1. Business as a Change Agent
for Economic and Social Good
Dr. Joseph Williams
Dean
School of Business, Government, and Economics
E N G A G I N G T H E C U L T U R E , C H A N G I N G T H E W O R L D .

2. What the SBGE Stands for
The School of Business and Economics seeks
 To prepare students for service and leadership in business and
society by developing their professional competence and
integrity in the context of Christian faith and values.
 To develop an academically and theologically rigorous
understanding of business and economics and to effectively
promote this understanding through teaching, pursuit of
scholarship, and engagement with the broader business
community.
The School of Business and Economics is committed to developing
and evangelizing a paradigm that challenges business to achieve
more than simple profit maximization by committing to investments,
activities, and outcomes that enhance human and community
flourishing in a more just and sustainable world.
©2001 Seattle Pacific University

3. Goals of the SBGE
Learning Goals
 Competence: SEB graduates will be able to articulate discipline-specific
knowledge and apply skills essential for service and leadership
 Character: SBE graduates will embody personal and professional integrity by
serving the public good in doing what is right and doing so with an awareness of
the consequences
 Community: SBE graduates will cultivate a life of friendship, civility and
community through responsible discourse and respect for each other
Influence Goals
 SBE will develop an academically and theologically rigorous understanding of
business and economics grounded in Scripture and the traditions of the Church
 SBE will continue as a learning community which prizes excellence in
scholarship and will effectively promote its understanding of business within
SPU and to the broader academy
 SBE will present its theologically-informed understanding of business to the
broader business community
©2014 Seattle Pacific University

4. Business as an Agent for Economic
and Social Good is not a new idea
©2001 Seattle Pacific University

5. USA had deep roots in the idea of
Business for the Common Good

6. But Business disconnected from Society
 “Global” – little or no loyalty
to nation or to community
 Views public policy interests
as immoral restriction on
pursuit of profits
 Profit maximization is sole
focus, accrues to the benefit
of executives and
shareholders
 Employees are resources to
be used, not developed or
invested in
 If you can’t grow revenues at
least you can cut costs
©2001 Seattle Pacific University

7. Business as a Force for Good is on
the rise
 Don’t be evil
 The rise of Benefit
Corporations
 Environmental
Activism
 Invest in people and
communities
 Healthy outcomes
 Sustainability
 Eradicate Poverty

8. Do Companies doing good make
good investments?
 Studies so far shows no better financial
outcomes for amoral corporations than those
that have a “common good” focus
 “Common good” companies have happier
and more motivated employees and they
have more loyal customers
©2001 Seattle Pacific University

9. Business is reconnecting with Society
 Values matter
 Millennials (in particular) want to work at and
buy from companies that recognize and
contribute to a social purpose
 Social Venture entrepreneurship is exploding
©2001 Seattle Pacific University