Most companies are now pretty savvy about the stakeholders they need to pay attention to – the local and federal government, key NGOs, labor unions, community groups, and general employees and consumers, to name a few. Companies now often map these stakeholders according to their interests and influence on the company. But do you know how these stakeholder groups map globally? Would your stakeholder map be different from one country to the next? Read the rest of this entry »

As I’ve been watching the brinksmanship going on between Russia’s state-controlled gas monopoly Gazprom and the European Union, I am reminded of a seminar I participated in a few months ago with 20 Russian oil executives representing privately-owned enterprises.

As I reflect I think of how corporate citizenship is playing out. Frankly, with Gazprom, it seems they are being driven by self-interest and political clout. That is very different than what is motivating the Russian oil executives I met at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development training center. Read the rest of this entry »

Like so many countries around the world, China is responding to the current economic crisis by pumping up its economy with a $586 billion financial stimulus package, an investment that comes quickly on the heels of the us$41 billion China spent on the Beijing Summer Olympics. The planning and execution of both these bouts of big-time spending is very similar – and in both cases there is more at stake than gold medals. Read the rest of this entry »

The closely-watched federal lawsuit Bowoto v. Chevron could determine if multinational companies can be held responsible for alleged human-rights violations that occur on its properties abroad. The case involves a 1998 protest by Nigerian villagers against Chevron. The protest lasted for three days, at which time Chevron called the Nigerian military to remove them; two protesters were shot and killed, and others allegedly jailed and tortured. This is the first time courts are considering whether a corporation can be held responsible for actions of local authorities it calls in for protection. Read the full Wall Street Journal article (subscription required).

Executives and academics gathered at Boston College on June 26-27 to examine how to include UN principles in management systems and responsible business practices.

During the two-day retreat, leaders from 14 global businesses and leading academics examined ways businesses can align their operations and strategies with the UN Global Compact’s 10 principles designed to guide business in the areas of the environment, anti-corruption, human rights and labor. Read the rest of this entry »