Host Europe:
Advancing CSR and
Sustainability
in a Medium Sized IT
Company
Management Information Systems
MIS 501

Summarize the characteristics of this firm.
◦ What is the industry like?
◦ What resources are used by this firm to meet
its customers’ needs?
◦ How can they increase efficiency?
Company Overview

What is Corporate Social Responsibility?
◦ To whom is a firm responsible?
◦ What is a firm responsible for?
◦ What does CSR encompass?
 Is it only the environment?
 Is it only its people?
CSR?

Walmart Canada ‘refocuses’ fresh-produce
supply chain

Walmart’s Progress on Sustainable
Seafood Efforts
Consider Walmart

Host Europe seems to be doing well in
relation to CSR issues
◦ What more could they do?
◦ Does CSR add or subtract from a firm’s
position?
◦ How (or how not)?
◦ Are they proud of their record?
Aren’t they doing enough already?

CSR
◦ What would an even more complete CSR
engagement look like?
◦ Which kinds of measure or actions could be
taken to accomplish these goals?
◦ What impact would such changes have on the
economic viability of the firm?
CSR Initiative

Social Issues at Host Europe
◦ What are they doing “wrong”
◦ What are they doing “right”
◦ What social changes are feasible?
◦ Which kinds of measure or actions could be taken
to accomplish these goals?
◦ What impact would such changes have on the firm?
Social Change

What needs to be done to make any
additional changes?

What would be the outcome on the firm’s
performance?

How could they measure the effect of
these changes?
◦ Financial
◦ Environmental/Social
Making the change

As green technology initiatives proliferate,
the question of how to manage these
innovations is needed.
Innovating in Uncertain Markets:
10 Lessons for Green Technologies
Exhibit A…

Foremost, Learn from the Past
How to deal with new
innovations?

Lesson 1: Timing is everything
◦ Watch out for bubbles, they will almost always
show up

Lesson 2: Change occurs slowly
◦ The chicken/egg problem
◦ Cost or performance barriers.
◦ Coevolution versus pure substitution

Lesson 3: Collaboration is crucial
◦ Strategic alliances with industry trade
associations
◦ Public/private partnerships
Lessons Learned

Lesson 4: Innovation takes many forms
◦ New innovation models will be essential for making
green technologies work

Lesson 5: Embrace uncertainty by
maintaining options
◦ Scenario thinking
◦ Real options thinking

Lesson 6: Anticipate where the money will be
◦ You need to “skate to where the puck will be

Lesson 7: Think beyond industry boundaries
Lessons Learned

Lesson 8: Share for joint gain
◦ A diverse web of participants magnifies the value of
individual perspectives, while distributing the risks and
rewards of investment more broadly

Lesson 9: Watch the periphery
◦ Organizational vigilance
◦ Senior management needs to adapt to change

Lesson 10: Become ambidextrous
◦ Know how to balance a learning and a performance
culture
◦ Attend to the short-term while also taking the long view
◦ Orient toward both people and tasks, as the situation
demands
Lessons Learned