Times are tough. There is no getting away from the fact that the economic landscape is more challenging than a year ago, and business thinking is reflecting this at every turn. There is nothing like an economic downturn to sharpen corporate minds. When budgets are being cut, and all aspects of a company’s behaviour are under scrutiny, every investment and outlay has to really and truly prove its worth. It is a great way of separating the wheat from the chaff.

This hasn’t come a moment too soon for corporate responsibility as a discipline. A little bit of critical analysis, and a lot of re-evaluating of priorities, is exactly what advocates of responsible business need if they are to help companies as we go into an economic downturn, rather than hold them back.

Everything done in the name of corporate responsibility that is poorly thought-through, non-strategic and superficial will be eliminated. If it is just a “nice to have” it is not going to happen any longer.

Upcoming Ethical Corporation conferences & events:
Social and Environmental Risk Assessment for Heavy Industries
Regent's Park Marriott Hotel, London, 22 – 23 March 2010 The Responsible Business Summit 2010
Novotel West Hotel, London, 4th – 5th May 2010 The Inaugural Ethical Corporation Awards
Novotel West Hotel, London, Evening of 4th May 2010
The Awards will be held at the Responsible Summit -
on the evening of the first day
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