The document summarizes key findings from a survey of Bhutanese entrepreneurs on how their businesses incorporate values of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and Buddhism. It finds that while companies strongly define their values and most try to integrate GNH, there is confusion over specific GNH principles and challenges in applying philosophies practically. It recommends developing practical GNH business guides, metrics, training, and regulations to better support small- and medium-sized enterprises in Bhutan.

1. Zoltan Valcsicsak
The Social Profit Maker
Hungarian Bhutan Friendship Society
Buddhist Values in Business Workshop, Brussels
24-25 November 2012
www.valcsicsak.net www.bhutan.info.hu

2. Entrepreneur Modified version of front page of
the book by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse.

3. “Buddha was not dreaming up solutions
such as starting a new world economy.”
D.J. Khyentse

5. by jen_myronuk

6. Empathy - walking in other
people’s jeans

7. Clare Melford, CEO, Int. Business Leaders Forum
“There should be more Buddhism in business.”
“Principles of Buddhism are making a quite, but steady march into
the board room.”

8. Becoming Buddhist?
Coca-Cola
Pfizer
Goldman Sachs
Diageo
Tata
...

11. Mr. Buddhism Inc.
Shi Yongxin, abbot of the Shaolin Temple

13. Supported by the Loden Foundation

14. “Smiles motivate me” - Dawa Dakpa, ShoeVival

15. First SME Responsibility Survey in Bhutan
to assess practice of
sustainability, CSR and GNH

16. started in Oct 2012, work in progress
60 questions online
focus on Loden and Thimphu TechPark entrepreneurs
9 companies responded to date
service industry
young leaders and new companies with 1-6 employees
from bookstore to construction, from training to recycling

17. Company values:
key principles, integrating GNH & religion
Workplace:
treating employees, health, time, diversity,
balance
Marketplace:
competition, challenges, government
tendering, admired countries/entrepreneurs
Environment:
impact reduction, cost, competitiveness
Community:
stakeholder relations, giving, dialogue
GNH & Business:
how to apply GNH & Buddhism, barriers

18. Company values:
100% defined company values -- quality being number one
GNH and religion mostly integrated
values often or always communicated
Workplace:
positive:
consultation, flexible working hours, family concerned, 30%
female leaders, employees feel good & energized
negative:
absenteeism due to health issues:18 days/person/year in average
entrepreneurs: happy, but worried, nervous

19. Marketplace:
cooperating to address soc./env. issues
competition: fair for the most
public tenders: generally fair and transparent (not always/mostly)
CSR: a competitive advantage
admired countries: Switzerland, Scandinavians, Japan, Singapore
challenges: skilled labor, regulations, competition

20. Environment:
100% tries to reduce impact on environment
responsibility considered competitive advantage
0-40% of ALL Bhutanese companies considered environmentally
responsible
challenges: recycling, waste, water
Community:
giving to charity: often/sometimes
social responsibility is stronger than environmental one in Bhutan
30% does NOT give to religious cause

21. GNH & Business:
confusion about key GNH pillars and domains
wide interpretation in practice
challenges:
practicality of principles and non-GNH competition
proposals:
turn philosophy into practical guide
develop GNH measurement for business
stakeholder engagement
training
more favorable SME regulations

22. Buddhism in Business:
key values applied:
compassion, mindfulness, patience, honesty, responsibility,
self-control
“GNH = Buddhism”
“What are the Buddhist values?”
“I rarely beat my employees and when I do, I do it with a smile :)”