Enterprise Excellence 3

Editorial

Welcome!

Welcome to this new edition of Enterprise Excellence!

Two years on from the launch of this project, I am more convinced than ever that the issue of global poverty is the leading practical and moral issue of our times and that alleviating it will only take place when we put business at its heart.

This is not to suggest that a practical and moral issue can be solved with a mechanical solution. It is true, as Bill Gates said in a speech at a recent summit of the World Economic Forum, that we should make every effort to 'stretch the reach of market forces' to include the poor. Giving products and services from low-income countries free access to high-income markets is one obvious place for this to begin.

But 'market forces' are not as impersonal as the term implies. They constitute a network of relationships that involve people, institutions and communities. None of these are morally neutral - they stand for certain things, make certain choices and hold certain values. Looking to business as a solution to poverty makes sense because it is a practical and moral solution to a practical and moral issue.

It is exciting to see people all over the world, from all walks of life, waking up to this, turning to business as a potential force for good. So often it has been seen as part of the problem of poverty, social fragmentation and environmental degradation. Now people are coming to see it as part of the solution.

What convinces me that this is more than a passing phase is that the most promising enterprise solutions to poverty aren't generally in the realm of 'corporate philanthropy' but in the realm of core business. They allow businesses to do what they do best, in ways that serve their own interests as well as those of the poor, society and the environment, thereby ensuring that they are sustainable.

Often, therefore, it is simply a matter of business leaders having the courage to 'think outside the box' about where their true self-interest lies. There are a growing number of case studies that can stimulate their thinking. Many companies are beginning to develop some of their products and services in ways that are appropriate and affordable for people in poverty, and in doing so are opening up vast untouched markets.

But this is only one way that business can act as a solution to poverty by means of its core operations - there are a host of others. Hopefully this is reflected in this edition of Enterprise Excellence, which is bursting with inspiring events, initiatives, resources, quotes and case studies that relate in some way or other to the role of business in human development.

This is not the place to summarize the huge amount of activity carried out by Transforming Business over the past couple of years (a report is available here). But I do want to share with you two pieces of particularly exciting news.

First, simultaneously with the release of this ezine, the project is launching an upgraded and revamped website. This follows the theft of my computer, which meant the old website had to 'frozen'. There are a number of new features, including a Blog, which I plan to start using as soon as I've learned how to - as a non-technician I'm very grateful to the people who have so patiently helped with the revamp!

Secondly, the Transforming Business network has recently gained the services of Dr Flint McGlaughlin in directing its enterprise research. Although this will be part-time and on a voluntary basis, it is a strategic development, not least because of Flint's unique combination of academic and business expertise. A short biography of Flint can be found here.

We are always glad to hear from supporters of our vision and readers of Enterprise Excellence, and we welcome suggestions for inclusion in future editions of the ezine.

With best wishes,

Dr Peter Heslam, Director, Transforming Business, Cambridge University.

The resources, including the quotes, contained in this ezine are offered on their own merits. They do not necessarily reflect the thinking of Transforming Business.

Peter Heslam, the editor, would be happy to receive suggestions for inclusion or improvement in future editions of Enterprise Excellence. If, however, you'd rather not receive this ezine, simply return the email that delivered it with 'unsubscribe' as the subject.