Lesson 1

Lesson 1—Opportunities and Challenges

What are the political and economic challenges and opportunities of contemporary globalization?

Get Focused

“We need business to give practical meaning and reach to the values and principles that connect cultures and people everywhere.”

—Ban Ki-Moon in an address to the Global Compact Board, 4 April 2007. New York.

Corporate citizenship is about encouraging businesses to act as good global citizens. It is about the recognition that businesses have a role in promoting sustainable prosperity for the people in their own communities and in other areas of the world. In 2000 the United Nations created a framework for businesses to commit to responsible business practices. This voluntary framework is called the Global Compact. It calls on businesses to align their business practices to ten principles that address human rights, labour, the environment, and corruption.

corporate citizenship: refers to the extent that the actions and decisions of a multinational corporation are responsible and consider the impacts on people and the environment

A trend of the last few decades has been to align corporations with humanitarian causes to present an image of good corporate citizenship.

Internet

This is a required activity to support your Get Focused but will not be graded.

Notable Communication on Progress is the recognition of the commitments and actions of businesses and global giants that have committed to the principles of the Global Compact. There were 177 businesses that reported progress in 2007. On the Internet you can view the list of Global Compact participants who are recognized as making notable progress at the United Nations Global Compact website under the tab "Communicating Progress."

Peruse the list for businesses you recognize and examine what progress they have made in aligning with the ten principles.

Inactive or non-communicating participants are businesses that joined the Global Compact but have not communicated progress in aligning with the ten principles.