a whole system's perspective

"Successful corporations need a healthy society. Education, health care, and equal opportunity are essential to a productive workforce. Safe products and working conditions not only attract customers but lower the internal costs of accidents. Efficient utilization of land, water, energy, and other natural resources makes business more productive. Good government, the rule of law, and property rights are essential for efficiency and innovation. Strong regulatory standards protect both consumers and competitive companies from exploitation. Ultimately, a healthy society creates expanding demand for busiess, as more human needs are met and aspirations grow. Any business that pursues its ends at the expense of the society in which it operates will find its success to be illusory and ultimately temporary. At the same time, a healthy society needs successful companies. No social program can rival the business sector when it comes to creating the jobs, wealth, and innovation that improve standards of living and social conditions over time. If governments, NGOs, and other participants in civil society weaken the ability of business to operate productively, they may win battles but wil lose the war, as corporate and regional competitiveness fade, wages stagnate, jobs disappear, and the wealth that pays taxes and supports nonproit contributions evaporates." [Porter & Kramer, Strategy and Society, Harvard Business Review Spotlight]

as much as ive studied and researched and preached about the responsibility business has to the community, i dont think ive ever really thought about how the community has responsibility to business, but in fact it does. in order for one to survive it needs the other. it isnt us versus them, because in fact we are all "us" and we are all "them".

leading with this framework in mind puts out a whole new question; how can business and community as one closely integrated entity move forward as a whole without hindering any part of itself, especially in this "globalized" society we now live in?