What is the relationship between CSR & sustainability? Why is culture important and how does it impact how an organization addresses both?

1. Kathryn Alexander,
Culture, Sustainability, CSR Ethical Impact L3C
Tuesday, February 19, 13

2. The Long View
• Culture
• Tacit agreements about how to be
‘good’ here.
• Sustainability
• Ability to sustain for a long time.
• CSR - from Eric Olson, Sr. VP of
Advisory Services
• Brundtland Commission's report in
1992
• Dow Jones, “Corporate sustainability
is a business approach that creates
long-term shareholder value by
embracing opportunities and
managing risks deriving from
economic, environmental and social
developments.”
Tuesday, February 19, 13

3. Time
• Culture = immediate, here - in
this place
• Sustainability = forever, all life
and the entire planet
• CSR = ?
• What is its purpose?
• Where does it belong?
• The issue of parts and pieces
Tuesday, February 19, 13

4. Culture - the How
Tuesday, February 19, 13

5. Four Kinds of Culture
• Command & Control
• Immediate
• Us vs. Them
• Competitive
• Short-Term
• Winning
• Collaborative
• Longer Term
• Learning
• Creative
• Indeterminate
• Innovation
Tuesday, February 19, 13

6. CSR & Culture
• Command & Control,
Competitive
• Compliance
• Best in class
• Collaborative - becomes
creative
• Intent - impact
• Move beyond non-profits to
community
• Preventative vs Restorative
Tuesday, February 19, 13

7. Sustainability - the What
Tuesday, February 19, 13

8. CSR & Sustainability
• Triple Bottom Line
• Compliance = lagging
indicators
• Competitive = marketing and
status
• Collaborative = at the service
of the community
• Creative = restorative,
preventative & even
regenerative
Tuesday, February 19, 13

9. Three Stages of Sustainability
• First Stage
• Wise use of resources
• Delegated,
compartmentalized
• Second Stage
• Holistic Thinking, Zero Waste
• Up & down stream
• New product development
• Third Stage
• Regenerative
Tuesday, February 19, 13

10. CSR & the Organization - the Where
Tuesday, February 19, 13

11. Level of Commitment
• Special project, team,
department
• Policies and procedures
• Strategic
• Intent/impact
• Pervasive
• Holistic
Tuesday, February 19, 13

12. The Journey
• Expand the time frame to
forever
• Expand the locus of concern to
the Planet
• Expand the intent from repair to
regenerative
Tuesday, February 19, 13

13. www.ethicalimpact.com
888-331-7492
Tuesday, February 19, 13