 |
 |
Here you can find a summary of the work of Transforming Business from its inception in October 2005 to February 2008.Further progress reports will be added at appropriate intervals during the course of the project.Transforming BusinessInterim Report(October 2005 to February 2008)Overview Transforming Business reached its second anniversary on 1st October 2007. Interest in its work has risen sharply and the response to its output is extremely positive. Clearly the project's output has struck a nerve. Recipients of the project's resources have stressed that highlighting the positive aspects of globalization, even when addressing its challenges, is much needed in a debate in which cynical and destructive perspectives prevail in the media, civil society and the church. It seems that increasing numbers of people are prepared to be convinced that business can be part of the solution, rather than merely part of the problem. Key to this are resources that connect with the wholeness of human experience, including its institutional, relational, moral and spiritual dimensions. There is, however, little quality research and writing to resource this growing trend. Dr Peter Heslam, the director of Transforming Business, has sought to fill this gap, providing inspirational paradigms, grounded in sound theory and best practice, to help business, academia and civil society to understand better 'what works' when it comes to the role of enterprise in securing social, economic and spiritual good. This Interim Report provides a summary of this activity. At the end of the report, some of the responses to Peter’s work are cited. While these are encouraging, the project needs more input if it is to keep pace with growing demand. This has been restricted to just two days per week of Peter’s time, as this is all that funding has allowed. We are delighted that the Transforming Business network has recently gained the services of Dr Flint McGlaughlin in directing enterprise research (see a short biography of Flint here). But this will be on a part-time voluntary basis, designed to fit in with Flint's role as CEO of MEClabs. There is an acute need, therefore, for additional financial support. If you think you might be able to help, please contact Peter (contact details on the project's website here). For a summary of the aims of Transforming Business, see the website's 'Home' and 'About' pages. Articles The Role of Business in Making Poverty History, Whitefield Briefing Paper, vol 10.1, Autumn 2005. 'George and the Chocolate Factory' (reflection on the Quaker chocolate magnate George Cadbury (1839-1922), Connecting with Culture, Sept 2005. 'Transformative Business', Spirit in Work, issue 5 (November 2005). 'Business in the Elimination of Poverty', Faith in Business, vol 9.4 (Winter 2005/06). 'Standing up to Big Business' (discussion of the emerging new approach to business of the Conservative Party), Connecting with Culture, Jan 2006. 'Prosperity Through Economic Empowerment', Faith in Business, vol 10.1 (Spring 2006). Review of John Ashcroft and Michael Schluter (eds) Jubilee Manifesto, in Faith in Business, 10.1 (Spring 2006). 'David Cameron: Taking Care of Business?', Third Way, vol 29.2 (March 2006). 'Ending the History of Poverty', Spirit in Work, issue 6 (March 2006). 'Buffeting the Gates of Heaven: Can Philanthropy save the Poor, or only the Rich? (an analysis of social entrepreneurship provoked by Warren Buffett's decision to make a large donation to the Bill Gates Foundation) Faith in Business, vol 10.2 (Summer 2006). 'Enterprise Solutions to Climate Change', Spirit in Work, issue 7 (July 2006). 'Musings of a Market Moralist', based on an interview with Dr John Meadowcroft (Institute of Economic Affairs) about his new book The Ethics of the Market (Palgrave/Macmillan, 2006), Enterprise Excellence, 1.2. 'Globalization', New Dictionary of Apologetics (Leicester: IVP, 2006) edited by Campbell Campbell-Jack and Gavin J McGrath. 'Abraham Kuyper', New Dictionary of Apologetics (Leicester: IVP, 2006) edited by Campbell Campbell-Jack and Gavin J McGrath. 'A Convenient Truth' (a response both to Richard Branson's pledge to give Virgin profits to developing green technology and to An Inconvenient Truth, a new film by Al Gore, former Vice President of the USA), Connecting with Culture, Sept 2006. Review article of the biography Abraham Kuyper (Amsterdam: Boom, 2006) by Jeroen Koch, in Documentatieblad voor de Nederlandse Kerkgeschiedenis (Oct 2006). 'An Affluence for Good' (prompted by the decision by the Governor of the Bank of England to print an image of Adam Smith on the new £20 note), Connecting with Culture, Nov 2006. 'Banking on the Poor: The Banker who is Changing the World, One Micro-Loan at a Time' (an article on Muhammad Yunus, the Muslim founder of Grameen Bank, pioneer of micro-credit and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2006, in Faith in Business, vol 10.3 (Autumn 2006). 'Doing Business with Purpose' (reflecting on the legacy of the Nobel prize-winning economist Milton Friedman on the occasion of his death), Connecting with Culture, Nov 2006. 'Universal Affluence: Adam Smith's Radical Vision', Spirit in Work, issue 8, Dec 2006 'William Wilberforce: How Transforming Business can Turn the Tide of History', Faith in Business, vol 10.4 (Winter, 2006-07). 'Setting the Captives Free' (a call for the re-integration of 'Christianity and commerce', drawing on the vision of William Wilberforce, marking the bi-centenary of the abolition of slavery), Connecting with Culture, March 2007. 'Entering the Circle of Exchange: Catholic Social Teaching and the Role of Business in the Eradication of Pover', co-authored with Ben Andradi. Published on the website of the John Ryan Institute for Catholic Social Thought, University of St Thomas, Minnesota, USA (www.stthomas.edu/cathstudies) 'Flirting with Corruption' (a discussion of the development implications of Paul Wolfowitz's admission that he showed favouritism towards an employee who was also his female companion), Connecting with Culture, April 2007. 'Purposeful Wealth Creation: Eradicating Poverty Through Enterprise', in Through the Eye of a Needle: Theological Conversations over Political Economy, edited by John Atherton and Hannah Skinner (Peterborough: Epworth, 2007), pp. 121-36. 'Reducing Poverty through Successful Business: The Role of Social Capital', in Alleviating Poverty through Business Strategy (Palgrave/Macmillan, 2007), edited by Charles Wankel and James Stoner. 'A Silent Revolution' (a reflection on the way in business is embracing social and environmental concerns as a strategic opportunity), Connecting with Culture, July 2007. 'Tomorrow's Global Company: Rewarding Humility', Faith in Business, vol 11.1 (Spring 2007). 'The Emerging Wisdom-Based Economy', Spirit in Work, issue 9 (July 2007). 'Enterprise with Attitude: Anita Roddick, Great Dame of British Business, Faith in Business, vol 11.2 (Summer 2007). Anita Roddick' (a tribute to Britain's most successful female entrepreneur), Connecting with Culture, September 2007). The Business of Peace: The Role of Commerce in Peace-Building', Faith in Business, vol 11.3 (Autumn 2007). Conference papers 'Eradicating Poverty through Enterprise', address to the Manchester Theological Society (Manchester diocesan clergy and Manchester University Theology Faculty). Held at Manchester Cathedral, Nov 15, 2005. 'Business in Development', delivered at the conference The Moral Nature of the Company, organized by the Ely Work/Life Seminar. Held at Ely Cathedral, Feb 24-26 2006. 'Transforming Business: The Vision, Aims and Projected Outcomes', delivered at the conference Free Enterprise: Values in Action, organised by the Gruter Foundation for Law and Behavioural Research, the John Templeton Foundation, the UCLA-Sloan Research Program and the Centre for Business Research, Judge Business School. Held at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, March 23-25, 2006. 'Moule, Mission and Market: Does the vision of "Christianity and Commerce" have Anything to Teach us Today?' (a paper exploring the relevance of Handley Moule, David Livingstone and George Cadbury to the role of business and mission in the global economy), delivered at the conference Past Present and Future: Christian Faith and Business Practice, organized by Transforming Business and the Ridley Hall Foundation. Held at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, April, 7-9, 2006. 'The Purpose of Business', at a consultation on the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) report Prosperity with a Purpose, organized by the William Temple Foundation. Held St Michael's College, Llandaff, Wales, April 10-11, 2006. 'Integrating Christianity and Commerce: Can Business History Help Find the Future?', at a consultation of Eastern European business people, organized by Integra, a network of social enterprise and micro-credit agencies. Held at Schloss Mittersill, Austria, June 11-15, 2006. 'Transformation, Relational Capital and the Role of Business in Poverty Alleviation', delivered at the Tyndale Fellowship Triennial Conference Transforming the World. Held at Regents Park Conference Centre, Nantwich, July 3-7 2006. 'Catholic Social Teaching and the role of Business at the Base of the Economic Pyramid', delivered at the conference The Good Company: Catholic Social Thought and Corporate Social Responsibility, Pontifical University (Angelicum), Rome, Oct 5-7, 2006. Co-presented with Ben Andradi (CEO, Servista). Paper on 'Enterprise Solutions to Poverty', delivered at the conference Work, Community and Values, organized by the Ely Business Ethics Forum, Nov 23-24 2006, Ely Cathedral. Keynote address at the Ecumenical World Development Consultation 2007, Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick, Derbyshire, 21-23 March 2007. Conference title: 'Lifestyles - One Person's Lifestyle, Another Person's Life: How do our Choices Impact the Global South?' 'Applying a Relational Paradigm to Business', an address given at a conference entitled 'Theological Visions and Public Languages' on 18th April 2007, organized by the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics (Tyndale House, Cambridge), the Jubilee Centre (Cambridge), Theos (London), and the Von Hugel Institute (St Edmund's College, Cambridge). Electronic media Designed Transforming Business website (www.transformingbusiness.net) and supplied it with copious material, including resources, reviews, news items, events, codes of business ethics and case studies. Founded and edited Enterprise Excellence, the project's ezine. Circulation increasing (currently around 1500). Radio media Interview about Transforming Business, Radio Cambridgeshire, 18th March 2007. Inspirational addresses Inspirational addresses on the purpose and vocation of business, delivered on various occasions, including:
Consultations Consultations leading up to the publication of Principles for Those in Business, published by the Christian Association of Business Executives, Dec 2005. The Sick Company, a one-day seminar organized by the Faith in Business project at Ridley Hall in Cambridge, Sept 16, 2005. Takeover by the Company? Finding Personal Wholeness in the Changing World of Work, organized by a consortium of Christian business groups, St Paul's Cathedral, Nov 17, 2005. Tomorrow's Global Company: The Challenges and Choices, an in-depth consultation organized by Tomorrow's Company (originally an initiative of the RSA), June 6 2006. The outcomes of this consultation were fed into a major report published by Tomorrow's Company, bearing the same title as the consultation, launched in June 2007 at Reuters' headquarters in London. Principles in Small Companies, a one-day seminar organized by Faith in Business (Ridley Hall, Cambridge) and the Christian Association for Business Executives, Sept 15, 2006. Supplying relevant resources and data to a temporary research assistant for Transforming Business employed by the Judge Business School during the summer months of 2006. Consultations with nine faculty members of the Judge Business School and three faculty members of the Cambridge Programme for Industry, Cambridge University on the subject area of Transforming Business. Product development and strategy consultations with the project's patrons and advisers, and with executives of the John Templeton Foundation. Detailed conversations with representatives of the Jubilee Centre and Relationships Foundation regarding the application of a relational paradigm to business management and economic development. Meetings with representatives of the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) about possible cooperation. HRH Prince Charles (the Patron of Business in the Community) and Al Gore, former US Vice President. Explorations with the Kirby Laing Institute of Christian Ethics (Tyndale House, Cambridge) and the think tank Theos about potential synergy and cooperation. Round-table consultation with Enterprise Africa! - a research project on enterprise-based solutions to poverty, Mercatus Center, George Mason University (USA), held on 5th February 2008 at the Institute for Economic Affairs, London. Consultations with leaders of large corporations who are interested in the role of business in tackling social, economic, ethical and environmental issues. Work in Progress Book chapter in Transforming the World (Paternoster), edited by Dewi Hughes. Fighting Poverty through Profits, booklet to be published by the Institute of Directors, written with Prof Graeme Leach. The Contribution of Business to Social Capital in Developing Countries, booklet to be published by the Centre for Business Research, Judge Business School, Cambridge University, written with three of its faculty. 'Groping at Perpetuity', an interview with Cambridge IT tycoon and social entrepreneur, Peter Dawe, to be published in Enterprise Excellence. 'Globalization Works', an interview with Martin Wolf of the Financial Times, to be published in Enterprise Excellence. 'Theological Paradigms for the Global Economy' for Markets and Morality. Fresh Perspectives: Enterprise Solutions to Poverty in Recent Catholic Social Teaching, a booklet to be published by the Acton Institute. Book chapter in Christian Morality and Market Economies: Theological and Philosophical Perspectives, edited by Samuel Gregg and Ian Harper. Social Enterprise Workshop, organized jointly with Faith in Business (Ridley Hall), with significant input from the Judge Business School, 23rd May 2008. Seven leading experts in the theory and practice of social entrepreneurship will lead discussions of a gathering of invited social entrepreneurs. Seminars on ethics, enterprise and economic development, organized with Faith in Business and the Kirby Laing Institute for Christian Ethics, both in Cambridge. Lecture tour in USA on the relationship between business, religious history and the elimination of poverty, February 26-March 6th 2008. Lectures to business and university audiences (Harvard, Fordham, Columbia and St John's). Lectures on the role of ethics, spirituality and religion in economic development, for the MPhil in Development Studies, Cambridge University. Patrons and Advisers to Transforming Business Prof Helen Alford (Pontifical University, Rome) Response The following feedback on output by Peter Heslam has been received from entrepreneurs and business leaders on four continents: 'Thank you for your timely reflections. You helped influence business decisions made earlier this week. I appreciate the clear thinking and writing you provide.' 'You have a very concise way of handling important issues. Most impressive.' 'You have highlighted an ethical issue at the heart of the reason business doesn't always uplift the poor in the way that it should. It is also a model of brevity.' 'You give such sound, measured and clear responses to complex issues! Living in Russia since 1991, I agree that corruption and low levels of social capital are two of the main reasons for continued poverty in the otherwise rich country.' 'Thank you for this interesting, intriguing and enlightening piece.' 'Your observations concur exactly with our experience working with thoughtful leaders of major multinationals.' 'You have produced another great resource. Keep up the good work!' 'This article is courageous but true. Thanks for making a stand. You're doing very important work in an area that's been ignored far too long.' |