tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8367246433246269061.post6605386941677283067..comments2023-06-30T10:39:17.092-04:00Comments on CSR Perspective: Can A Company Acquire Its Way Into Being Sustainable?mosskehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16918894164221754248noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8367246433246269061.post-23126441167736671702010-06-09T16:35:49.897-04:002010-06-09T16:35:49.897-04:00Dutch Leonard at Harvard studies this issue. He c...Dutch Leonard at Harvard studies this issue. He co-authored a paper on the topic, examining Ben & Jerry's/Unilever, Stonyfield Farm/Groupe Danone, and Tom's of Maine/Colgate. Here's the citation: Austin, James E., and Herman B. "Dutch" Leonard. "Can the Virtuous Mouse and the Wealthy Elephant Live Happily Ever After?" California Management Review 51, no. 1 (fall 2008): 77-102.<br /><br />You can also find an abstract here: http://drfd.hbs.edu/fit/public/facultyInfo.do?facInfo=pub&facId=271872Jessica Stannard-Frielhttp://www.reimaginingcsr.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8367246433246269061.post-2826305723088631742010-06-01T09:22:56.622-04:002010-06-01T09:22:56.622-04:00Seth, thanks for the response. You have identified...Seth, thanks for the response. You have identified an area for social entrepreneurship that we are exploring with a similar though not identical project. Lifelines is a joint project with Cisco and and One World, an NGO partner http://bit.ly/9gMu2V. It consists of a voice-mail platform that provides farmers in a pilot region in India with expert advice on agriculture and animal husbandry problems. It is a chargeable service in order to try and make the business proposition sustainable. I guess the pertinent question, in light of the blog title, is whether for a venture like this we would be better acquiring a local business rather than building it in partnership with an NGO.Mosskehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17071794177808532318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8367246433246269061.post-67829974787658740462010-05-27T13:44:33.988-04:002010-05-27T13:44:33.988-04:00hi Kevin,
Thanks for the generous comments. It i...hi Kevin,<br /><br />Thanks for the generous comments. It is intriguing to think about what an analagous investment might look like in telecom -- personally, I am intrigued by the notion of helping the developing world leapfrog telephone poles and wires -- by definition when you leave behind old infrastructure you create the potential for new entrepreneurs and for a lighter environmental footprint. So much of the social media in our country is gossipy, but is there a way the developing world could adopt instantaneous information to their advantage? For example, one of the reasons local agricultural producers don't realize enough margin when they sell their produce is because they have imperfect information about pricing -- could you empower local farmers to gain more margin by providing real time shifts in spot prices?? Anyway, just an idea, but perhaps an intriguing one. best regards, Sethseth at honest teahttp://www.honesttea.comnoreply@blogger.com