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Business and Management Toward an Ecological Civilization
June 10, 2016 - June 11, 2016
How will businesses and their management structures need to be designed in order that their sector can lead the way Toward Ecological Civilization?
The transformation to a sustainable society will not be accomplished by NGOs and non-profit organizations alone. Nor will government policies by themselves suffice, given the strong influence of the private sector on policies (lobbying) and on funding candidates. (The same applies to transnational agreements.) The private sector will therefore play a major role in the transition.
Clearly, a business with no social conscience ― one that acts only to maximize profits regardless of the costs to humans and the environment ― will not be an ally in this process. But it is a fallacy to paint the entire private sector with this brush. Many in this sector care deeply about achieving sustainability; they are motivated to bring about change; and they are already using their positions and their corporations in concrete ways to advance this goal. Indeed, many features of the private sector are models for other sectors: efficiency of time and production; careful use of financial resources; streamlined and effective management; accountability to outside bodies (e.g., boards and shareholders), advanced project planning and management, experience in innovation and R&D, and the ability to use data and feedback to streamline operations, improve management and production, or even to alter their business model altogether.
This consultation will involve interviews with business leaders, consultants, and management theoriests on the subject of business and management toward and ecological civilization.
