Strategic Planning for Sustainability, Paperback

Although corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been adopted by many companies, few of them are practicing it with any formal strategy, and the common situation seems to be a portfolio of disparate CSR programs and initiatives, some of which the support core strategy and others of which appear adjacent and discretionary. The diversity of potential CSR initiatives is one issue; however, developing a strategic orientation is complicated by the fact that each company has its own unique set of drivers and motivations for CSR and ideas and responsibilities for those initiatives come from all parts and levels of the organization.

Strategic planning for sustainability is far from easy or precise, if only because it requires that simultaneous consideration be given not only to economic performance and development but also to environmental protection and the social wellbeing of employees and other persons and groups outside of the organization. This book is intended as a comprehensive guide to the key steps required to strategically approach becoming a successful sustainable business including conducting a CSR assessment, developing a CSR strategy and the accompanying business case, developing and implementing CSR commitments, and measuring the performance and effectiveness of the planning initiative.

About author(s):Dr. Alan S. Gutterman is the founding director of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship Project. In addition, Alan's prolific output of practical guidance and tools for legal and financial professionals, managers, entrepreneurs and investors has made him one of the best-selling individual authors in the global legal publishing marketplace. Alan has also authored or edited over 40 books on sustainable entrepreneurship, management, business law and transactions, international law, business, and technology management for a number of publishers. Alan has over three decades of experience as a partner and senior counsel with internationally recognized law firms counseling small and large business enterprises in the areas of general corporate and securities matters, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, international law and transactions, strategic business alliances, technology transfers and intellectual property. He received his AB, MBA, and JD from the University of California at Berkeley, a DBA from Golden Gate University, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge.