Champion of better capitalism
In the 18th century the city of Edo (now Tokyo) adopted a policy of no waste. Almost everything was recycled, and the city was home to more than a thousand businesses that specialised in transforming waste into useful products. What started as a response to … Continue readingWhat nature teaches us about economics: everything is connected
I like talking to lawyers. They care about words and their precise meaning. So do I. Last week I spent a day amongst lawyers who were nearly all General Counsel to major retail companies. I was asked to help lead a dialogue with them about … Continue readingPurposeful Business – who are we kidding? A question every GC should be asking
My first grown-up job was in industrial relations in an engineering company. After 18 months I was asked to take up a post in a Cumbrian factory where we were heading for a strike. The Factory Manager gave me a diatribe about the unreasonableness of … Continue readingTo hell with protocol, let’s be sure there isn’t an injustice here
Throughout the world, education is seen as the route to progress. If children can be educated, they may find a route out of poverty. If girls can be educated, there is hope that they may escape from the burdens of unwanted pregnancy and domestic enslavement. … Continue readingPrison for parents? If 1 in 50 pupils are missing from half the lessons, it’s time to think again about what school is for
Thirty years ago, as I was embarking on what became the RSA Tomorrow’s Company Inquiry[i], I had a conversation with a senior partner in an international management consultancy. I liked him and felt that he had a lot to contribute to our work on the … Continue readingQuestion to the board: what if a consultant’s report is not the solution to your knotty problem?
Last week in the UK the discussion was divisive, with some Moslem groups feeling targeted by new definitions of extremism and MP Diane Abbott being the subject of shockingly hateful and violent words. I have been asking myself what is missing in our politics. In … Continue readingLet the politics of belonging and the economics of the harvest guide every decision we make
‘Politically motivated’. I first became aware of this label in 1983 when I was an election candidate in the UK. In my campaign to become the next MP I dropped in on retired people who had gathered for morning coffee in the town’s day centre. … Continue readingWhen does a cause become ‘politically motivated’? And is that a reason for boards to steer clear of it?
I was recently interviewed by distinguished business journalist and publisher Trevor Merriden for the Merri-Cast podcasts. I had the opportunity to discuss the need for a dynamic, not static, view of a company and its trajectory. I hope you may find the interview an instructive … Continue readingThe Merri-Cast podcast
The tragic death of Alexei Navalny reminds us not to be contemptuous about our elected politicians or complacent about our democracy. Navalny’s widow Yulia, along with the partners of other imprisoned or murdered Russian dissidents have been reminding us that, whatever our discontents, democracy is … Continue readingDemocracy is precious – use it carefully
How is it possible for an organisation to be ignorant of something it has repeatedly been told? Margaret Heffernan, author of ‘Wilful Blindness’ describes stresses felt by ex-Amoco middle managers after BP’s acquisition of the Texas City oil refinery. Their warnings about safety risks were ignored. … Continue readingDirectors – is your organisation capable of empathy?