Shaping the Future
Solving Social Problems through Business Strategy
CECP presents this exciting study which is the result of a collaborative project with McKinsey & Company; research included interviews with dozens of CEOs and thought leaders in the field of corporate social engagement and business strategy. The report was also informed by live poll results at CECP’s annual Board of Boards CEO Conference in New York on Feb. 22, 2010.
View an introduction to the report by Kevin Sneader, Director, McKinsey, delivered at the Board of Boards CEO Conference in London on May 7, 2010:
Report highlights include:
- Global Forces. McKinsey has identified five game-changing trends that will affect the future of the global economy: talent shortages, shifting centers of economic activity, a new era of government action, increased scarcity of natural resources, and new levels of technological interconnectivity.
- Key Uncertainties. At the same time, business leaders face two key uncertainties about the future: the level of proactive action on behalf of companies and the expectations that are placed upon the private sector.
- Scenarios for the Future. These certainties and uncertainties combine to create four possible scenarios for 2020: the optimal being “Sustainable Value Creation” and the worst being the “Vicious Circle”. Sustainable Value Creation is a self-reinforcing state of trustworthy, pro-social corporate behavior that simultaneously delivers bottom-line results, provides competitive advantage, and leads to community benefits. The consequences for inaction are severe for both business and society.
- Capturing the Opportunities. Both business and society have responsibility for which scenario ultimately is realized; both have ownership over the future. Sustainable Value Creation requires new forms of collaboration across sectors to achieve results. This report shows how corporations are shifting their view on globalization and economic development – they will work in partnership with nonprofits and government in the future, taking a leadership role on ethical and moral issues for positive business and societal outcomes.
View related Webinar, "Envisioning Business at its Best: Reflections on the Trajectory of Community Engagement" » (November 2011)
