"Doing Well by Doing Good"- Summary of Interviews
I have just completed an executive program at Case Western Reserve University called “Positive Leadership and Society Change” that has a focus on strengths based change using the Appreciative Inquiry methodology. As part of the requirements, program participants interviewed business leaders who have put in practice in their business the concept of “doing well by doing good”. I interviewed five business organizations all in Canada. Some of them have a comprehensive quality management system and are ISO registered. All are innovative organizations, involved in their community and have leaders with a personal passion for “doing well by doing good”. Each business has developed a business model that has integrated the principles and practices of a socially responsible organization and each has a demonstrated commitment to sustainable development. What I obser4ved in each organization was the personal commitment that the leaders have to sustainability and to finding a way to fully integrate sustainability as an integral part of their business. Leadership was a critical element in the early days of what was called TQM and is now a critical element in advancing business as an agent of change for the good. The University has an initiative called Business as an Agent of World Benefit and has developed an Innovation Bank where stories are available for all to read as a reference source. Here is a summary of each of the interviews that I did.
The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company
The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company, Canada’s greenest dairy is located in an area of Eastern Ontario known as Prince Edward County. Fifth Town Artisan Cheese has just completed the first year of operation. The story behind the two people who established Fifth Town, is a remarkable story of entrepreneurial focus, vision and personal commitment. The core philosophy of this business is equally a remarkable story. From the start the Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company was set up to be an environmentally and socially responsible niche producer of superior cheeses. The artisan cheese products, handmade from local goat and sheep milk, honour the best from the craft traditions while integrating with the future economic strategy of the region.
Scott Environmental Group
The Scott Environmental Group Ltd. is a privately owned eco-technology company located in Kingston, Ontario. The Company provides a wide range of innovative environmental systems and solutions to industrial, commercial and institutional clients in Ontario and Quebec. The driving force behind this innovative company is the President & CEO George Scott. What started as a conviction in his youth that the environment was coming under stress and needed attention, has grown into a very successful fast growth business that is now focused on environmental sustainability as the strategic vision.
Renewable Energy of Plum Hollow
The Renewable Energy of Plum Hollow company grew out of a mid- 1970's wood stove business that started with two partners and expanded to four partners in 1996. The four partners were at a stage in their lives where they were not sure about their own careers What they did share was a personal commitment to sustainability and raising awareness of environmental issues. That then simple decision to set up a partnership and to develop what was then a singularly focused small business, has now led to the Company becoming Eastern Ontario's leader in sustainable energy and resource conservation technology.
Teknion Furniture Systems
Teknion is a great Canadian business success story, an industry leader in sustainable design practices with a corporate culture that demonstrates you can do well by doing good. Teknion, an international designer, manufacturer, and marketer of high-end office furniture systems started business in 1981 with 25 people at one 30,000-square-foot facility in Toronto, Canada. Today, the company has 3,900 employees and approximately 2.7 million square feet of facilities worldwide. Teknion is built on a foundation of design and innovation, product agility, and a commitment to long-term relationships with customers. That foundation and an innovative corporate culture is the genesis of how Teknion was able to transform their business through a focus on environment initiatives incorporating sustainable design practices.
The Delphi Group
The Delphi Group, a climate change consulting company located in Ottawa, Ontario, is Canada’s sustainable business practice leader. The Delphi Group has established a reputation as the go to organization for companies that want to get a handle on and improve their corporate sustainability plan. Delphi is a pioneer in the industry, having carved out a brand that is known for working with senior corporate leaders on change issues relating to sustainability.
Dan Corbett
September 4,2009
The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company
The Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company, Canada’s greenest dairy is located in an area of Eastern Ontario known as Prince Edward County. Fifth Town Artisan Cheese has just completed the first year of operation. The story behind the two people who established Fifth Town, is a remarkable story of entrepreneurial focus, vision and personal commitment. The core philosophy of this business is equally a remarkable story. From the start the Fifth Town Artisan Cheese Company was set up to be an environmentally and socially responsible niche producer of superior cheeses. The artisan cheese products, handmade from local goat and sheep milk, honour the best from the craft traditions while integrating with the future economic strategy of the region.
Scott Environmental Group
The Scott Environmental Group Ltd. is a privately owned eco-technology company located in Kingston, Ontario. The Company provides a wide range of innovative environmental systems and solutions to industrial, commercial and institutional clients in Ontario and Quebec. The driving force behind this innovative company is the President & CEO George Scott. What started as a conviction in his youth that the environment was coming under stress and needed attention, has grown into a very successful fast growth business that is now focused on environmental sustainability as the strategic vision.
Renewable Energy of Plum Hollow
The Renewable Energy of Plum Hollow company grew out of a mid- 1970's wood stove business that started with two partners and expanded to four partners in 1996. The four partners were at a stage in their lives where they were not sure about their own careers What they did share was a personal commitment to sustainability and raising awareness of environmental issues. That then simple decision to set up a partnership and to develop what was then a singularly focused small business, has now led to the Company becoming Eastern Ontario's leader in sustainable energy and resource conservation technology.
Teknion Furniture Systems
Teknion is a great Canadian business success story, an industry leader in sustainable design practices with a corporate culture that demonstrates you can do well by doing good. Teknion, an international designer, manufacturer, and marketer of high-end office furniture systems started business in 1981 with 25 people at one 30,000-square-foot facility in Toronto, Canada. Today, the company has 3,900 employees and approximately 2.7 million square feet of facilities worldwide. Teknion is built on a foundation of design and innovation, product agility, and a commitment to long-term relationships with customers. That foundation and an innovative corporate culture is the genesis of how Teknion was able to transform their business through a focus on environment initiatives incorporating sustainable design practices.
The Delphi Group
The Delphi Group, a climate change consulting company located in Ottawa, Ontario, is Canada’s sustainable business practice leader. The Delphi Group has established a reputation as the go to organization for companies that want to get a handle on and improve their corporate sustainability plan. Delphi is a pioneer in the industry, having carved out a brand that is known for working with senior corporate leaders on change issues relating to sustainability.
Dan Corbett
September 4,2009
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