What does it mean to be a socially responsible company? As Arena (Cause for Success
) points out, the matter is up for debate, with some environmentalists criticizing corporate "green" programs as PR stunts, while capitalist hard-liners insist companies have no business looking after anything but profit. For Arena, however, corporate responsibility isn't about broad themes like doing the right thing or making the world a better place, and it doesn't have to be a financial burden. Seeing business, society and the environment as parts of a linked system, she calls upon companies to "establish a purpose that's bigger than the end product." Instituting environment-friendly programs, for example, isn't just a matter of being green, but of developing financially sound practices that make the company more efficient. To illustrate her points, she draws liberally upon case studies from companies like JetBlue that work to "play by the rules and advance the ball," as well as companies like Merck, whose relationships with consumers and stakeholders have suffered after missteps. The well-presented evidence buttresses a forceful argument that companies that care about more than making money can still succeed. (Jan. 7)
