Overview

Business and NGOs are seen by many to be locked in a perpetual war of values and ideologies. What this book demonstrates is that many companies are now engaging with their stakeholders - even those with which they have traditionally had antagonistic relationships - as part of their strategies for improved social and environmental performance. With contributions from a diverse group of experts from business, consultancy, research institutes, NGOs and academia, ""Terms for Endearment"" investigates the how and why of these new collaborations and provides concrete examples of business working with stakeholder pressure for sustainable development. The book forcibly argues the notion of organizations of civil society setting the standards for business behaviour in the 21st century. For those companies that choose not to pursue high standards of social and environmental performance, confrontation with NGOs must be expected, with negative consequences for sales, costs and social capital, namely the bottom line. ""Terms for Endearment"" therefore presents business with both a threat and opportunity as we move closer to establishing a social basis for global economic activity.

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9781874719281

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Reviews

Terms for Endearment is useful for the essential task of achieving a better understanding of where power lies and what drives NGOs, businesses and the political process. -- Caspar Henderson, The Ecologist Reading this book will not guarantee you success. But it will give you a better insight into the dynamics at work. Partnership, dialogue, and engagement are the sexy words of the moment, and good fodder for a future library of books to follow. -- Suzannah Lansdell, Elements (The Environment Council, UK) ... it provides meaty evidence of the evolving relationship between businesses and the societies in which they operate. Informative and well-argued. Community Affairs Briefing The contributing editor should be commended highly for his contributions ... I find the text informative and the writing very accessible ... it should be a library source for societal, environmental and ethical accounting and management courses. Social and Environmental Accounting With increased attention being paid to both corporate responsibility and global civil society, a collection that examines the interaction between the two is particularly timely. Terms for Endearment should be notable for both practitioners and analysts of business/NGO relations. Environment magazine With contributions form a diverse group of experts from business, consultancy, research institutes, NGOs and academia, Terms for Endearment investigates the how and why of these new collaborations and provides concrete examples of business working with stakeholder pressure for sustainable development [and] therefore presents business with both a threat and opportunity as we move closer to establishing a social basis for global economic activity. Connections - UNED Forum Quarterly Newsletter ... the book is a must-read for those who champion corporate responsibility and wish to truly engage with stakeholders. Sustain magazine Terms for Endearment is an interesting and groundbreaking book, bringing new voices to the debate on the future of business. Scottish Environmental Protection Agency

Terms for Endearment breaks the mould. It brings new voices to the debate on the future of business. The writers explain why business needs to put the important things in life first and how to translate such principles into practice. We're all challenged to do the same.' Anita Roddick, Founder and Co-Chair, The Body Shop International; Founder, New Academy of Business. 'This book is a true treasure chest. It gives a unique insight into the dynamics and motives of the actors involved and it describes dilemmas and possible responses that are at the forefront of social change. Communicating this insight will hopefully only be the beginning of a much-needed debate on the role of business in society in an era of globalising markets.' Georg Kell, Senior Officer, Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General. 'At a time of rising concern over where the world is heading, the experiments and innovations detailed in this book provide new insights into the possibilities of humanising capitalism. Rich in case studies and challenging in its conclusions, Terms for Endearment lays out an exciting agenda for NGO-business collaboration in the 21st century.' Michael Edwards, Director, Governance and Civil Society, The Ford Foundation and author of Future Positive. 'Terms for Endearment effectively explores some of the fascinating and important highways and byways along which NGOs pass in seeking to influence business practice, and thereby being deeply influenced themselves.' Simon Zadek, Chair, Institute of Social and Ethical Accountability. 'This is a must-read for the champions of corporate responsibility, for those that want to go beyond the PR stuff and really engage with stakeholders. Its combination of case studies and commentary goes beyond exhortation to provide insights into the potential benefits as well as the pitfalls.' Barry Coates, Director, World Development Movement. 'Global business and civil society are the superpowers of the 21st century. This book shows that, in both battle and detente, they are shaping our futures. Anyone interested in novel ways of achieving the sustainable governance of markets should read it.' Professor Richard Welford, University of Huddersfield, UK. 'Managing relations with stakeholders is an essential aspect of modern business. More than suggesting a strategy, Terms for Endearment presents a philosophy for success.' Maria Sillanpaa, Director, KPMG Sustainability Advisory Services. 'This well-structured book draws on many practical examples to show how business and society can collaborate to achieve a more socially just and ecologically sustainable world. Moreover, its analysis provides innovative ideas and concepts which will both speed up and increase the possibility of attaining development that is sustainable for the many, rather than for the few. If you are concerned about improving the quality of the world you will live in tomorrow, whether as a corporate manager, social activist or citizen, this publication is for you.' Alan Fowler, Co-Founder, INTRAC. 'This book is helpful to anyone involved in sustainability management, accounting, auditing and reporting, because, without ongoing dialogue with local and international stakeholders, no organisation can develop and implement locally acceptable solutions to global issues.' Dominique Gangneux, Bureau Veritas Quality International. 'A sustainable future can only be guaranteed by responsible business practice. This book provides many practical examples of how companies can work with stakeholders to develop more effective solutions for a sustainable future.' Teresa Fabian, PricewaterhouseCoopers. 'We are all stakeholders in sustainability, and Terms for Endearment moves the practicalities of collaboration between all stakeholders in society well and truly onto the agenda of the 21st century. This is a timely, necessary and significant contribution to the expanding worldwide debates on effective partnerships between business and civil society organisations. The book is essential reading for all involved in securing sustainable change in the future.' Professor David Birch, Corporate Citizenship Research Unit, Deakin University, Australia. 'Terms for Endearment is useful for the essential task of achieving a better understanding of where power lies and what drives NGOs, businesses and the political process.' Caspar Henderson, The Ecologist. 'Reading this book will not guarantee you success. But it will give you a better insight into the dynamics at work. Partnership, dialogue, and engagement are the sexy words of the moment, and good fodder for a future library of books to follow.' Suzannah Lansdell, Elements (The Environment Council, UK). '... it provides meaty evidence of the evolving relationship between businesses and the societies in which they operate. Informative and well-argued.' Community Affairs Briefing. 'The contributing editor should be commended highly for his contributions ... I find the text informative and the writing very accessible ... it should be a library source for societal, environmental and ethical accounting and management courses.' Social and Environmental Accounting. 'With increased attention being paid to both corporate responsibility and global civil society, a collection that examines the interaction between the two is particularly timely. Terms for Endearment should be notable for both practitioners and analysts of business/NGO relations.' Environment magazine. 'With contributions form a diverse group of experts from business, consultancy, research institutes, NGOs and academia, Terms for Endearment investigates the how and why of these new collaborations and provides concrete examples of business working with stakeholder pressure for sustainable development [and] therefore presents business with both a threat and opportunity as we move closer to establishing a social basis for global economic activity.' Connections -- UNED Forum Quarterly Newsletter. '... the book is a must-read for those who champion corporate responsibility and wish to truly engage with stakeholders.' Sustain magazine. 'Terms for Endearment is an interesting and groundbreaking book, bringing new voices to the debate on the future of business.' Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.

Author Information

Jem Bendell is a Professor of Sustainability Leadership and Founding Director of the Institute for Leadership and Sustainability (IFLAS) at the University of Cumbria in the United Kingdom. Bendell is a strategist and educator on social and organizational change, with some 20 years of experience in responsible business and sustainable development. With over 100 publications, including UN reports and four books, he is an award-winning authority on innovation for sustainable development and has helped create a number of leading multistakeholder alliances.

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