Cause for Success: 10 Companies That Put Profit Second and Came in First: How Solving the World's Problems Improves Corporate Health, Growth, and Competitive Edge
- Book Review,
by Christine Arena
Richard D. Parsons, chairman and CEO of Time Warner
"Arena raises our sights and expectations. Cause for Success is a cause for cerebration as well as celebration."
Jonathan S. Lavine, managing director of Bain Capital
"I loved this book. It will help all leaders redefine success in ways previously overlooked in traditional business analysis."
Bradley Abelow, global head of operations of Goldman Sachs
"Presents fascinating insights into a new paradigm for business success in the twenty-first century."
Philip Rowley, president of AOL Europe
"An important call to arms for all business executives to recognize the vital responsibility they have in this world."
John O'Neil, president of the Center for Leadership Renewal
"This is a rare book. Read it. Keep it close."
Philip Rowley, president of AOL Europe
"An important call to arms for all business executives."
John O'Neil, president of the Center for Leadership Renewal
"This is a rare book packed with useful information. Read it. Keep it close."
Book Description
Stung by corporate scandals, many companies have begun integrating terms like sustainable business, conscious capitalism, and corporate citizenship into their annual reports. Is it mere greenwashing or are businesses today really mending their ways? Can corporate social responsibility become the new gold standard in business? In Cause for Success, Christine Arena finds reasons to be optimistic while she examines new business paradigms for doing good and translating that good into profit. From Hewlett-Packard to British Petroleum to Stonyfield Farm and the Grameen Bank, the book profiles two case-study companies per chapter, exploring radical ideas about why ethics-driven companies are today's business trendsetters, how standing up for social justice garners competitive advantage, the bottom-line benefits of serving the world's poor, the potential business rewards of philanthropic partnerships, as well as how some of the worst corporate citizens have become some of the best.
From the Publisher
Stung by corporate scandals, many companies have begun integrating terms like "sustainable business," "conscious capitalism," and "corporate citizenship" into their annual reports. Is it mere greenwashing or are businesses today really mending their ways? Can corporate social responsibility become the new gold standard in business? In Cause for Success, Christine Arena finds reasons to be optimistic while she examines new business paradigms for doing good and translating that good into profit. From Hewlett-Packard to British Petroleum to Stonyfield Farm and the Grameen Bank, the book profiles two case-study companies per chapter, exploring radical ideas about why ethics-driven companies are today’s business trendsetters, how standing up for social justice garners competitive advantage, the bottom-line benefits of serving the world’s poor, the potential business rewards of philanthropic partnerships, as well as how some of the worst corporate citizens have become some of the best.
From the Author
My initial objective in conducting research for Cause for Success was to examine the optimal relationship between "charity" and the modern corporation. What makes corporate philanthropy programs thrive? What do companies stand to gain from attacking serious world problems? What does society stand to gain? And what does this mean for the future of capitalism? These are some of the questions that I sought to answer. At the onset of this project, I had no idea how potent the findings would be. I was stunned by the passion and devotion that some of the world’s most renowned corporate leaders conveyed in addressing these matters. I did not realize how crucial service could be to a company’s ability to sustain profitability and achieve greatness. I had also underestimated how critical it is that every company, regardless of size or industry, reassess its approach both to philanthropy and business success in general. Voluntary evolution, it turns out, is a necessary means of survival. Today I am totally convinced that we are in the midst of a sweeping transformation. Strategic corporate responsibility is changing the face of business. Like the rise of the Internet, it presents a new playing field with advanced rules. Companies that use it wisely gain competitive edge and growth opportunities, while companies that ignore its significance eventually lose ground and face greater challenges. Corporate good deeds are not just a nice thing to do. They are among the wisest things a company can do.
From the Inside Flap
Cause for Success distills the wisdom and achievements of innovative companies into easy-to-read profiles. Through exclusive interviews with company leaders and real-world data, Christine Arena presents potent strategies that serve both shareholder interests and society at large.
About the Author
Christine Arena is the former managing director of Polese Clancy, a former strategy director for Zentropy Partners, and the co-founder of several businesses. She currently heads an initiative that helps companies develop innovative and profitable corporate responsibility programs, and lives in San Francisco, California.
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