Evolution – still a world changing idea-a Press Release from Article 13.

In this CSR feature, Article 13 revisits a well-established idea that never seems to lose its resonance or its controversy: evolution. Evolution provides food for thought for a company seeking to be a responsible part of a community, and planning for a changing future. This research, titled “Evolution – still a world changing idea”, asks what the theory first suggested by Charles Darwin in 1859 can teach us about corporate social responsibility and how businesses can survive and thrive today?

Underpinning all Article 13’s reflections in this website update is the issue of labour rights, the topic that Article 13 has been reviewing as a signatory to the UN Global Compact. How can we manage and enable people in the future if we don’t know what changes are afoot? Environmental and social trend watching is vital to planning for the future.

In the accompanying briefing papers, Article 13 aims to widen the range of resources that you would normally use in your work. “Evolution – sources of learning and metaphor” whirls through a range of accessible and fascinating writings on evolution to see where biology and science can offer insights for business. Article 13 also picks up on the idea that organisational learning is core to organisational survival and reviews some of the recent work from one of the leading thinkers on organisations, learning and sustainability, Peter Senge of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The CSR best practice case studies included in this feature highlight leading practice in the public and private sector. Welsh Water and WWF have both broken their cycles of ‘business as usual’ and both have learnt, survived and now thrive.

Finally, keep an eye out for the next batch of CBI CSR case studies produced by Article 13 in collaboration with the CBI. The case studies profile companies who are doing innovative work in CSR, examining why the companies are implementing CSR initiatives, the successes and failures, and how the programmes are delivering to the company’s business objectives. The next batch due to go live in March will include: British Airways, Ford, O2 and Rio Tinto. Other companies recently featured are BNFL, Diageo, Pennon Group and Taylor Woodrow.
To find out more… go to www.article13.com
Copyright Article 13 – March 2006