The Tombstone Philosophy
The Corporate Social Responsibility movement or integration has gathered momentum in similar fashion. The Tombstone Philosophy, as defined in this piece, is an attitude shared by most companies and organizations across the world. CSR was an alien concept to the world before certain companies were pulled up for their irresponsible and unethical practices. Today, CSR is fast gaining space in journals, magazines and research centers across the world.
The Tombstone Philosophy is an attitude amongst the leadership that negates the need to integrate sustainable practices in organizational management until, the need is abruptly forced upon by activists or certain stakeholder groups.The impermanence or transience felt in the present generation is nothing new to any one of us. Impermanence is omnipresent - in the growing middle class, the global economic situation, prices in crude oil and the lifestyle we lead. In this fast paced ever-changing life each one of us has set out to achieve our goals and ambitions.
The corporations that often push/pull the global economic growth line has similar ambitions to each one of us. Its simple formula for success is to source, at the lowest rates human, monetary, natural resources - from its environment and sell them as finished goods and services to its consumers. This seems simple enough except when you take a moment to note the drastic rate at which man has evolved or changed. Technology is responsible for the massive industrial explosion and the subsequent ever-increasing demand for resources. Progress has been at the cost of human relations, degradation of the natural flora and fauna, social conflicts, and economic disparities.This has resulted in the birth of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Management programs. Companies have been forced to clean up their act and do away with their irresponsible and unethical practices. There have been a lot of research papers and books written about this strategic transformation. CSR consultancies have sprung up in all parts of the world. This is the reality a reality that is soon becoming an unofficial and unwritten standard or law. However, the wide scale integration of sustainability in organizational operations has been minimal and implementation has taken place at a speed that is wanting.
This perplexed me and I did some of my own research and subsequent concept building to decipher this slow rate of CSR execution. Using the information gathered and knowledge on the job, I came up with the concept of The Tombstone Philosophy.
The Tombstone Philosophy is an attitude amongst the leadership that negates the need to integrate sustainable practices in organizational management until, the need is abruptly forced upon by activists or certain stakeholder groups.
In the aviation industry Tombstone Technology is not a new concept. After an aircraft accident, research and development is kicked into high gear to make sure that the same type of accident does not happen again. Consequently the technology developed to prevent that type of accident is adopted and installed in all aircraft fleets and also goes on to become an industry standard.The Corporate Social Responsibility movement or integration has gathered momentum in similar fashion. The Tombstone Philosophy, as defined above, is an attitude shared by most companies and organizations across the world. CSR was an alien concept to the world before certain companies were pulled up for their irresponsible and unethical practices. Today, CSR is fast gaining space in journals, magazines and research centers across the world.
The incidence of Tombstone Philosophy has been diminishing and more companies have been initiating Social Responsibility programs as a risk aversion strategy. The Tombstone Philosophy is very much present even today, however it is being used to avert potential uprising that may result from the companys operations. Are companies moving in the right direction? What would be the impact of social responsibility programs initiated as the risk aversion strategy?
Does it make business sense to alter a companys perspective and view these initiatives as Sustainable Management programs that ensure long-term benefits and permanence for the organization? I am of the opinion that integrating Sustainability in an organizations processes and technologies results in long-term benefits and assures permanence through continuous engagement with all of its stakeholders.
If this opinion is shared by organizations all across the globe the term Tombstone Philosophy will no longer be pertinent or relevant. But until then we can use Tombstone Philosophy as an attitude that still exists in the corporate approach.
By Kiran Menon
Founder and Chief Executive, The Footprint
Founder and Chief Executive, The Footprint
