Book Review: Green Values
We're looking at three books that share a common theme: the need for individuals and companies to incorporate green principles and a respect for the Earth's resources into their value systems and business strategies. The books make a powerful trilogy that address three important issues: national policy, corporate strategy and personal commitment. More »
Connect and Look Forward
With so much daily news of wavering markets, and the R-word — recession — rearing its ugly head, it may be difficult for business leaders to remain positive and display that confidence to others throughout the organization. With that in mind, HOW Online decided to ask leaders, innovators and authors, "How do you keep your sense of optimism — and convey it to employees and co-workers — when so much bad news is out there now?" More »
Corporate Responsibility: Hard Times, Bright Future
"We link sustainability and productivity in our initiatives because I believe it can save you money — and it's the right thing to do,"
— John Anderson,
CEO, Levi Strauss & Co.
President-elect Barack Obama will advance the agenda of corporate responsibility — and despite hard times, there’s reason to be optimistic about its future. These themes sounded at the Business for Social Responsibility conference, where participants examined issues of sustainability, growth and the leadership that will be required to bring it about. More »
Weaving Ethics into the Core
Instead of rationalizing in the face of the current financial crisis that has refocused the public's reproachful eye on the degree programs that "turned out" ethically challenged leaders, a number of business schools are part of a trend now taking shape for their efforts in making distinct strides to embed ethics into the core of their curricula. More »
Reward Systems, Values and Consistency
In the second part of the discussion between HOW Online's Dov Seidman and HOW contributor Steve Kerr, Kerr explores why now is a good time to write a book about reward systems: election season and how we reward politicians for lying. Kerr talks about how reward systems work — or don’t work — not only in politics, but in business and medicine as well. More »
Does Your Reward System Measure Up?
In times of economic uncertainty, one of the greatest challenges for any business is the achievement of revenue targets and profit goals while maintaining a healthy corporate culture. HOW Online's Dov Seidman speaks with HOW contributor Steve Kerr about Kerr's new book on reward systems and the critical role they can play in addressing that challenge. More »
Friedman to Wall Street: Get Your HOWs Right
A New York Times column by Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Friedman considers the root cause of and prescription for our current economic crisis in terms we all know and care about here at HOW Online — that in our connected and transparent world, how we do things matters more than ever. More »
Making Sustainability Sustainable
"Sustainability is not just about risks and threats. It's also about opportunities and strengths."
— Tracy Austin,
spokesperson,
Mitsubishi International
Corporate sustainability means a lot more than "going green" by merely volunteering to plant trees at the local school. In the long run, many companies may have little choice but to become greener and more responsible. But sustainable progress can be difficult and slow. More »
Does Employee Conduct Matter?
"People who are running companies are being measured on very short-term results - and ethical behavior is not a short-term result."
— Director of human resources,
home video distributor
In the second part of the "LRN Values of Corporate Values" study, researchers examined the significance U.S. business leaders and their companies place on how employees conduct themselves in getting their work done and found a disconnect between expectation and practice. More »
Outperforming by ‘Outbehaving’
By understanding why many old habits no longer provide a sufficient or lasting competitive advantage, 21st century business leaders can begin to help their organizations with the challenge of embracing behavior as a unique and renewable source of sustainable differentiation. More »