Posts Tagged ‘Social’
The Benefits Of Social Business Enterprises
May 17, 2012 | 
Author Social business enterprise refers to a company that does not focus on giving dividends or maximizes on profits. Its main objective is to meet a given social need. Any money that the company gets through its day to day activities or through funding is used to expand research findings and to provide solutions to the problem that the company seeks to address. Investors who put their money in such companies, as earlier mentioned, are not entitled to any dividends, but instead the returns on the investments are recouped and ploughed back into the company.
Some of the social needs that such companies address are healthcare for the less fortunate people in society, financial services for those who cannot afford, nutrition for the not-so-well fed individuals and also providing safe drinking water for people living in unhygienic and unsafe places. The sustainability of social business enterprises clearly indicates that the company is in business and doing well.
The key requirements for these companies have been captured in three main points. The first one being social responsibility. For a company to qualify as a social business enterprise, it must be prepared to meet a specific social goal, by identifying a need to be addresses and putting up a plan on how to meet the need. The second requirement states that the company must be based on a non-profit distribution. This means that investors must not take any dividends or share in any profits.
Thirdly, the company must have the poor people in mind. Infact, it could be owned by the poor. This ensures that the objectives of the company are tailored accordingly and they are specific to where the need bites most, as the owners express the need.
How Can ISO 14001 Benefit My Business?
Environmental Concerns are now of paramount consideration by company directors, owners and employees worldwide.
Since the 14001 Environmental management system includes everyone in the organization and all areas of the organization that affect the environment, it can improve an organization’s environmental performance in many ways. This improved performance comes at a cost to the organization, a cost which can be recovered by aggressively seeking benefits.
Some of those benefits are as follows:
All environmental policies and procedures are now in a consistent format
All documents are now more accessible to employees so compliance has improved
Regularly scheduled EMS reviews are ensuring both legal and ethical obligations are met in a timely fashion.
Increased Profits
The quantity of materials and energy required for manufacturing a product may be reduced, thereby reducing the cost of the product, material handling costs, and waste disposal costs.
An EMS can help reduce incidents of pollution and the associated expense of recovery.
Recycling manufacturing waste and unused inputs could increase revenues. Recycling need not be within the same facility, but with another one that can use the waste as input to their production.
Employee health and safety can be improved, thereby improving productivity, decreasing sick days, and reducing insurable risk.
Insurance claims may be reduced, thus reducing the costs of coverage and settlements.
This is just a sample of the benefits available to business; the list of benefits and potential benefits is considerably larger.
Posted in Carbon accounting, carbon emissions, Carbon footprint, Carbon management, carbon reduction, Carbon Reduction Commitment, Climate Change, CO2, CSR, Environmental accounting, Footprint, ghg emissions, Iso14001, Social Responsibility | 
Tags: Benefits, Business, carbon reduction, Change, Climate, Corporate, CSR, EMS, Enterprise, Environment, ENVIRONMENTAL, environmental management system, Global, Green, Greenhouse, ISO 14001, Management, Money, Social, Social Responsibility, Solutions | 
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Online Corporate Social Responsibility – The Latest Trend
Corporate social responsibility has moved from being a buzz word in management books to an important aspect of business activities. The concept of CSR is vague for many; however, it generally refers to the connection of business decision making with ethical values. Even though the modern society rests on the pillars of governance and ethics, the distinction between social role and business motive of an organization cannot be denied.
Publishing CSR reports can have tremendous benefits for any company as this affect its reputation and branding in a positive manner. Advancement in technology has led to the popularity of online corporate social responsibility reporting. With the Internet becoming an interactive platform for communication, online CSR reports can help business organizations expand their reach. Many companies are focusing on the maintenance of a significant profile on the Internet. The need to update latest information for the stakeholders and sharing good work initiatives with a wider audience has become order of the day.
The concept of using the Internet to share corporate social responsibility reports and programs has gained tremendous popularity in the last few years. Companies are cashing in on the scope and access of the latest technology despite being active through their community based projects. A section of their website is especially dedicated to CSR reports for the interest of far reaching audiences. BITC (Business in the Community) is one such company that has been taking advantage of online resources for the implementation of its corporate social responsibility programs.
Companies need to keep analyzing the sustainability section of their website on a regular basis. They need to keep a track of how many visitors browsed through the CSR report in a month. In case the figure is low, they need to come up strategies to make the report accessible to readers who might find the report interesting but are not visiting the website. It also helps to figure out who reads the sustainability report. This might help the companies generate better reports and also include a feedback mechanism to start a dialogue.
Corporate Social Responsibility in Textile Industry
The concept of social responsibility is a fairly recent one in the business world. Awareness about the social responsibility of business organizations is rapidly on the rise and firms are also accepting this concept. The textile industry is no exception. Textile producing and trading firms are also realizing their responsibility towards the society and the environment. This article aims at analyzing the concept of social responsibility and the common ways in which textile firms try to fulfill it.
What is social responsibility?
Social responsibility is “an organization’s obligation to maximize its positive impact and minimize its negative impact on the societyâ€. In other words, it is “the concept that businesses should be actively concerned with the welfare of the society at largeâ€.
The concept of social responsibility is applicable to individuals and governments as well as organizations. The social responsibility of an organization is referred to as ‘corporate social responsibility’.
Social responsibility can be broadly divided into two parts: human responsibility and environmental responsibility.
Human responsibility refers to the responsibility of the organization towards the various parties associated with it, which are known as ‘stakeholders’ in business parlance. These parties include employees, shareholders, the government, customers, investors, suppliers, competitors and the society at large.
Environmental responsibility refers to the organization’s responsibility towards environment protection.
The concept of social responsibility holds that an organization should work in a manner in which the interests of the stakeholders are protected or, at the very least, they are not adversely affected. It holds that the organization should work in an ethical manner and work in the best interests of the various parties associated with it.
The realm of social responsibility extends beyond the legal responsibilities of an organization. It is voluntarily fulfilled by the organization.
The concept of corporate social responsibility has been criticized by certain experts, who believe that it is a cynical and selfish idea. They are of the opinion that corporates undertake projects for social welfare only because of the increase in reputation that they would get due to them.
Social responsibility in the textile industry
Like the firms in other industries, textiles firms are also realizing their responsibility towards the various parties associated with them and the environment. However, the ways by which different organizations choose to fulfill their social responsibility might be different.
The ways in which a textile firm can fulfill its responsibility towards various parties are similar to those of firms in other industries, as is evident from the points mentioned below:
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Posted in CSR | Tags: Corporate, Corporate social responsibility, CSR, Industry, Responsibility, Social, Textile | No Comments »
Understanding Social Entrepreneurship
What is Social Entrepreneurship?
Essentially, social entrepreneurs identify public problems and apply business acumen to resolve them. Instead of using a venture solely to make a profit, they aim at simultaneously impacting a society and regulating positive change. The success of such an endeavour is, therefore, measured not just on the basis of balance sheets, but on the effect it has had on a community.
Social entrepreneurship demands the same confidence, motivation and innovation as any other business, but in a manner that prioritises social development and the simultaneous creation of social and economic values. Hence, more than making a profit, it amounts to executing social change by means of unique solutions that help a community overcome established obstacles.
By definition, most social entrepreneurs take on problems that are ideally in the domain of government concern. Instead of waiting around for problems to be solved or brushing them under the carpet as many governments and societies are wont to do, they see them as opportunities to effect positive change. Social entrepreneurship is therefore all about combining a vision for a brighter future with the realization that, in order to achieve long-term goals, drastic effort and creative solutions are called for.
Like any other business venture, social entrepreneurship programmes cannot be isolated exercises. Most entrepreneurs, for instance, promote a non-profit organisation in the hope that other individuals and agencies will move in to support the cause and help multiply its benefits across larger sections of society. The extent of success of such endeavours is often based on the amount of collaboration and grassroots involvement they are able to generate.
Furthermore, and just like business ventures, social entrepreneurship projects depend on some degree of risk-taking. Only, in this case, the risk is not limited to financial security but involves social activism and passion. In this context, social entrepreneurship activities may appear to be incredibly perilous, but the risks pay off many times more in terms of their benefits to society.
The Impact on Society
Social entrepreneurship is as important for a growing society as business entrepreneurship is for a developing economy. They are both critical for sustainable development and accelerated inclusive growth.
The significance of their impact on societies can be gauged from the contributions of some eminent social entrepreneurs who are feted for positively and permanently impacting our world. In 19th Century United States, Susan B Anthony led the fight for women’s suffrage and helped establish equal rights for them. In 20th Century India, Vinoba Bhave founded the Land Gift Movement that caused the redistribution of more than 700,000 acres of land to the country’s poorest. Italian physician Maria Montessori (1870 – 1952) determined deficiencies in the early educational system and developed a new approach that continues to be relevant across the world today. Before her, compatriot Florence Nightingale helped establish the first school for nurses and fought to improve hospital conditions. Birth control activist Margaret Sanger encouraged family planning around the world with her Planned Parenthood Federation of America. These and other social entrepreneurs have made extraordinary contributions in shaping the modern world.
Examples of Nigerian Social Entrepreneurship
It is hardly surprising that social entrepreneurship has tremendous relevance for Nigeria, a country of paradoxical economic realities, with booming oil revenues on one hand and decrepit poverty on the other. Civil strife, political turmoil and religious upheavals have all contributed to turning this resource-rich nation of 148 million people into a landscape of economic malfunction and some of the worst human development indicators for the entire African continent. The return of democracy at the end of the last century and the installation of progressive policies have started the process of redirected growth through more sustainable means. Today, Nigeria is seen as having stepped back from the abyss of economic and social disaster and on the brink of a resurgence projected to take the second largest economy in Africa to the top twenty economies of the world by 2020.
A host of Nigerian social entrepreneurs are actively helping achieve this objective by alleviating social ills and driving positive change through innovative solutions.
Durojaiye Isaac instituted DMT Mobile Toilets in Lagos in 1999, an organization that strives to make a difference to the economic and environmental health of Nigeria. His social enterprise produces, hires out and maintains portable toilets, promoting sanitation and creating job opportunities for hundreds of local youths. For his innovative contributions, Isaac was awarded the prestigious Schwab Foundation’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year award for 2005.
Joachim Ezeji is the founder of Rural Africa Water Development Project (RAWDP), an ambitious programme dedicated to improving access to potable water in remote Nigerian communities. Founded in 2000, the project continues to train new members in an effort to develop community water infrastructure across the tropical country. Since its inception, RAWDP has given millions of Nigerians access to clean drinking water.
Ada Onyejike launched the Girl Child Art Foundation (GCAF) which promotes education and social change by empowering young women through performance arts and creative writing. This pioneering enterprise focuses on issues like child marriage, trafficking and polygamy through art, music and dance in and effort to engineer progressive change in Nigerian society. Beginning as a small volunteer operation in 2000, Onyejike’s foundation currently reaches thousands of women in the age group 8-25 in hundreds of communities across the country.
Cletus Olebune operates an outfit that tells the world about events occurring in Africa in an effort to boost tourism and open up the continent to the world. This passionate social entrepreneur uses the power of the written word to help Nigerians in diverse aspects of their lives, imparting knowledge and education to boost productive engagements and improve the country’s standing in world rankings.
Gbenga Uriel Ogunjimi, a social entrepreneurship pioneer, works to promote employment opportunities for Nigerian youths. He runs Landmark Internship International, which uses the Internet to connect with social enterprises around the world in need of local talent, as a means of meeting the nation’s social and economic challenges.
Rochas Okorocha is a rich entrepreneur. He established the Rochas Foundation which was borne out of a simple commitment to help the less privileged and poorest in the society. The foundation also focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty so that children can become self sufficient, contributing members of their societies.
These are just a few examples of social entrepreneurs and their impact on Nigeria’s holistic growth prospects. Besides generating employment, innovative goods and services and fostering equitable growth in society, they help generate the much needed social capital that is crucial for Nigeria’s emergence as a worthwhile economic powerhouse.
The CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme – A Review
We are now well on the road to the end of the first year of the CRC.
We’ve had the scare stories, the organisations failing to register, or less organisations registering than were first thought. Early estimates from the Government suggested 5000 plus organisations would be full participants with a further 20,000 as information disclosures.
We’ve had over 3,700 full participants register, what does this tell us?
For me, based on my experience, it tells me that a lot of organisations didn’t understand what they needed to do. For example, a car dealership, an example DEFRA used in their literature, if that dealership was a single franchise, SEAT for example, then if a single SEAT dealer anywhere else in the UK had a half hour meter then ALL SEAT dealerships and SEAT companies were in, under the banner of SEAT, who had the responsibility of collating this information. That’s nice and simple, until you then look at if that same dealership had say SEAT and VW at the same premises, they’re out? Add to that the ability to register independently so the SEAT brand did not have to account for everything that traded under its name . . . confused . . . therein lies the problem!
At least the Con/Dem co-alition government has pushed back the full implementation of phase 1 of the CRC by 12 months, the same for Phase 2.They are also looking at making the scheme simpler, firstly by making it a Tax, no payments from the pot for those that reduce emissions the most, Good or Bad?
For me it’s a bit of good and bad, organisations no longer being rewarded for reducing emissions will need to find some other motivation to reduce emissions! The good side is that it is giving these organisation more time to get to grips with the scheme, however, as experience has shown, a lot of organisation left it to the last minute before registering for the CRC, will they do the same again?
Initially Phase 1 reporting is primarily about Scope 1 & 2 emissions, Scope 1 being based on energy you produce, for example if you had a wind turbine and selling electricity back to the grid, Scope 2 is for energy you purchase.
However Phase 2 of the CRC is interesting, as it suggests that Scope 3 emissions will be included in a company’s declaration, a good way of introducing mandatory emissions reporting for all via the back door. Scope 3 covers everything from Travel to Suppliers.
If we look at suppliers for a large organisation, this could easily be in the thousands, a local authority I recently met with, have in excess of 5000 suppliers, under phase 2 they will need to liaise with all 5000, collate the emissions data for those 5000 and submit under the local authorities umbrella.
This will be an administrative nightmare for the unprepared, both the supplier and the large organisation. This will mean that for those who tender for work from larger organisations it will no longer be just a tick box exercise for environmental policy, such as ISO14001, it will be a detailed report on emissions and those not able to submit such a report, will ultimately, not win any business.
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Corporate Social Responsibility – New Fad or Necessity
Organisations of the 21st century can no longer limit themselves to producing and marketing products or services without any concerns for the impact they have on society. If they want to be trusted by their customers, employees and the public at large, they have to be more socially responsible. One key issue of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which needs to be addressed is the integration of ethnic minorities in the workplace and the community.
Demographic changes
The lack of proper governmental strategies following the demographic changes of the 50′s and 70′s, has left many British companies struggling to this day to deal with the problem themselves. Many organisations have played a passive role in this integration process by staying within the legal boundaries and are now experiencing difficulties in that area.
A lack of consideration of differences
One of the major reasons behind these integration problems is the lack of awareness and consideration for cultural differences. People from different cultural backgrounds have different sets of norms, different sets of values and different assumptions. This means that we all have different ways of reacting to events, different ways of communicating and different behaviours. We judge the others from our own frame of reference and tend to think that “our way is the right way”.
In a multicultural workforce, this can lead to misinterpretation, misunderstanding, incomprehension, mistrust and disrespect. As a result, rather than getting closer, people distance themselves from those they consider different and groups are formed on the basis of commonalities, whether it is ethnicity, colour, language etc. “Departmental ghettos” start to appear. Often, there are rivalries and tensions. In some instances, these situations can degenerate into discrimination, bullying or racist behaviours.
The law is not enough
Staying within the letter of the law is not enough for organisations experiencing these situations. It is imperative for them to resolve these issues if they want to retain a stable and productive workforce and be regarded as good “corporate citizens”. Organisation can be more socially responsible by contributing to a smooth cultural integration of ethnic minorities into the workplace.
Being more socially responsible
Integration does not mean imposing one way. It means harmonising and synergizing differences. Having a clear and unbiased understanding of the context is the first step toward formulating proper integration strategies. The second step is to develop cultural awareness. Being open to differences, understanding and respecting the other’s cultural background are the key elements in preparing the ground for integration. The third step is to build or rebuild trust. Finally, only when trust has been demonstrated from all sides, solutions can be discussed. It is the step where different norms and values are reconciled and tangible and intangible elements of integration are defined. Building shared ownership of the solutions is at that stage essential to reinforce trust and guarantee implementation.
These steps can take different forms; for example interviews with the various groups involved for step one, training programmes at the levels concerned in the organisation for step two and facilitated workshops for steps three and four involving all concerned or a limited number of influential representatives of each group, who can then intervene as mentors to their members.
Being proactive in the integration process of ethnic minorities is a corporate social duty which can strongly impact the community and contribute to a much more committed workforce.
During the last few months Farnham has been working with a number of clients in the development of programmes, using a training approach normally associated with supporting the integration of home and foreign workforces, to address the growing issue of multicultural tension within the domestic workforce. Because of the sensitivity of the issue, each programme has to be very carefully designed and often involves a number of programmes each with a different perspective at each level. The need to exercise corporate social responsibility is evolving in many different guises, in light of recent events, perhaps this one in particular needs our attention now.
Social Enterprise and Its Benefits
If you thought social enterprises are only focused on social or environmental aims, think again. Besides the good work, such enterprises are also involved in the generation of revenue for further sustainability practices. As far as the management of ‘triple bottom line’ is concerned, social enterprise also face challenges similar to a private firm. However, bringing a positive change in the society remains the main focus for any non-profit organization.
Social enterprises usually hire local people. Whether an individual is disabled, remained unemployed for a long term or belongs to a minority group, such enterprises bring a ray of hope in many lives. There are many people who leave their high profile jobs in multinational companies to join a social enterprise. The fact that it offers a platform where people can make a difference with the help of a flexible work environment has encouraged many people to take this step. These enterprises work on the concept of combining social goals and values with commercial practices.
Companies that follow socially responsible practices cannot be considered a social enterprise. However, these enterprises have benefited with the sudden growth of the CSR movement. Governments all over the world need to realize the benefits of encouraging the growth of social enterprises in the economy. The profit made by social enterprises is invested back into development of the community and environmental sustainability. More awareness should be spread so that the consumers start buying more product and services that contribute to the welfare of the local communities.
Even though traditional non-profit investment firms don’t prefer investing in social enterprises, long term benefits of this sector can’t be avoided. It not only helps in the generation of sustainable income sources and diversifies revenue streams but also helps in cutting down the dependency on donors. More social entrepreneurs are required who can recognize social problems and create successful ventures for bringing social change.
Business is not a Social Giveaway, an alternative view
Make a profit and leave social programs to the Government.
Being in businesses serves one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to turn a profit for its owners or stake holders. People who begrudge businesses for making a profit don’t fully understand their purpose. In a capitalistic system such as that found in the western world, profit is the soul purpose of any business endeavor. Small businesses are no different, people who go into business for themselves, usually do so for the income. When all is said and done, income is after all, the root of the businesses importance.
Social endeavors on the other hand are driven by the need to provide a service. Some social businesses are for profit and some are not. Many times the proprietors take a salary while the business itself is self sustaining but does not occur a profit. Even though an enterprise may be a social directed business, it still operates under the same financial pressures as a profit driven business. Its aim may be to provide a clear social benefit but it must adhere to more strict rules and regulations than other businesses. The internal structuring may include volunteers and solicited donations. Accounting is strict and reporting to government agencies may be more scrutinized. Any profits occurred are mostly reinvested, or used to support its societal direction, rather than being paid to the owners of the business.
If you are community minded, you may want to start a business that isn’t just for profit but also has a social function. For example, you might want to provide a service for injured war veterans , or help improve conditions for disadvantaged children.
Here are some Advantages of starting a social directed business.
You get a feeling of self-worth while earning a living.
The community and your beneficiaries benefit as your business grows and matures.
Customers may be willing to become involved in the business because it supports a good cause.
It could be easier to attract and motivate employees and volunteers to share in your social aims.
You could possibly qualify for a government or church based grant and raise funds from people or organizations who share your social aspirations.
Here are some Disadvantages of starting a social directed business.
Sometimes your social aims may get in the way of making progressive decisions.
You may have to make difficult choices as to how much income to make.
If there is any surplus, profits it is expected to be put back into the business or go toward supporting the cause.
Why people change careers or start their own business
A change in conditions like loss of job or sudden need for more money.
A major life event can prompt or even enable you to start your business.
An inheritance or other dramatic personal event may provide the funding to kick-start you into action.
Loss of job or job stagnation could mean that now it is time to take the big step.
What are the Advantages of going into business?
It just might be an opportunity to start over or do something you’ve always wanted to do.
You have a chance to prove yourself.
You get to choose your future
You can make as much as you are determined to make. .
Even though you’re never your own boss you can have the flexibility of working around family commitments.
What are the Disadvantages of going into business?
You will have to ware many hats, meaning its up to you to take care of all business matters.
Going into business is a life-changing event and it can be very stressful.
Don’t make decisions that would effect others when you are personally disturbed.
It usually takes about three years to start showing a profit from a new business.
It is most unlikely that you will see any speedy returns on your investment and you must prepare for a long, and sometimes difficult challenge.
In the beginning stages especially, it could mean working long hours for little pay and making sacrifices in your personal life. Make sure those around you are prepared for the challenges ahead.
Should you start a business when you’re unemployed?
If you’re drawing unemployment your composition wages might not be enough to carry you through while starting a business. It may be better to find a job and slowly work into a business on the side. If you already have the tools, like a lawn mower (lawn service), a buffer and vacuum (carpet cleaning) or car (delivery service) then you might solicit people you know for business or references.
Starting your own business is not easy. It takes unusual fortitude to make the transition from wage earner to self reliance. Don’t attempt it unless you have the confidence and determination to succeed.
Enterprise Social Network – Giving a Whole New View to Collaborative Work
Big ideas can come from anywhere, which is why companies always try to involve everyone concerned whenever they are looking for the freshest ideas. They hold brainstorming sessions that includes everyone who is connected to a certain project. However, there is still the need to be physically present in such meetings. With the introduction of the Internet, such a need is made obsolete. All you need to do is log in at the appointed time and you can join the session via conferencing. Taking it one step further is the enterprise social network. Now, you don’t need to be physically present nor do you need to be online at a certain period of time. You can still collaborate with different projects without the time and place constraints.
Enterprise social network is made up of a social software that is used by enterprises to speed up and streamline communications. To be called an enterprise social network, it must have certain functionalities built-in such as a search function, linking, authoring, tagging function, as well as signaling function. One such software tool that is used commonly by companies and falls under enterprise social network is the wiki.
A wiki is a software that is made for enterprise social networking. It is a collection of web pages that is designed to be accessible to anyone. It can be configured in such a way that anyone who has the privilege can modify, add, or even remove content. Enterprises make use of wikis for collaborative work. Instead of having to meet in the board room every week, they instead make use of wikis to track down progress in any given project. Members of a certain project can then change specific web pages in the wiki just to keep the others informed of what has been done and what else needs to be done. There are several available wiki software on the web. Some would require you to pay, while some are open source. One such open source wiki is the DokuWiki.
DokuWiki is a small and simple to use Wiki software. It targets small companies that need collaborative work. This could include documentation or implementation of a project. If you don’t like setting up complex databases, then you would love DokuWiki. It works with simple text files foregoing the need to setup a database for it. Setting it up is as simple as downloading the compressed file, extracting the contents, and creating space for it in your server. Included is the install.php which will guide you throughout the installation.
If you are setting up an enterprise social network for your company, you might want to check out wikis. And if you want the simplest way to get started on one without having to shell out money, try the DokuWiki.
Posted in Social Enterprise | Tags: Collaborative, Enterprise, Giving, Network, Social, View, Whole, Work | No Comments »