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The Triple Bottom Line: How Today's Best-Run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social and Environmental Success -- and How You Can Too
Andrew W. Savitz , and Karl Weber Manufacturer: Jossey-Bass ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0787979074 |
Book Description
The Triple Bottom Line is the groundbreaking book that charts the rise of sustainability within the business world and shows how and why financial success increasingly goes hand in hand with social and environmental achievement. Andrew Savitz chronicles both the real problems that companies face and the innovative solutions that can come from sustainability. His is a hard-line approach to bottom-line fundamentals that is re-making companies around the globe.Customer Reviews:
If You Want To Get Fluent Fast, Read This Book.......2007-02-20
OK as an "Appetizer" not as the "Main Course" for Sustainability.......2007-01-11
Practical guide for sustainability planning.......2007-01-05
Preaching To The Choir.......2006-12-14
Engaging guide to better fiscal, environmental, and social performance........2006-12-11
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Profit for Life: How Capitalism Excels
Joseph H. Bragdon Manufacturer: SoL, the Society for Organizational Learnaing ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items:
ASIN: 0974239038 Release Date: 2006-10-26 |
Product Description
Two fundamentally different business models of capitalism are operating in the business world today. One is self-destructive and increasingly corrupt. The other is emergent, flourishing, and inspirational. The author explains the differences between the two and reveals the extraordinary results of the more successful model. Profit for Life draws on nearly forty years of research on the empirical connections between stewardship and profitability.Customer Reviews:
Review of Profit for Life: How Capitalism Excels by Joseph H. Bragdon.......2007-04-08
Book Review for Profit for Life: How Capitalism Excels.......2007-01-31
An Extraordinary Book: A Must Read.......2006-11-26
Excellent, highly readable information.......2006-11-18
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RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
Thomas Maak , and Nicola M. Pless Manufacturer: Routledge ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0415355818 |
Book Description
While there is a high demand for knowledge on responsible leadership, there has been, till now, no source able to meet that demand. Enron, Worldcom and other high-profile cases of management and leadership misconduct have highlighted the need for such a book to provide the reader with crucial insights on such issues as responsible leadership, which leadership competencies are needed, and how to develop responsible leaders.
Experts in the field of business and leadership ethics have now been brought together to write this much-needed text. It answers the challenge of defining responsible leadership in an era of globalization, and as such is highly topical and relevant to all those on the path to becoming responsible leaders.
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Ultimately Responsible: When You're in Charge of Igniting a Ministry
Sue Nilson Kibbey Manufacturer: Abingdon Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0687334926 |
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Politics for People: FINDING A RESPONSIBLE PUBLIC VOICE
David Mathews Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items: ASIN: 0252067630 |
Customer Reviews:
want information for pensioners.......1999-05-11
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Responsible Restructuring: Creative and Profitable Alternatives to Layoffs
Wayne F Cascio Manufacturer: Berrett-Koehler Publishers ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 1576751295 |
Book Description
Restructuring is a hot topic right now -- companies need to figure out how to weather the current economic storm and still be well-positioned to take advantage of the next upswing. Using real-life illustrations of successful, responsible restructurings at companies such as Charles Schwab, Cisco, Motorola, and Intel, this book provides alternatives to downsizing. Wayne Cascio examines the specific practices these leading firms use instead of layoffs -- including retraining, labor-management partnership, and compensation linked to organizational performance. These practices demonstrate that these companies view their workers as assets to be developed rather than as costs to be cut. Cascio presents compelling evidence showing that businesses adopting these measures fare better than businesses in similar circumstances who choose downsizing.Customer Reviews:
Good clear advice.......2005-02-23
Many good ideas as alternatives to layoffs.......2004-03-03
A medium sized securities trading firm, relying heavily on its employee's knowledge and creativity, experienced a major downturn in revenues and stock price after a decade during which employees generated excellent results and built customer loyalty. However, faced with the fact that employees accounted for more than half of expenses, top management sought the best solution. There were many different approaches to learn from: Merrill Lynch cut one in six employees world wide; Charles Schwab used layoffs only as a last resort; Lehman Brothers insisted on keeping staff in tact and even hiring new talent; Edward Jones kept all staff but cut bonuses. After 9/11 Boeing laid off 30,000 employees while Airbus reduced head count through attrition. As the economy weakened some firms seized the opportunity to strengthen their competitive position through a variety of strategies such as cost cutting, expansion, marketing, and acquisitions. Kodak restructured to compete in the digital era; computer based typesetting revolutionized the newspaper industry. But what would be the best strategy for the medium sized securities firm? This book provides a wealth of case studies and examples of proven alternatives to layoffs.
Layoffs are not only traumatic to those who leave but can affect the quality of work done by those that stay. For three years union workers at the Decatur Plant at Bridgestone/Firestone were on strike or working without a contract during which their tires prompted more complaints, compensation claims rose and the loss of 40 lives was attributed to the labor dispute. Each year Fortune magazine publishes a list of the best companies to work for - companies which satisfy all stakeholders. "High-performing companies do walk the talk when it comes to performance measure. It is clear that they are seriously committed to the human elements that contribute to their success."
Responsible restructuring relies on workers to provide substantial competitive advantage by adapting a wide range of practices such as training, information sharing, participatory management, flattened organizational structures, labor management partnerships, compensation linked to skills, and customer satisfaction. Chapter 5 "Responsible Restructuring - Alternative Strategies" is full of case studies and examples of strategies such as 'use downsizing as a last resort while reinventing your business' and 'do everything you can to manage survivors well' and 'generate good will, even loyalty, among departing employees' and 'provide unemployment benefits for employees whose hours are cut' and 'ensure employment security through redeployment' and 'ask for sacrifices from executives and employees'.
Chapter 6: "The Virtues of Stability" provides a lot of information on three companies. 100-year-old Lincoln Electric Holdings features high wages, guaranteed employment, few supervisors, a lucrative bonus system, and piece work compensation; Harvard Business School cites it as a model of corporate responsibility while others praise its innovative management practices. Core values at SAS Institute are: 'treat everyone fairly and equally; treat people with respect and dignity; make work fun; trust people to do a good job.' They focus on employees and customers, believing that if they find and keep the best people, everything else will take care of itself. The rags to riches story of Southwest Airlines that started in 1966 and by 2001 had become the most successful airline in history is reviewed. Top employers share three characteristics: clear vision; excellent delivery and execution of people-related initiatives; and highly engaged employees who are aligned to the business strategies of their companies.
Chapter 7 "Responsible Restructuring: What to Do and What Not to Do" starts with "Even though there is no one, right way to restructure, following the guidelines presented in this chapter has yielded positive results for companies and their workforces." It is highly unlikely that anyone can read this book without coming away with ideas for improving their competitive position.
Do you want the No-layoff Payoff?.......2003-01-11
BUT DO DOWNSIZINGS HELP? OFTEN THEY DON'T
In many cases downsizing does not lead to fast and lasting improvement of the financial situation of companies, nor to improvment of their share price. Research has demonstrated that extremely successful companies often offer a high level of employment security (see Pfeffer, 1998; Collins, 2001). But to my knowledge this book by Wayne Cascio is one of the first to present systematic longitudinal research on the effects of downsizing. The most important conclusion: companies that downsize are not more profitable than companies that don't and often end up hurting themselves. This book gives several reasons for this:
1. DOWNSIZING WITHOUT IMPROVING. Many downsizing companies have no vision on structurally improving the organization. The only thing they do is make the organization smaller. Many problems that previously existed remain. Several new problems are added. How could profit improve?
2. UNFORSEEN COSTS OF DOWNSIZINGS CAN BE SKYHIGH. Cascio sums up a large number of direct and indirect costs of downsizings.
3. DOWNSIZING TOO OFTEN AND TOO SOON. Cascio's research shows that many managers see personnel as a cost that should be minimalized. They ask: what is the minimum number of people we need to run this company? This mindset made these managers downsize often and easily. This hurts loyalty, commitment and and a negative morale that hurts productivity.
The opposite is also true: offering employment security lead to loyalty. This loyalty leads to so-called Organizational Citizenship Behaviors (OCB's): doing more than is asked, behaving honestly, working together, helping eachother.
WHAT TO DO?
The following combination of practices proves to be far more fruitful:
1. PREVENTIVE PLANNING: do everything you can to identify early warning signals and respond quickly to prevent problems from growing.
2. FIRST, APPLY CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO DOWNSIZING: in times of trouble, do everything you can to avoid the need to downsize (alternative ways of bringing down costs and improving revenues).
3. IF NOTHING ELSE WORKS: DOWNSIZE: make it clear to everything that downsizing is a last resort.
4. IF YOU DO IT, DO IT GOOD
Cascio descirbes a number of companies that were confronted with very hard circumstances and that successfully applied alternative stragies to downsizing.
Charles Schwab & Company used downsizing as a last resort after first having done the following: 1) stopping projects en saving al kinds of costs, accompanied with intensive communication efforts, 2) managers decided to cut their own salaries significantly, 3) personnel was encouraged to take unpaid leave, 4) specific days were chosen to be voluntary days off for personnel that did not have client contacts on these days. Only after these steps did not lead to sufficient success, a limited downsizing was done. Cisco Systems does everything it can to create goodwill or even loyalty with fired people. Cisco lents some of them to non-profit organizations and pays part of their salaries. As soon as the market allows for it, they want to rehire them. Reflexite Corporation's intention to avoid downsizing is reflected in their so-called Business Downturn Grid, a plan in four stages that is used when the company faces hard times. Its starting point is to provide full openness in every stage about problems and actions to be taken. Employees are laid off only in the fourth and last stage (which the comany until now did not have to do by the way). Some other companies that are mentioned are: Compaq Computer that invested heavily in communicating with and training personnel when aftern downsizing, Intel, Chevrontexaco, en 3M that invested much in retraining and redeploying personnel to avoid downsizing, Acxiom, Inc. where personnel was (successfully) asked to volunteer to cut their salaries in return for company shares, Sage Software, Inc. that paid much attention to personnel planning, Louisiana-pacific Corporation where personnel took the initiative to cut cost drastically. Two other extremely successful companies that are extensively described by Cascio are software company The Sas Institute and Southwest Airlines. These companies operate in turbulent markets but are examples of (employment) stability and financial success.
CONCLUSION
Sometimes laying off personnel can't be avoided. But this book shows that companies that invest in personnel and that do everything to void downsizing profit form a no-layoff payoff. This book provides many examples of steps that can be taken before laying off personnel. It is a must for top managers, HR managers, and students of management and organization and of human resources management. It's easy to read and very practical.
Coert Visser, ...
A Good Read!.......2003-01-09
CHARTING A BETTER WAY TO SUCCESS IN HARD TIMES!.......2002-10-17
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Better Business for a Better World: Connecting Principle and Profit to Build Socially Responsible Businesses
Peter Bruce Manufacturer: Hats Off Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 1587360101 |
Book Description
Author Bruce explains which global business strive to be enjoyable and inspiring places to work, and why other businesses are stuck in a dead end mindset that prevents them from reaching their potential. He explores the concepts and practices that make for a better business.
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Transforming Communication, Transforming Business: Building Responsive and Responsible Workplaces (The Hampton Press Communication Series)
Stanley Deetz Manufacturer: Hampton Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1572730374 |
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Handbook on Responsible Leadership And Governance in Global Business
Manufacturer: Edward Elgar Pub ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 1845429494 |
Book Description
`A profoundly important book for scholars and leaders alike that makes a vital timely contribution to the behavioral perspectives on leadership and governance. Doh and Stumpf, along with their world-renowned contributors, apply solidly anchored academic wisdom to offer fresh ideas on restoring faith in the integrity of American enterprise.' - Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Yale School of Management, President and CEO, Chief Executive Leadership Institute and author of Leadership and Governance From The Inside OutEthics, social responsibility, leadership, governance. These terms are heard in the classroom, in the boardroom, and viewed on the front page of newspapers and magazines. Yet serious attention to the relationships among these concepts is lacking. Although commitments to leadership, ethics, and social responsibility are evident, individuals and companies are falling short in combining these duties into policies and cultures that guide behavior and decisions. The missing element is a broad-based and integrated approach to responsible leadership and governance. This volume, now available in paperback, provides the leading thinking on these issues and includes a discussion of emerging areas that require future attention.
The contributors - leading scholars in the fields of leadership, governance and social responsibility - summarize the state of the literature, identify complementary insights and perspectives, discuss areas of conflict and disagreement, and include a provocative and stimulating agenda for further investigation. They point up practical consequences of these perspectives in light of developments that have exposed the shortcomings in practice. Several contributors focus specifically on the challenges faced by global companies in developing and maintaining leadership and governance practices that are responsive to different national institutional and cultural settings.
Thorough coverage and insightful discussion make this an essential reference for scholars and students of leadership, corporate responsibility and professional ethics, as well as for all those directly responsible for establishing the ethical codes and practices of their organizations.
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Business, Society, and the Individual; Problems in Responsible Leadership of Private Enterprise Orga
Manufacturer: R. D. Irwin, ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: B000FMDY0G |
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