civil society stakeholder

What are non-governmental organizations?

Any group that holds shared values about an issue in society & advocates for changes

-what governments cant do

Public interest groups

influence public policy

Special interest groups

seeks advancing financial interests

What do NGOs seek to influence?

• Animal welfare vs. rights

• Technology

• Economic

• Social development (rich/poor, community)

What is partnering with NGOs?

Can be beneficial to business (shows active in community)

Benefits: identify risks/opportunities early, influence public opinion, innovation, reputation & trust, employee engagement

How do you respond to pressure from NGOs?

NGOs have influence & can threaten business -> change business practices

• Managers respond based on their values/beliefs, aggressive approaches can backfire, NGOs may not be ethical

Costs of not responding

• Transaction: Natural resources (more likely to resist), consumer goods (less likely to resist)

• Brand: Bigger/better known brands are bigger targets

• Competitive position: in competitive industries, companies seek NGOs to divert attention to competitors

What are some partnerships with NGOs?

Businesses build partnerships with NGOs: Business have financial goals, NGO have social goals -> some goals may align

• Partnerships bride business, government, civil society

• Microsoft & RCMP

What is Media as a stakeholder?

Media influences public & employee opinion -> inform & influence

• there are mixed business portrayals in media

• media is highly regulated

• business & media always butt heads (be on your side or against)

What are some issues in business-media relationship?

Media is a business too -> businesses need to respond to media requests

Libel Chill

when business threatens legal action if something is published

Media spin

PR experts putting a spin on the interpretation of an event

Ownership of media

usually owned by large businesses or government -> more concerned about sales than quality, bias, monopolies

What is social media in business?

Online interaction/communication enabled by technology

• Becoming news & info outlets -> difficult to control

• with social media, businesses held more accountable

• beneficial if used properly (Duolingo tiktok)

What are Think Tanks - Policy Development Institutions?

A bunch of people across society whose goal is to develop policy or political idea

• organization researches important social, economic, political issues in business & society

• attempt to influence society/government position on business & social issues

What are the mechanics of think tanks?

usually not connected to government

• can lack transparency, ideological, one sided, no influence

funded by:

• businesses, trade unions, government, wealthy individuals, foundations, universities

What are spirituality & religious institutions?

Spirituality: individual's sense of peace/purpose with themself & connection to others

• Religious beliefs/practice influence ethics

What is spirituality in workplace/business?

Faith-based institutions buy goods & services

• Integrating spirituality in workplace allows community, integrated lives, bring whole selves to work

Moral resistance

how does faith influence activism? (ex. Chick-Fil-A closed on sundays)

• Business must be cautious when responding to religious activism

What are educational institutions?

Should businesses be involved in the education system?

• Corporatization: business getting involved in education with conditions attached:

• Funding for buildings, conflict of interest in research, veto power of curriculum/stagging