is innovation like LCD TV, plasma and so on. The best they can do is convergence {e.g. mobile is a convergence of pager and telephone} or divergence {e.g. divergence of wrist watch- inexpensive (Timex), expensive (Rolex), sports (TAG Heuer), fashion (Swatch)} of the two already existing products. But these things are not unique as competitors can easily copy it. What cannot be copied is the goodwill of the organisation in the consumers mind. And this goodwill can be earned by accepting the responsibility on the shoulders.

VAIBHAV B. PATWARDHAN
ROLL NO. 49
PGDM II
IMDR, PUNE,
MAHARASHTRA,
INDIA.

What are the strengths of an Individual? How can he/she affect the whole organisation? These are some general questions which generates in a person’s mind. According to Sanders every individual can positively contribute to the organisation. No matter that he is from upper level or from lower level. Organisation should respect his ideas. If organisation will respect his ideas then he will feel very good internally and motivated to give more suggestions. There are some suggestions which really affect the organisation and help the organisation to sustain more in this market. So organisation should respect its employee’s suggestions.
Every individual has some values. If his values are matches with the company’s values then he will continue his work otherwise in this time there are many companies and employees have many options they can change their jobs and join different organisation where their values are as same as company’s values.
Gone are the days when a company has only one purpose “to earn profit” and customers ask general questions. Now a company has to think beyond the profit. If companies want to survive they have to think about the helping of communities, they have to organise corporate social responsibility projects. These kinds of projects create a major impact on customer’s mind than mere an advertisement. This is also known “Responsibility Revolution”.
Customer’s questions are also related to Responsibility revolution. When they buy a product they ask that how this product affects the whole society and him? Does this product come under his budget? They search about the product, (from internet, from friends etc.) that what are the features how it is beneficial and then they compare that product with another company’s product.
So I agree with the sanders’ point that Responsibility Revolution is related to end of casual customers.

Regards,
Sujeet Kumar Shah
IMDR,Pune,India

A new concepts the responsibility revolution and social responsibility which companies now a days cannot ignore is being discussed because customers preference are changing and which in turns changes the buying behavior of the customers. Customers are becoming more aware of the social liabilities they have to fulfill. They are thinking about the environment and they are thinking for the society also which makes the companies to think beyond the level of profits only.With the concept of CSR(COrporate social responsibility) getting more relevant and focused, we realize that the companies operating in both global and domestic markets are increasingly required to incorporate the social, economic and environmental concerns into their business while building shareholders examples there are few indian companies like M&M and Tata's are working on this.It can also be seen that these days the CEO’s are more receptive towards the innovations given by the C level employees. The ideas coming from the low level of employees are acknowledged. Companies are becoming more accountable because of the technologies where space is provided for the people to discuss about the companies, where they can share their personal views and this is a new way of developing the word of mouth whether positive or negative depending on the employees’ perception about the company. Going green is new concept for the companies and few examples are discussed like of Google. The companies are trying to use less power for going green, which is another way of showing corporate responsibility. The going green is using the natural gas and reduce the toxic emission.
There is lot being said about melting of the polar ice but no stern steps is being taken, but since now the corporates are taking some responsibility and helping the world to come out of it, might be this is the new begning of CSR.

Shikhar Narang
IMDR PUNE
INDIA

My understanding from the given article is that, during the epoch of industrial revolution almost every company tried to cash in the profits by any means they could which has resulted in many environmental and social problems. The time has come for organisations to accept the responsibility and help the world to get better. Performing such activities will not be futile as living standards of people will enhance it will also increase their purchasing power, which is ultimately going to add in the organisations pockets. This can be explained with number of middle class people in the country who are biggest buyer class. But the problem here is that, there is not any assurance for organisations which are contributing to the society will get the benefits in the same proportion for their contribution.
I would also like to mention about the innovation, which has been spoke about in the article. ‘Invention’ is a break through product which is unique in its attribute, while ‘innovation’ is change in the product or its better version or modified product. In today’s world there is little scope for invention as some major inventions like refrigerator, TV and oven are already done. So these days what so called ‘intelligent’ engineers do is innovation like LCD TV, plasma and so on. The best they can do is convergence {e.g. mobile is a convergence of pager and telephone} or divergence {e.g. divergence of wrist watch- inexpensive (Timex), expensive (Rolex), sports (TAG Heuer), fashion (Swatch)} of the two already existing products. But these things are not unique as competitors can easily copy it. What cannot be copied is the goodwill of the organisation in the consumers mind. And this goodwill can be earned by accepting the responsibility on the shoulders.

VAIBHAV B. PATWARDHAN
ROLL NO. 49
PGDM II
IMDR, PUNE,
MAHARASHTRA,
INDIA.

Tim sanders idea on carbon trust is a thoughtful idea. However, I find it relevance not affecting consumers a lot. Consumers will probably have no time to look at all those detailed information and compare it with other products after some years as they grow up as a hard worker corporate. This is a proof as seen in now a day’s paradigm and also from Tim sanders own example of Phone Company World where he was working at a managerial level. If you compare files piled up at the desk of your colleague few years ago and now, you will understand that now job not only demands expertise in your field but also multi task handler. Private life of people are definitely getting affected by this however, they are so aligned with their daily routine and know that something is going wrong with them but they are afraid to change. I agree with the idea that making difference is the new difference but we also have to understand in which field we are talking about this. Those difference which have had made some difference with profits are hyped and others with losses are dumped without any one acknowledgment. CEO’s are taking up role of politician as when they have to please Board members and their managers, they showcase some corporate and social responsibility with small cost and lot of advertisings however, as the intensity lowers down, they blindly put it at backburner. I buy this idea that lower rank people and junior managers are really concerned about corporate social responsibility as they have free time to think about this but as they move up at the ladder above all, they nearly dismisses what they used to think about before as seen by me. It catches at Top level when people again have free time to think about this. Those who take up this issues showcases in huge manner for a period of short span and rest for long years until someone else evokes it again. About openness to idea, I see mostly in flat organization structure like Media agencies and those companies where radical changes take place fast as per requirements of clients or consumers like FMCG companies. I do agree with this idea that it has taken place now as never before. But are those organizations really risking it in huge investments project ideas or is it just a new recipe from kitchen for the customers that we are talking about. Taking ideas happily is good thing but implementing with huge investments really requires lot of guts and in-depth research with lots of support which still I don’t see in organizations and probability to see it future is also lesser. Facebook and other community blogs are just another place for those people who want to sulk away their emotions and depressions by expressing it at that place and it just end there. I agree that some guys in those organizations will bring those greenery changes and I am waiting to see them till now and hope to see it in future as I am also just as concerned as Tim Sanders is as I fall in those category of people who just watch and get concerned but consider themselves that they can’t do more than that until innovators bring some radical changes in today’s world. I am really waiting for some contrasting examples if anyone really has on my ideas.
Sanjeev Chaudhary
I.M.D.R. Pune, India

The author has applied humanistic approach towards the cooperate environment. This undoubtedly is the key towards growth and satisfaction. The new era needs both contentment and achievement the idea of sustainability and social responsibility provides a fertile bed for innovations and experiences to grow together. Such a transparency is the need of an hour this would not only provide motivation to the young blood but also will cater the needs of those working to achieve contentment as in self growth and reaching to the goal of work satisfaction.
The writer is aiming at the universal growth of the company and the corporate through providing growth space and genuine freedom to the employees. It aims at providing a ground for growth in the sense of sense and all to everybody.
All this might sound to idealistic but the inevitable stress on the cooperate needs to be taken as the positive anxiety factor which would motivate the person for learning, experiencing, achieving with all, thus reaching to contentment.

Such a work factor enables each person to realize the best in self and to put in that best to the universal growth of the company thus the corporate and hence the world. This is quite close to the theory self actualization by the famous psychologist A.Maslow; his theory for reaching and achieving said that it is only that a person realizes that his needs are being fulfilled he consciously and well as unconsciously starts contributing to the growth of the bigger of which he is a part. The article has brought about same technique of social responsibility of the corporate and the sustainability, which are directly in accord to the healthy environment creation for an individual.
Regards
Sanam Bhatia
IMDR, Pune, India

This entire article talks about greener world. And the corporate world has this responsibility. What about us, by our day to day activities we make pollution. Companies that are for decades and running with profit should think about social responsibility. But what about those companies which are in initial phase or suffering from loss or just meeting break even point. Could this company think about social responsibility? As for company the primary objective is to earn profit and also for its survival. Then will come the social responsibility. So could this company think about social responsibility?
On my opinion large company with profit should think about profit as well as social responsibility, for their future existence.

With Regards
Rajesh Bhomrajka
IMDR, Pune, India.

Tim sanders idea on carbon trust is a thoughtful idea. However, I find it relevance not affecting consumers a lot. Consumers will probably have no time to look at all those detailed information and compare it with other products after some years as they grow up as a hard worker corporate. This is a proof as seen in now a day’s paradigm and also from Tim sanders own example of Phone Company World where he was working at a managerial level. If you compare files piled up at the desk of your colleague few years ago and now, you will understand that now job not only demands expertise in your field but also multi task handler. Private life of people are definitely getting affected by this however, they are so aligned with their daily routine and know that something is going wrong with them but they are afraid to change. I agree with the idea that making difference is the new difference but we also have to understand in which field we are talking about this. Those difference which have had made some difference with profits are hyped and others with losses are dumped without any one acknowledgment. CEO’s are taking up role of politician as when they have to please Board members and their managers, they showcase some corporate and social responsibility with small cost and lot of advertisings however, as the intensity lowers down, they blindly put it at backburner. I buy this idea that lower rank people and junior managers are really concerned about corporate social responsibility as they have free time to think about this but as they move up at the ladder above all, they nearly dismisses what they used to think about before as seen by me. It catches at Top level when people again have free time to think about this. Those who take up this issues showcases in huge manner for a period of short span and rest for long years until someone else evokes it again. About openness to idea, I see mostly in flat organization structure like Media agencies and those companies where radical changes take place fast as per requirements of clients or consumers like FMCG companies. I do agree with this idea that it has taken place now as never before. But are those organizations really risking it in huge investments project ideas or is it just a new recipe from kitchen for the customers that we are talking about. Taking ideas happily is good thing but implementing with huge investments really requires lot of guts and in-depth research with lots of support which still I don’t see in organizations and probability to see it future is also lesser. Facebook and other community blogs are just another place for those people who want to sulk away their emotions and depressions by expressing it at that place and it just end there. I agree that some guys in those organizations will bring those greenery changes and I am waiting to see them till now and hope to see it in future as I am also just as concerned as Tim Sanders is as I fall in those category of people who just watch and get concerned but consider themselves that they can’t do more than that until innovators bring some radical changes in today’s world. I am really waiting for some contrasting examples if anyone really has on my ideas.
Sanjeev Chaudhary
I.M.D.R. Pune, India

Tim sanders idea on carbon trust is a thoughtful idea. However, I find it relevance not affecting consumers a lot. Consumers will probably have no time to look at all those detailed information and compare it with other products after some years as they grow up as a hard worker corporate. This is a proof as seen in now a day’s paradigm and also from Tim sanders own example of Phone Company World where he was working at a managerial level. If you compare files piled up at the desk of your colleague few years ago and now, you will understand that now job not only demands expertise in your field but also multi task handler. Private life of people are definitely getting affected by this however, they are so aligned with their daily routine and know that something is going wrong with them but they are afraid to change. I agree with the idea that making difference is the new difference but we also have to understand in which field we are talking about this. Those difference which have had made some difference with profits are hyped and others with losses are dumped without any one acknowledgment. CEO’s are taking up role of politician as when they have to please Board members and their managers, they showcase some corporate and social responsibility with small cost and lot of advertisings however, as the intensity lowers down, they blindly put it at backburner. I buy this idea that lower rank people and junior managers are really concerned about corporate social responsibility as they have free time to think about this but as they move up at the ladder above all, they nearly dismisses what they used to think about before as seen by me. It catches at Top level when people again have free time to think about this. Those who take up this issues showcases in huge manner for a period of short span and rest for long years until someone else evokes it again. About openness to idea, I see mostly in flat organization structure like Media agencies and those companies where radical changes take place fast as per requirements of clients or consumers like FMCG companies. I do agree with this idea that it has taken place now as never before. But are those organizations really risking it in huge investments project ideas or is it just a new recipe from kitchen for the customers that we are talking about. Taking ideas happily is good thing but implementing with huge investments really requires lot of guts and in-depth research with lots of support which still I don’t see in organizations and probability to see it future is also lesser. Facebook and other community blogs are just another place for those people who want to sulk away their emotions and depressions by expressing it at that place and it just end there. I agree that some guys in those organizations will bring those greenery changes and I am waiting to see them till now and hope to see it in future as I am also just as concerned as Tim Sanders is as I fall in those category of people who just watch and get concerned but consider themselves that they can’t do more than that until innovators bring some radical changes in today’s world. I am really waiting for some contrasting examples if anyone really has on my ideas.
Sanjeev Chaudhary
I.M.D.R. Pune, India

In the interview with Tim Sanders, we came to know more about corporate social responsibility and sustainability and reponsibility revolution.
Companies do fulfil some societal needs so as to give some positive impacts on the customer,so trust will be build upon the consumers' mind, which ultimately leads to profitability and sustainability of the company.
If every employee contributes something to the company it will make a big difference in total.
Now-a-days top level management welcome the ideas from each and every employee for the betterment of the organisation.Some of the companies have forum to express their ideas in front of top level management.So reverse mentoring is beneficial for the organisation.
Really technology made companies more accountable.customers know more about companies just a single click on internet. Also companies take feedback from the customer instantly about their product and services, which makes two way communication easier.companies help NGO's, aid finncially to poor merit students. I had seen most of the companies helped a lot aftermath of super cyclone in Orissa on 1999. People had came to know more about the compny and also positive mindset built mong them.
I do not think the end of casual customer absolutely.We know use of polythene is harmful to the environment, however customers demand it at the retailer.Another example is that after Sunita Narain,chairman of CSE found that there is more pesticide percentage in soft drinks almost all the soft drink products, there had no such major impact on sales of these. In so many situation customer is not worried about more. Car buyers still ask about price and mileage and also maintenance. They ask questions like whether it fulfills euro-2 or euro-3 norms, because of government norms and regulations.In the same way shareholders invest those companies which kept aside some funds for the society,because these companies are more trustworthy and profitable to invest.
How do companies become more green? compnies should reduce wastage of energy, and produce non-conventionl sources.IT companies building is tightly closed with glass. So they use power throughout the day.It also leads to global warming.Industries from developed countries like America and Australia are not ready to accept Kyoto protocol norms.So these industries contribute to pollution.Not each and every compnies follow quality or environmental norms always.
If they would do, then that would be better for the society and environment.Otherwise we should air our voice against non-conformance to these standards.

Thanks and regards
Soumya Ranjan Lenka
IMDR,Pune,India

As a traditional proverb says ‘once the last tree is cut and the last river poisoned, you will find you cannot eat your money’. Environmental ethics in business has truly acquired a new dimension in this age. Employees and consumers are becoming more aware to do good to the environment, and to the greater community. What is interesting to note is that in an era where most people feel that the ethics have died, people are themselves rising together to restore ethical values within themselves. I strongly feel that if you want to change the world, you have to change yourself first. Rather than throwing responsibility on others, take up responsibility. This also seems to be the success mantra for the so called ‘responsibility revolution’. Each individual is accountable for his responsibility. With the rise of this sense of responsibility, people are looking beyond profits. This ethical value is spreading among the society. Companies have extensive plans to ‘go green’ as decades old ‘working for profits’ theory has moved to obsolescence. Besides environmental ethics in business, concepts such as sustainable development that revolves around development that meets the need of the present without compromising the abilities of the future generation to meet their own needs has also evolved in a big way. Consumers are no longer casual; instead they have given birth to ‘ethical consumerism’. Companies have realized this and so they are trying to woo consumers by shifting their focus to community development. Further a major shift in corporate attitude has been noticed as new ideas that crop up from subordinates are given due importance by top level management and on a whole the workplace is fast becoming a stress free zone. On a whole, Tim Sanders approach towards ethical business is nothing but a breath of fresh air.

Subhabrata Das
IMDR, Pune, India

My learning from this article is innovations in the organisations are coming from a fresher and a person who is not used to organizational rigid structure, that is because the person can be open minded and think more. Changes in the technology have empowered people to find out more about companies and tell more about companies. Evolution of print media, internet all these changes are making the world more and more transparent. Merely advertising of the product or the company will not help in pursuing people, it’s a time for corporate social responsibility, which can help to change the perception about the company. Employees of some organisations contribute their time and effort in controlling traffic on roads and educating people about traffic rules. Products are being sold as eco friendly like- cars, scooters etc. not only because it saves money but it saves environment also. And people like putting their effort in good work.

VIPUL V. PATHAK,
ROLL NO. 47
PGDM II
IMDR, PUNE.

The author has applied humanistic approach towards the cooperate environment. This undoubtedly is the key towards growth and satisfaction. The new era needs both contentment and achievement the idea of sustainability and social responsibility provides a fertile bed for innovations and experiences to grow together. Such a transparency is the need of an hour this would not only provide motivation to the young blood but also will cater the needs of those working to achieve contentment as in self growth and reaching to the goal of work satisfaction.
The writer is aiming at the universal growth of the company and the corporate through providing growth space and genuine freedom to the employees. It aims at providing a ground for growth in the sense of sense and all to everybody.
All this might sound to idealistic but the inevitable stress on the cooperate needs to be taken as the positive anxiety factor which would motivate the person for learning, experiencing, achieving with all, thus reaching to contentment.

Such a work factor enables each person to realize the best in self and to put in that best to the universal growth of the company thus the corporate and hence the world. This is quite close to the theory self actualization by the famous psychologist A.Maslow; his theory for reaching and achieving said that it is only that a person realizes that his needs are being fulfilled he consciously and well as unconsciously starts contributing to the growth of the bigger of which he is a part. The article has brought about same technique of social responsibility of the corporate and the sustainability, which are directly in accord to the healthy environment creation for an individual.
Regards
Sanam Bhatia
IMDR, Pune, India

As a traditional proverb says ‘once the last tree is cut and the last river poisoned, you will find you cannot eat your money’. Environmental ethics in business has truly acquired a new dimension in this age. Employees and consumers are becoming more aware to do good to the environment, and to the greater community. What is interesting to note is that in an era where most people feel that the ethics have died, people are themselves rising together to restore ethical values within themselves. I strongly feel that if you want to change the world, you have to change yourself first. Rather than throwing responsibility on others, take up responsibility. This also seems to be the success mantra for the so called ‘responsibility revolution’. Each individual is accountable for his responsibility. With the rise of this sense of responsibility, people are looking beyond profits. This ethical value is spreading among the society. Companies have extensive plans to ‘go green’ as decades old ‘working for profits’ theory has moved to obsolescence. Besides environmental ethics in business, concepts such as sustainable development that revolves around development that meets the need of the present without compromising the abilities of the future generation to meet their own needs has also evolved in a big way. Consumers are no longer casual; instead they have given birth to ‘ethical consumerism’. Companies have realized this and so they are trying to woo consumers by shifting their focus to community development. Further a major shift in corporate attitude has been noticed as new ideas that crop up from subordinates are given due importance by top level management and on a whole the workplace is fast becoming a stress free zone. On a whole, Tim Sanders approach towards ethical business is nothing but a breath of fresh air.

Subhabrata Das
IMDR, Pune, India

Business was always supposed to make profits but what practices you use and how much social responsibility you take are things which have gained importance recently. Organizations ultimately consists of people and this new approach towards doing business is the effect of people looking at things differently and with a broader perspective, be it the employees or the customer.
I personally feel that employee empowerment, open communication, and transparency in business practices are the result of the change that is taking place. Companies are encouraging its employees to take decisions and giving them space to work. During my summer internship I have witnessed the Regional Sales Manager acknowledging the fact that at times your funnel report may not reflect the amount of effort one has taken but that doesn’t mean you do things which are said to unethical to bring in business. For an employee and an outsider I feel this showcases the companies approach and attitude towards doing business.
CSR though I feel can begin in response to a crisis or adverse publicity that a company may suffer, though a sense of ethics should be the cause of it. Like Tata Motors has decided to start technical institutes to enhance the technical skills of the local youth in Singur, the site of the small car project. Thus the motive for launching CSR can vary between charity or notions of corporate citizenship. In India there are issues related to poverty, unemployment, inequality which has forced companies to take action. Larger the company more should be its effort in this regard as it is easier for them to do so.
From the perspective of the customer, CSR initiatives can relate to issues of product quality as well as discussed in the article. For example, Sony recently recalled, on a global basis, batteries it used in Dell computers. The Indian Supreme Court has declared that it would be better to lose 1000’s of jobs in order to protect the health of millions through cleaner air and a better environment. It’s a time when both the companies and the individuals should understand their roles and responsibilities and act accordingly.

Sutirtho Ghosh,
IMDR,Pune,India

I have written whatever I have felt; I may not have covered all the points in the article.
People will get a government as the people will be, similarly society will get corporations as the society and the people dwelling in it will be. What I mean to say here is that the philosophy and so called values and principles of a corporation will reflect the philosophy and values of the people dwelling in the society. What is a corporation? It is collection of the people. So what is csr? It isn’t corporate social responsibility only it is the responsibility of the people in the society also. There are many people who show that care a lot for the planet, pretend to do many things for it and some say a lot of things about it. But the question to be asked here is that do we really care mother earth? The answer is an obvious no. most of the people are concerned with their gains. There are some exceptions to the above statement like Al Gore, Mother Terresa etc. Similarly like humans corporations are just concerned with its gain. No corporation does anything for free. If it is csr as people say so, then it is done for the corporation’s publicity. People will buy its product thinking that the corporation is working for a cause or some may even join it for the same reason. Well to give you an example lets start with the so called future managers of my class. Just like most of the idiots do; people have mentioned a lot many things here about saving the recourses of earth and using alternate energy recourses etc. But like most of the people on earth, these people are experts in wasting the existing recourses like paper, electricity, food etc. people talk many things about saving the recourses but in fact theses people themselves are the main cause of wastage of recourses. Whether it is one person or the whole corporation they will never be satisfied with the recourses they have. I mean even if in future we harness energy from other sources it is still going to fall short because the more humans will have the more they will waste. Now to give an example of a corporation here is a letter written to rattan tata to prevent him to commit a cruel act
Hi Dilip Patil.... 9960686384/9923662847,
>
> I've just written to Ratan Tata asking him to not to go ahead with building
> a port in Dhamra, Orissa, dangerously close to one of the world's largest
> sea turtle nesting grounds for the Olive Ridley Sea Turtle. I think its a
> good idea for Mr. Tata to move the port to another location rather than
> endanger the turtles.
> By living up to the Tatas' environmental legacy, Ratan won't just save the
> highly-endangered Olive Ridley Turtles, he will also end up making Tata a
> better company.
> The only problem is that I can't bring about that change alone. I need help
> from lots of people, especially you.
> Please do what I've done. Write directly to Ratan by clicking here
anyone wants the link can ask me for it.
This was just one example that manifests that what the corporations actually look like from outside are not really the same from inside. Well if we talk of the harm done to the human beings I can give u n no. of cases where in the lands of the farmers have been acquired by large corporations without their free consent. I can give u billions of examples which will show you how many corporations have spoilt the- lives of many people, habitats of the innocent flora and fauna; just to fulfill their selfish intentions. If corporations are socially responsible then why do they harm the earth and its inhabitants? And for promotional effects they say they do csr.

Well here I would like to go back to the second line of this comment – social responsibility is the duty of every person on earth and not corporations alone. We will have to stand up against all the social and environmental evil. It is only when every one of us stands up and says no to non-environmental friendly products; the planet can be saved. I know many idiots who say they are animal lovers but still continue to use products made of animal killing and abuse. We all know how leather is made and for your information fur is made of cat and dog skin. If someone says he/she is animal lover then why do u use such things? I have got enough evidence to whatever I have said and if anyone wants to see the clips and pics of cruel Chinese fur industry, can ask me. As I said we have to change ourselves first and then can we change the mindset of the corporations and save the world. How often do we waste food in free parties and events, even after knowing that more than 33% of India doesn’t get the basic amt of food to eat. I may have got a bit deviated a bit but what I want to say is that csr won’t gain its true purpose without the change in the attitude of every human being. I know people have got awakened on the issue of save the planet, but unless mass awakening doesn’t occur it would be difficult to save the planet. The day every human starts taking the responsibility of his/her action and thinks twice that what effect will his actions have on the society and the planet as a whole; we would be able save our planet or else we only have a few decades to go…………….

Jitesh Jotwani iMDR

Hi,
The given article describes about going off the traditional track and making a difference for the entire human as well as corporate society which will enable the sustainability & feasibility to live and let live. This directly hints towards the Corporate Social Responsibility. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a growing concept now-a-days done by renowned companies. I think CSR is the private sector's way of integrating the economic, social, and environmental imperatives of their activities. Well, it can play an important role in serving the society if done properly by the companies. A part of the company profit is devoted for employee families education, for planting trees to offset pollution, labour welfare, supporting nearby hospital, school, donating through own Charitable Trust, minimizing garbage creation etc. For example, Zensar Foundation’s Tsunami relief operation is an outstanding story of success of solidarity & support. Tata still pays full expenses of education & health services for all employees & also runs a 1,000 bed hospital for the poors in Jamshedpur.
It is true that today people want to work where their values match with the organization’s values. Commonness increases loyalty & belongingness which in turn gives a larger scope of innovations & creativity. I do agree that technology has increased the transparency & accountability of the company. E-mails & internet/intranet are mostly used tools which circulate the information in no time; it also keeps a check so there is little space for a menace & other way round is also saves use of paper which saves cutting of trees.
Now there is more openness in the companies as the newly come employee can also put his idea forward. New ideas are motivated & also rewarded in some way. I agree that this generation is more powerful at doing work that reduces the differentiation of A & C class officers at thinking level. Regarding casual customers, I partly in consent that there is end of casual customers. Awareness has increased regarding social responsibility at personal level also but a lot more is needed to deal with the tempering issues.
Some of the environmental current issues which need attention are global warming, deforestation, depletion of conventional resources like coal & petroleum. In this cases, CSR can do wonder! Global warming can be checked by less use of CFC’s. Alternatives of conventional resources like solar energy, wind energy, water energy, tidal energy etc should be encouraged .It can solve many of the prevalent problems. The corporate of today have the kind of money required to build the infrastructure needed for solving energy crisis & many of the basic problems we are facing today. Hence they should take up this initiative.
Lastly I would like to conclude by saying that we need to shift our focus on saving energy wherever possible from only making profits. How we can afford the profit at the stake of destruction of our own environment? I m not saying that only CSR will help, action at each individual/personal level is needed.
Preeti Nath
IMDR, Pune, India

Corporate Social Responsibility is a trend which is gaining popularity in the recent times. Employees of every company are becoming very particular about their social responsibiltiy apart from their regular day to day job routine.

The reason being that the world is getting united towards environmental hazards and other natural phenomena like greenhouse efeect etc. and every person is realizing his/her responsibility towards the environment as well as the society.
But I have a different point to make regarding the social responsibilty actually being implemented by the various employees. Though its good to say that such acts should be performed regularly by the people but what we forget is that in this particular article, the sample size taken is that of the Fortune 500
Companies. This is too small a sample size to generalize these acts and ensure that each and every person will get involved in it. We have to think about the millions of small scale companies which are not capable of performing acts of social responsibilty as well as sustaining in front of their counterparts, which are all big multinational firms.

Technology has made a huge impact in analysing the overall functioning as well as performance of an organization and its people. Its not just the employees who are feeling the heat of social responsibility but also the consumers who are realising that it is their duty also to make sure that their acts, the things they purchase fall within the norms which have been set up by the Govt.

I would like to conclude saying that companies are becoming more and more particular about how their processes are functioning and utmost care is being taken to see to it that they are causing the minimum harm to the environment and the surroundings. This I feel is the least any company should do and must do.

Kumar Saurabh
PGDM, IMDR, Pune

Since the last few years, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained prominence and is gaining increasing attention around the world among business people, media, and academics from a wide range of disciplines. There are probably many reasons for the attention given to this phenomenon, not at least of which is the corporate excesses witnessed in recent years in various parts of the world. There are various examples of this kind of behaviour such as BCCI, Enron, and collapse of Arthur Anderson which have left and unforgettable impression among the people that all is not well within the corporate world and there are problems which need to be addressed. Few of the Indian companies which have taken CSR initiatives are:
ONGC-It has taken steps towards social economic development by identifying projects at plant level by involving administration, local representatives and voluntary organisations. Projects focussed on education, health care, family welfare and community development.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. – Few of the projects undertaken by HUL towards CSR are Project Shakti which focussed on empowering under privileged rural women targeting small villages with population of less than 2000 and Project Yashodham – it focussed on reconstruction of village in Guajrat’s Kutch district.
The self centred approach towards organizational activity has never been universally acceptable and has been unable to satisfactorily provide a basis for human activity. So, there has been a concern for the social responsibility behaviour of organizations which gained prominence. Big businesses have started recognizing the need to adapt to new social climate of CSR but their orientation towards financial results is inhibiting social responsiveness. But now companies are no longer exclusive for share holders and have responsibilities to the society wherein the existed. Thus there is shift towards the greater accountability of companies to society as a whole.

The three basic principles which together comprise CSR activity are:

1) Sustainability – It implies radical changes to business practise and a significant amount of process reengineering. The key dimensions of sustainability are societal influence which means impact that society makes upon corporations, Environmental impact which means effect of the actions of the corporation upon its environment, Organisational culture which means relationship between the corporation and its internal stakeholders, Finance which is the adequate return for the level of risk undertaken.
2) Transparency – Companies should be concerned about what happens further along their supply chain. Companies can no longer say that suppliers or the people attached to the business indirectly are not their responsibility. It is something that has brought largely because of the revelations of the incidents of child labour, slavery and other human right abuses.
3) Accountability – It means reconfiguration of value chain. For example if multinationals in developed countries locate their high valued operations in developing countries. Then the company will be making real contribution towards effective change.

Regards,
Puneet Bhasin
IMDR, Pune, India

Tim Sanders presents a great idea about changing the world culture from work place. His thought of using technology to innovate and bring about change is really good. As such charity begins at home (workplace!).

But I do not fully agree with lot of things written on it. First I do not think most of the companies are working for anything other than profits. Many top level C executives have manipulated so as to increase share of their companies. If at all they do for the environment is due to some compliant requirements. Yes you do find companies boasting about their CSR’s, but those are exceptions rather than rule.

Many companies tell that they have environmental friendly campuses. But they do not tell how much damage their operations and site is doing to the environment.

The opposition to Kyoto Protocol by highly industrialized nations only proves my point further.

On open door policy, we see that people are free to tell anything to top executives. But it is only if it is convenient. If you go and tell your boss that you must invest $1 million equipment to reduce drastically the pollution as released by the company, will it be accepted?

I also disagree with the fact that customers are changing their behavior for environmental reason, though I have seen some of it emerging even in price sensitive markets. Many people just buy equipments that are energy thirsty.

Talking about green organizations, the hardware part is already started to become green by passing laws to use hazardous materials. But the software part , as described by the author still is consuming lot of energy as seen on many sites designed to glue users.

But I do agree that we in our small ways can make companies accountable using various technologies available to us. Technology can help us great to convey our ideas using a platform.
Regards,
Prasad Baliga
IMDR

Hi,
This article basically talks about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CSR is to care for the community & to make a positive contribution to the underprivileged communities by supporting a wide range of socio-economic, educational and health initiatives. I know businesses are meant for profits but if few drops are taken out of a sea then it doesn’t matter. Now-a-days people give respect to those companies who does something for the society or show some efforts in the social welfare ness apart from earning profits as said by Tim Sanders by giving example of Wal-Mart. CSR is done to improve community relations and public image, to enable employees to enjoy new levels of responsibility and leadership skills, to improve employee satisfaction, morale and loyalty etc.
CSR can contribute to the economic development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large. For example, the Zensar Foundation has taken up several initiatives to improve living conditions of the underprivileged and make a positive difference in their lives. The Foundation has adopted Ambedkar Nagar, a small community near the Zensar Campus for sustained community development programs. These one-one contributions can make a huge difference.
I agree that recent generations are more empowered as they can take their own decisions when it comes to scale the frontline employee as well as to promote or motivate the innovations. I can give example of my brother. He works in MWH Global where a newly appointed executive can directly talk to the most senior level executive. This ushers the way to open ness for the new ideas & concepts. This breaks the age coming restrictions & enables to think out of the box.
Technology has shown a way to move forward. Your doings can be seen to all, you can’t fool people what you are doing. It enables to form many social networks (e.g. orkut) which can also contribute to business profit as well as for solving a social problem. It can also helps to keep the company green by using minimal paper as data can be stored in soft copies.
I also agree to the point that employees feel the sense of ownership when they share their ethical values with the company. This decreases the attrition rate & the sustainability increases automatically. This also increases the productivity & allows the employee mind to think beyond profit. Now the line of differentiation between customers & manufacturers is getting blurred. Customers are becoming more & more aware for the social welfare ness but a leap is needed.
At the end, I strongly believe that many of the problems that we are facing today would be solved if we at personal level & companies at corporate level take initiatives whether it is for employee development or solving energy crisis or nurturing pleasant work culture or saving the environment. All working together can create magic!!
Prashant Sinsinwar
IMDR, Pune,India

Hello,
Technology is changing day by day. The media is the fastest of it to change (is what i believe). People are becoming more conscience towards saving this planet.
But in this situation also the corporates are using the same media, technology and the environmental as a means to prove there innocence. The charity, the environmental friendly programs are just done to get the eye of customer. There may be the real reason of preserving the planet in the minds of some of them but not all.
Corporates are always going to remain the propfit makers no matter what and i believe thats the way it should.
It's not just the duty of corporates but if every individuals take it as his personal job then the corporates would not have to take this extra effort, cause saving the planet is not there job but making profits is...

Regards
Dinesh Dwarke
IMDR, Pune, India

The gist of this article is talking about Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. Now a day’s sustainability and corporate responsibility are something which no company can afford to ignore. Even every company look for these, as these are necessary for survival of the Companies. The article is also about employees. He is talking about employees to make a difference to the greater community and also to help his company to survive the responsibility revolution. Anybody can make a real difference in their work career experience because one person at work can unleash the power of many.
The article also talks about Reverse mentoring which I think I use a lot. For example whenever I meet any one I look for his good skills and try to learn from it. Rather than seeing his bad qualities. My father always say this whenever I go in a new place and have to make friend there. He always says that don’t get influenced by their bad qualities, just try to learn their good skills. Every person has good and bad qualities. If we will see his/her bad qualities, we will never be able to make any friendship.
Apart from these he also talks about importance of Technology in today’s world. Now a day’s whenever people want to collect information about any company they directly check through internet. They don’t wait for any one. Changes in technology have empowered people to find out more about companies and tell more about companies. Which shows that there is more transparency in today’s world. Only showing good advertisement can’t attract customers. Customers also expect companies to step up and help governments and NGOs fix broken communities and practice sustainability. They will punish the ones that don't and reward the ones that do. Customers are going to ask difficult questions besides the ones about price and quality. They're starting to ask new questions.
Apart from all these the author also talks about “off the grid." If you tell a good joke or have a bright idea, at a lot companies they say, "Dude that's off the grid!" What it really means is you're an innovative thinker and have very little footprint. This happened with me when I started my GD practice with 10 of my friends. I always had a good point. But I was not able to express it. My mates hear that point and they express it. That’s what I called credit snatching. But that was my fault.

Harish Sharma
IMDR, Pune, India

First, I would like to appreciate the work of Tim Sanders. There was a need to highlight the issue of environment. Environment is a major issue for all the countries of the world. Our society is solely responsible for the degradation of our environment. Now, it is the time to take right measures to prevent our future generation from various consequences.
I am totally agreed with Tim Sanders that employees and customers want to work for and support companies that share ethical values. Sustainability in an organization is very important for its future growth. When there is a “feel good” factor in the organization, employees will sustain more. Like Infosys do many social welfare works and invest money for the cleanliness of environment. So, employees of Infosys feel proud of their organization.
Relationships of employees & employers are getting better now a days. Now, worker of any level of organization can give ideas and their ideas can easily be passing on to the higher level that was not possible in part generations. The most important point he has put forward is that we have stop thinking only about individual benefits and start thinking about the world at large.
Even when the top-management team believes that it is essential to increase coordination between IT and the business, nothing will happen until business managers must answer for IT planning and its results. This is the most difficult— and important—steps to take, and it raises thorny questions. Since technology systems can cut across an enterprise, who should be accountable for what? How will results be assessed and measured? How can business executives be responsible for technology when they don’t control the IT organization that implements it?

The day when companies become the part of this responsibility revolution, this world will be a much better place to live in. this will not only give profits to the company but goodwill also.
Consumers want eco-friendly products now a day. So, they want to buy products from the companies who are concerned for environment.
As the "Green Movement" becomes more and more popular, it is going to get increasingly difficult to determine which companies to trust and which are only concerned about their profits.
I must say that Tim did a great job. So, now there is need to think about all natural resources like petrol, gas, coal, etc. To promote solar equipments, hybrid cars and all eco-friendly products is the best strategy for the new generation companies.

Prayag Khandelwal
IMDR,PUNE
INDIA

Since the last few years, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained prominence and is gaining increasing attention around the world among business people, media, and academics from a wide range of disciplines. There are probably many reasons for the attention given to this phenomenon, not at least of which is the corporate excesses witnessed in recent years in various parts of the world. There are various examples of this kind of behaviour such as BCCI, Enron, and collapse of Arthur Anderson which have left and unforgettable impression among the people that all is not well within the corporate world and there are problems which need to be addressed. Few of the Indian companies which have taken CSR initiatives are:
ONGC-It has taken steps towards social economic development by identifying projects at plant level by involving administration, local representatives and voluntary organisations. Projects focussed on education, health care, family welfare and community development.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. – Few of the projects undertaken by HUL towards CSR are Project Shakti which focussed on empowering under privileged rural women targeting small villages with population of less than 2000 and Project Yashodham – it focussed on reconstruction of village in Guajrat’s Kutch district.
The self centred approach towards organizational activity has never been universally acceptable and has been unable to satisfactorily provide a basis for human activity. So, there has been a concern for the social responsibility behaviour of organizations which gained prominence. Big businesses have started recognizing the need to adapt to new social climate of CSR but their orientation towards financial results is inhibiting social responsiveness. But now companies are no longer exclusive for share holders and have responsibilities to the society wherein the existed. Thus there is shift towards the greater accountability of companies to society as a whole.

The three basic principles which together comprise CSR activity are:

1)Sustainability – It implies radical changes to business practise and a significant amount of process reengineering. The key dimensions of sustainability are societal influence which means impact that society makes upon corporations, Environmental impact which means effect of the actions of the corporation upon its environment, Organisational culture which means relationship between the corporation and its internal stakeholders, Finance which is the adequate return for the level of risk undertaken.
2)Transparency – Companies should be concerned about what happens further along their supply chain. Companies can no longer say that suppliers or the people attached to the business indirectly are not their responsibility. It is something that has brought largely because of the revelations of the incidents of child labour, slavery and other human right abuses.
3)Accountability – It means reconfiguration of value chain. For example if multinationals in developed countries locate their high valued operations in developing countries. Then the company will be making real contribution towards effective change.

Regards,
Puneet Bhasin
IMDR, Pune, India

Tim Sanders, author of Saving the World at Work: What Companies and Individuals Can Do to Go Beyond Making a Profit to Making a Difference in his above article talks about "responsibility revolution and saving the world at work which is same as Corporate Social Responsibility which not a new concept in Management. He talks about CSR and companies can achieve the same and more importantly us as an employee can also make a difference and how we also can achieve the same. What Corporate Social Responsibility according to me in short It is the role of a company in a local and social context. It could be charity, education, or a role of governance. It could also be the responsibility of the management concerning with trade unions, workers, customers, and shareholders or it could also be a reach out program. Tim Sanders is talking about the same but he also on employees that they can also make a difference can should think beyond doing mechanically work and earning the money. But so why is the industry a prime candidate for CSR? And why they should think and beyond their prime objective of profit and profit maximization the reason is not because the government is forcing “ NO “it but because the industry is a pool of resources, money, people, and talent all in one basket. Companies have to pay for what they are using.

The main crux of the article ilea in the statement of Tim Sanders on saving the world at work he says it means two things making a difference to the greater community and the planet while you do your job and helping your company survive the coming responsibility revolution. He first gives importance to Planet and community which is ultimately talking about social responsibility. He focuses on how we as an employee can make a difference. According to me there are many ways to achieve CSR by companies and by employee also but it depends on many factors such as Profitability of company and environment in which it is operating. It depends on employee and management of the company how to achieve the same. In Europe the entire perception of CSR is environmentally related. In the developed countries like Japan and Singapore the focus is on the larger issues like global warming. When it comes to poorer countries like India, Bangladesh CSR has a greater role with charity, education awareness and out reach programs. I think all these perspectives are equally important and we should do the same.CSR is getting importance day by day and it will increase in future so every company should follow it and in any ways companies will bet some benefit out of it like popularity or something else. Like Tim Sander I think we as an employee also can lead the way and can make the difference and if we are doing that then only in true sense we can say responsibility revolution is taking place. First I think at first we have to make corporate social responsibility as necessity, later it will became a habit for corporate and their employees. With other corporate it first became a habit and they will surely follow it.

Regards,
Archana Ingle
IMDR,Pune.

First, I would like to appreciate the work of Tim Sanders. There was a need to highlight the issue of environment. Environment is a major issue for all the countries of the world. Our society is solely responsible for the degradation of our environment. Now, it is the time to take right measures to prevent our future generation from various consequences.
I am totally agreed with Tim Sanders that employees and customers want to work for and support companies that share ethical values. Sustainability in an organization is very important for its future growth. When there is a “feel good” factor in the organization, employees will sustain more. Like Infosys do many social welfare works and invest money for the cleanliness of environment. So, employees of Infosys feel proud of their organization.
Relationships of employees & employers are getting better now a days. Now, worker of any level of organization can give ideas and their ideas can easily be passing on to the higher level that was not possible in part generations. The most important point he has put forward is that we have stop thinking only about individual benefits and start thinking about the world at large.
Even when the top-management team believes that it is essential to increase coordination between IT and the business, nothing will happen until business managers must answer for IT planning and its results. This is the most difficult— and important—steps to take, and it raises thorny questions. Since technology systems can cut across an enterprise, who should be accountable for what? How will results be assessed and measured? How can business executives be responsible for technology when they don’t control the IT organization that implements it?

The day when companies become the part of this responsibility revolution, this world will be a much better place to live in. this will not only give profits to the company but goodwill also.
Consumers want eco-friendly products now a day. So, they want to buy products from the companies who are concerned for environment.
As the "Green Movement" becomes more and more popular, it is going to get increasingly difficult to determine which companies to trust and which are only concerned about their profits.
I must say that Tim did a great job. So, now there is need to think about all natural resources like petrol, gas, coal, etc. To promote solar equipments, hybrid cars and all eco-friendly products is the best strategy for the new generation companies.

PRAYAG KHANDELWAL
IMDR,PUNE
INDIA

In this article author talks about how today’s corporate world is changing. He talks about how people have changed the environment of company. How consumer prefers greener organization. Author talks about saving the world at work by doing certain changes in working style or in technology or in product.

Author says that changes are coming in the business world and every industry is becoming greener and cleaner. He says it will spread in every sector. We can see the same in India also . Most companies are becoming more eco friendly. Latest example is of tata who decide to move out for safety of employee and also for giving the land back for farming.

Many CEO told author how these new innovative ideas are coming from a Non-C level employee. Author says it happening due to dot com revolution. Well I think Non c level people always had the potential to give new innovations only dot com revolution has made it possible. It had given more power to lower level employees. Today company’s ways of working are known to whole world due to high technology and media. This also force companies to do work in eco friendly way. Author also tell about how software company has gone in to help NGO and government. All these help have worked in there favour as it create a positive image of firm in eyes of both employees and consumer.

Then author talks about how working become difficult if u r working to make up profit to hold on your share. I agree with him as it takes your attention from other work. Today software firms are investing in solar power and other thing. I think they should do it as they are the one who are earning the highest profit. When you are at the top you need to do some things for world as it become ones responsibility.

What I think is company should also work on there products making them eco friendly. They should tell consumers about there products and how there products are eco friendly which will force others to join the league.
Dushyant Dangi
IMDR Pune

In this article author talks about how today’s corporate world is changing. He talks about how people have changed the environment of company. How consumer prefers greener organization. Author talks about saving the world at work by doing certain changes in working style or in technology or in product.

Author says that changes are coming in the business world and every industry is becoming greener and cleaner. He says it will spread in every sector. We can see the same in India also . Most companies are becoming more eco friendly. Latest example is of tata who decide to move out for safety of employee and also for giving the land back for farming.

Many CEO told author how these new innovative ideas are coming from a Non-C level employee. Author says it happening due to dot com revolution. Well I think Non c level people always had the potential to give new innovations only dot com revolution has made it possible. It had given more power to lower level employees. Today company’s ways of working are known to whole world due to high technology and media. This also force companies to do work in eco friendly way. Author also tell about how software company has gone in to help NGO and government. All these help have worked in there favour as it create a positive image of firm in eyes of both employees and consumer.

Then author talks about how working become difficult if u r working to make up profit to hold on your share. I agree with him as it takes your attention from other work. Today software firms are investing in solar power and other thing. I think they should do it as they are the one who are earning the highest profit. When you are at the top you need to do some things for world as it become ones responsibility.

What I think is company should also work on there products making them eco friendly. They should tell consumers about there products and how there products are eco friendly which will force others to join the league.
Dushyant Dangi
IMDR Pune

Since the last few years, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained prominence and is gaining increasing attention around the world among business people, media, and academics from a wide range of disciplines. There are probably many reasons for the attention given to this phenomenon, not at least of which is the corporate excesses witnessed in recent years in various parts of the world. There are various examples of this kind of behaviour such as BCCI, Enron, and collapse of Arthur Anderson which have left and unforgettable impression among the people that all is not well within the corporate world and there are problems which need to be addressed. Few of the Indian companies which have taken CSR initiatives are:
ONGC-It has taken steps towards social economic development by identifying projects at plant level by involving administration, local representatives and voluntary organisations. Projects focussed on education, health care, family welfare and community development.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. – Few of the projects undertaken by HUL towards CSR are Project Shakti which focussed on empowering under privileged rural women targeting small villages with population of less than 2000 and Project Yashodham – it focussed on reconstruction of village in Guajrat’s Kutch district.
The self centred approach towards organizational activity has never been universally acceptable and has been unable to satisfactorily provide a basis for human activity. So, there has been a concern for the social responsibility behaviour of organizations which gained prominence. Big businesses have started recognizing the need to adapt to new social climate of CSR but their orientation towards financial results is inhibiting social responsiveness. But now companies are no longer exclusive for share holders and have responsibilities to the society wherein the existed. Thus there is shift towards the greater accountability of companies to society as a whole.

The three basic principles which together comprise CSR activity are:

1) Sustainability – It implies radical changes to business practise and a significant amount of process reengineering. The key dimensions of sustainability are societal influence which means impact that society makes upon corporations, Environmental impact which means effect of the actions of the corporation upon its environment, Organisational culture which means relationship between the corporation and its internal stakeholders, Finance which is the adequate return for the level of risk undertaken.
2) Transparency – Companies should be concerned about what happens further along their supply chain. Companies can no longer say that suppliers or the people attached to the business indirectly are not their responsibility. It is something that has brought largely because of the revelations of the incidents of child labour, slavery and other human right abuses.
3) Accountability – It means reconfiguration of value chain. For example if multinationals in developed countries locate their high valued operations in developing countries. Then the company will be making real contribution towards effective change.

Regards,
Puneet Bhasin
IMDR, Pune, India

In this article author talks about how today’s corporate world is changing. He talks about how people have changed the environment of company. How consumer prefers greener organization. Author talks about saving the world at work by doing certain changes in working style or in technology or in product.

Author says that changes are coming in the business world and every industry is becoming greener and cleaner. He says it will spread in every sector. We can see the same in India also . Most companies are becoming more eco friendly. Latest example is of tata who decide to move out for safety of employee and also for giving the land back for farming.

Many CEO told author how these new innovative ideas are coming from a Non-C level employee. Author says it happening due to dot com revolution. Well I think Non c level people always had the potential to give new innovations only dot com revolution has made it possible. It had given more power to lower level employees. Today company’s ways of working are known to whole world due to high technology and media. This also force companies to do work in eco friendly way. Author also tell about how software company has gone in to help NGO and government. All these help have worked in there favour as it create a positive image of firm in eyes of both employees and consumer.

Then author talks about how working become difficult if u r working to make up profit to hold on your share. I agree with him as it takes your attention from other work. Today software firms are investing in solar power and other thing. I think they should do it as they are the one who are earning the highest profit. When you are at the top you need to do some things for world as it become ones responsibility.

What I think is company should also work on there products making them eco friendly. They should tell consumers about there products and how there products are eco friendly which will force others to join the league.
Dushyant Dangi
IMDR Pune

Tim Sanders, author of Saving the World at Work: What Companies and Individuals Can Do to Go Beyond Making a Profit to Making a Difference in his above article talks about "responsibility revolution and saving the world at work which is same as Corporate Social Responsibility which not a new concept in Management. He talks about CSR and companies can achieve the same and more importantly us as an employee can also make a difference and how we also can achieve the same. What Corporate Social Responsibility according to me in short It is the role of a company in a local and social context. It could be charity, education, or a role of governance. It could also be the responsibility of the management concerning with trade unions, workers, customers, and shareholders or it could also be a reach out program. Tim Sanders is talking about the same but he also on employees that they can also make a difference can should think beyond doing mechanically work and earning the money. But so why is the industry a prime candidate for CSR? And why they should think and beyond their prime objective of profit and profit maximization the reason is not because the government is forcing “ NO “it but because the industry is a pool of resources, money, people, and talent all in one basket. Companies have to pay for what they are using.

The main crux of the article ilea in the statement of Tim Sanders on saving the world at work he says it means two things making a difference to the greater community and the planet while you do your job and helping your company survive the coming responsibility revolution. He first gives importance to Planet and community which is ultimately talking about social responsibility. He focuses on how we as an employee can make a difference. According to me there are many ways to achieve CSR by companies and by employee also but it depends on many factors such as Profitability of company and environment in which it is operating. It depends on employee and management of the company how to achieve the same. In Europe the entire perception of CSR is environmentally related. In the developed countries like Japan and Singapore the focus is on the larger issues like global warming. When it comes to poorer countries like India, Bangladesh CSR has a greater role with charity, education awareness and out reach programs. I think all these perspectives are equally important and we should do the same.CSR is getting importance day by day and it will increase in future so every company should follow it and in any ways companies will bet some benefit out of it like popularity or something else. Like Tim Sander I think we as an employee also can lead the way and can make the difference and if we are doing that then only in true sense we can say responsibility revolution is taking place. First I think at first we have to make corporate social responsibility as necessity, later it will became a habit for corporate and their employees. With other corporate it first became a habit and they will surely follow it.

Archana Ingle
IMDR,Pune.

Since the last few years, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained prominence and is gaining increasing attention around the world among business people, media, and academics from a wide range of disciplines. There are probably many reasons for the attention given to this phenomenon, not at least of which is the corporate excesses witnessed in recent years in various parts of the world. There are various examples of this kind of behaviour such as BCCI, Enron, and collapse of Arthur Anderson which have left and unforgettable impression among the people that all is not well within the corporate world and there are problems which need to be addressed. Few of the Indian companies which have taken CSR initiatives are:
ONGC-It has taken steps towards social economic development by identifying projects at plant level by involving administration, local representatives and voluntary organisations. Projects focussed on education, health care, family welfare and community development.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. – Few of the projects undertaken by HUL towards CSR are Project Shakti which focussed on empowering under privileged rural women targeting small villages with population of less than 2000 and Project Yashodham – it focussed on reconstruction of village in Guajrat’s Kutch district.
The self centred approach towards organizational activity has never been universally acceptable and has been unable to satisfactorily provide a basis for human activity. So, there has been a concern for the social responsibility behaviour of organizations which gained prominence. Big businesses have started recognizing the need to adapt to new social climate of CSR but their orientation towards financial results is inhibiting social responsiveness. But now companies are no longer exclusive for share holders and have responsibilities to the society wherein the existed. Thus there is shift towards the greater accountability of companies to society as a whole.

The three basic principles which together comprise CSR activity are:

1) Sustainability – It implies radical changes to business practise and a significant amount of process reengineering. The key dimensions of sustainability are societal influence which means impact that society makes upon corporations, Environmental impact which means effect of the actions of the corporation upon its environment, Organisational culture which means relationship between the corporation and its internal stakeholders, Finance which is the adequate return for the level of risk undertaken.
2) Transparency – Companies should be concerned about what happens further along their supply chain. Companies can no longer say that suppliers or the people attached to the business indirectly are not their responsibility. It is something that has brought largely because of the revelations of the incidents of child labour, slavery and other human right abuses.
3) Accountability – It means reconfiguration of value chain. For example if multinationals in developed countries locate their high valued operations in developing countries. Then the company will be making real contribution towards effective change.

Regards,
Puneet Bhasin
IMDR, Pune, India

Since the last few years, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained prominence and is gaining increasing attention around the world among business people, media, and academics from a wide range of disciplines. There are probably many reasons for the attention given to this phenomenon, not at least of which is the corporate excesses witnessed in recent years in various parts of the world. There are various examples of this kind of behaviour such as BCCI, Enron, and collapse of Arthur Anderson which have left and unforgettable impression among the people that all is not well within the corporate world and there are problems which need to be addressed. Few of the Indian companies which have taken CSR initiatives are:
ONGC-It has taken steps towards social economic development by identifying projects at plant level by involving administration, local representatives and voluntary organisations. Projects focussed on education, health care, family welfare and community development.
Hindustan Unilever Ltd. – Few of the projects undertaken by HUL towards CSR are Project Shakti which focussed on empowering under privileged rural women targeting small villages with population of less than 2000 and Project Yashodham – it focussed on reconstruction of village in Guajrat’s Kutch district.
The self centred approach towards organizational activity has never been universally acceptable and has been unable to satisfactorily provide a basis for human activity. So, there has been a concern for the social responsibility behaviour of organizations which gained prominence. Big businesses have started recognizing the need to adapt to new social climate of CSR but their orientation towards financial results is inhibiting social responsiveness. But now companies are no longer exclusive for share holders and have responsibilities to the society wherein the existed. Thus there is shift towards the greater accountability of companies to society as a whole.

The three basic principles which together comprise CSR activity are:

1) Sustainability – It implies radical changes to business practise and a significant amount of process reengineering. The key dimensions of sustainability are societal influence which means impact that society makes upon corporations, Environmental impact which means effect of the actions of the corporation upon its environment, Organisational culture which means relationship between the corporation and its internal stakeholders, Finance which is the adequate return for the level of risk undertaken.
2) Transparency – Companies should be concerned about what happens further along their supply chain. Companies can no longer say that suppliers or the people attached to the business indirectly are not their responsibility. It is something that has brought largely because of the revelations of the incidents of child labour, slavery and other human right abuses.
3) Accountability – It means reconfiguration of value chain. For example if multinationals in developed countries locate their high valued operations in developing countries. Then the company will be making real contribution towards effective change.

Regards,
Puneet Bhasin
IMDR, Pune, India