Stanford Social Innovation Review

More and more business leaders recognize that their company’s future is increasingly intertwined with the needs and demands of society. But many executives don’t understand how to manage that changing relationship. In this article, McKinsey & Company consultants provide a model for incorporating sociopolitical issues into the strategic decision-making process.

You know the world is changing when the largest corporate buy-out in history hinges on an environmental commitment. That’s what happened in February when two top private equity firms enlisted the help of Environmental Defense, a nonprofit that finds practical solutions to environmental problems, to acquire TXU Corp., the largest utility in Texas.

SSIR Academic Editor Jim Phills spoke with Nike’s Hannah Jones about the sportswear giant’s extensive corporate social responsibility programs.

Multinational corporations are in a quandary: Stakeholders are imposing higher standards than ever, but businesses are confused about what their global social responsibilities actually are.

How an ecotourism company and a native community share power in Peru.

For much of its history, Wal-Mart’s corporate management team toiled inside its “Bentonville Bubble,” narrowly focused on operational efficiency, growth, and profits. But now the world’s largest retailer has widened its sights, building networks of employees, nonprofits, government agencies, and suppliers to “green” its supply chains. Here’s how and why the world’s largest retailer is using a network approach to decrease its environmental footprint – and to increase its profitability.

MomsRising is tapping a vast resource to improve the lives of American families.

Foundation payout rates and the time value of money.

Managing the collaboration portfolio.

Nonprofits are buying Ben & Jerry’s franchises
to help train at-risk youth.

When it comes to gaining a market edge while supporting a social cause, ‘corporate social marketing’ leads the pack.

How employees push their companies
– little by little – to be more socially responsible.

A reputation for CSR may shield
companies from the public’s ire.

Environmental lawyers around the world join forces via E-LAW.

Leading corporations switch from defense to offense in solving global problems.

Climate change is a hot issue. To combat global warming and other environmental problems, Greenpeace’s strategy is both to protest against environmental offenders and to help them craft solutions to their ecological gaffes – often at the same time. Using this inside-out approach, Greenpeace catapulted Greenfreeze, an obscure ozone- and climate-safe refrigerant, into widespread use and launched the first Green Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000.

The Rainforest Action Network launched an intensive consumer boycott of several Mitsubishi companies, leading to significant changes in the way the Japanese giant and many of its partners do business. That engagement provides critical lessons for both activist NGOs and corporations.

Socially responsible brands that merge with multinationals may be abandoning their principles

Why eco-friendly products may be bad for the environment.