We’re starting this week’s blog with a brief history of stakeholder engagement on corporate responsibility. Looking back to the eighties, corporate stakeholder engagement on sustainability was initially oriented towards governments and environmental compliance. Push-back on infrastructure and development from communities was the main catalyst for public consultations, which were largely local, box-ticking exercises. As we moved into the 1990s, the rise of a more empowered civil society culminated with the Battle of Seattle protests at the WTO meeting as the … “What is the future of stakeholder engagement?”
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Keep up to date with our latest news, webinars, and reports.
The first blog in our series on stakeholder engagement starts with the basics – why does stakeholder engagement matter? We’ve identified three key trends that help answer this question and give direction on how business can gain more value from stakeholder relations. First, companies are having to manage the rapidly changing dynamics of the relationship between business and society. They are being increasingly compelled to engage in dialogue and collaborate with their stakeholders, rather than simply communicating to them. While … “Why does stakeholder engagement matter?”
This GlobeScan Stakeholder Intelligence eBrief explores the issues and reputation affecting the IT industry, drawing on a decades worth of public opinion research.
This article was originally published on GreenBiz.com, as part of our Proof Points blog series. 5 September 2013 – A trend that continues to surprise me is the public’s continuing low level of recognition about companies’ efforts to improve their social and environmental performance and give back to communities. In one survey, the proportion of respondents across 14 countries who have heard some or a lot about these efforts barely has changed in the past seven years, and more than 1 in … “Why Firms Fall Short on Touting Their Sustainability Work”
GlobeScan’s Communication on Progress for the UN Global Compact outlines our efforts in making the Global Compact ten principles part of our business strategy and day-to-day operations.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 23 August 2013 – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) continues to have a positive impact on the lives of the poor in the Asia and Pacific region, says a new independent perceptions survey conducted by GlobeScan. The survey – conducted with 900 stakeholders in 31 member countries late last year and earlier this year – shows that the majority of opinion leaders across ADB member countries also think ADB helps countries meet their development goals, particularly through its support for … “Survey Shows ADB Continues Positive Impact on Region’s Poor”
ADB Perceptions Survey: Multinational Survey of Stakeholders 2012
Much has been written about the benefits of engaging employees on corporate social responsibility or sustainability efforts. Take GlobeScan board member Kellie McElhaney’s assertion in her book, “Just Good Business”: “Study after study shows that CSR is significantly linked to employees’ satisfaction. Employees tend to feel good about coming to work and earning a paycheck, as well as about contributing to some sort of social or environmental issue.” GlobeScan’s research has indicated that for many employees their company is engaging … “You’re Talking to Employees About Sustainability Wrong”
BT’s Better Future Forum (powered by GlobeScan) is an online discussion that brings together the world’s leading thinkers to share and develop new strategies to help build a more sustainable future for everyone.
Earlier this week, Dutch pension fund PGGM Vermogensbeheer B.V announced that they would cease investment in US retail giant Walmart, citing the company’s failure to engage with their concerns, particularly over labour issues. Two years ago, GlobeScan examined the public’s perceptions of Walmart and found that it was cited as socially irresponsible by many more than described it as responsible. In 2013, that trust deficit persists. When asked, unprompted, to name a socially responsible company, 2 percent cited Walmart, whereas … “Labour Issues at Heart of Walmart’s Reputational Problems”
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This GlobeScan Stakeholder Intelligence eBrief explores the issues and reputation affecting the pharmaceutical industry, drawing on a decades worth of public opinion research.
This article was originally published on GreenBiz.com, as part of our Proof Points blog series. 4 July 2013 – Given the lack of momentum on the global sustainability agenda in recent years, an atmosphere of mutual frustration between various levels of society is understandable. If nothing else, it inclines some to ask: Who do we turn to in order to drive the agenda forward? When our panel of sustainability experts at GlobeScan is asked whether we need more supply of or demand … “Should Supply or Demand Drive Sustainable Products?”
TORONTO, 28 JUNE 2013 – GlobeScan, a 25-year leader in global polling and stakeholder intelligence, is announcing another key step in its evolution into the first “evidence and ideas” company – focused on evidence-based advisory and stakeholder engagement services to leadership organizations. Along with its recent re-branding and enhancements to its service offerings, GlobeScan is today making a generational change in leadership with founder Doug Miller passing his CEO role to co-CEOs Chris Coulter and Christophe Guibeleguiet. Doug Miller, continuing … “Evolution at GlobeScan”
With businesses, citizens and governments around the world adjusting to a ‘new normal’ of low growth and contending with an ever-growing set of complex social and environmental challenges, how are public attitudes towards the corporate world and its place in society changing? And how can business respond? Through our annual global polling on business in society that informs the GlobeScan Radar program, we conducted a webinar on June 27, 2013 that looked at the current state of public trust in … “How Global Business Can Respond to Societal Expectations: A GlobeScan Radar Webinar”
An executive summary of the summative report from The Regeneration Roadmap, a joint project by GlobeScan and SustainAbility.
The summative report from The Regeneration Roadmap, a joint project by GlobeScan and SustainAbility.
With frustration at the lack of progress on sustainability being expressed from many quarters, who should we be expecting to drive change? Experts in sustainability tend to believe the impetus has to come from consumers: when asked about sustainability supply and demand dynamics earlier this year, only around one in four (23%) thought that society required a greater supply of regulations and options for consumers from companies and governments, while 41 percent thought that more consumer demand is required. Experts … “Governments, Businesses, and Consumers Look to Each Other to Drive Increased Sustainability”
On June 13, 2013, the UN Global Compact officially launched the Canadian Local Network. GlobeScan, along with six founding signatory companies – Barrick Gold Corp, Scotiabank, Suncor Energy, Teck Resources Limited, TELUS, and Unilever Canada – helped to drive the initiative, which now has over 80 Canadian signatories from a wide range of sectors and industries. The UN Global Compact is inviting other leading organizations to join the Canadian Network in a unique opportunity for companies and organizations across Canada to: … “GlobeScan Helps Launch the UN Global Compact’s Canadian Local Network”
CGIAR is committed to strong partnerships through effective stakeholder engagement. To find out from their stakeholders what they think of their partnership efforts, CGIAR commissioned GlobeScan to conduct a comprehensive independent assessment of stakeholder perceptions.
CGIAR is committed to strong partnerships through effective stakeholder engagement. To find out from their stakeholders what they think of their partnership efforts, CGIAR commissioned GlobeScan to conduct a comprehensive independent assessment of stakeholder perceptions.
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This article by Eric Whan originally appeared on GreenBiz.com, as part of our Proof Points blog series. 7 June 2013 – A protest against genetically modified (GM) foods took place in 250 cities around the world late last month. Two million people took part, according to organizers. In light of the March Against Monsanto, as the event was dubbed, and the undeniable pressure the global food system faces to meet the needs of a projected 9 billion people by 2050, it is timely to revisit … “What Companies are Missing in the Outcry Against GM Crops”
Report and Video Summary BT’s Better Future Forum is an online discussion that brings together the world’s leading thinkers to share and develop new strategies to help build a more sustainable future for everyone. On 2 July 2013, hundreds of sustainability experts from around the world joined GlobeScan and BT in a global online conversation to explore how the power of ‘net positive’ strategies can help businesses play their part in a shared better future. Participants were joined by senior executives … “BT’s Better Future Forum”
With the airwaves often dominated by discussion of economic indicators and GDP, a casual observer could be forgiven for thinking that this was the only valid measure of a country’s development. However, nearly seven in ten citizens across eleven countries think that a broader measure—one incorporating health, environmental, and social statistics—should be used instead of GDP to measure national progress. Drawn from our most recent work with Ethical Markets, the ICAEW, and business think-tank Tomorrow’s Company, these figures from 11 … “Consensus Remains Among Global Public on the Need to go “Beyond GDP””
LONDON – 28 May 2013 – The public around the world remains strongly in favour of replacing GDP with a broader way of reporting national progress, according to a new global poll released today. The study, conducted by GlobeScan on behalf of Ethical Markets, business think tank Tomorrow’s Company and the ICAEW, surveyed 10,845 adults across 11 countries. It shows that more than two-thirds – 68 percent of citizens on average – in the countries surveyed favour replacing GDP with a … “Public Backing for Going Beyond GDP Remains Strong”