Business Must Talk About Its Social Role Waxing eloquent about stakeholder management and corporate social responsibility is in some circles the surest way to stifle a business conversation, if not a business career. Corporate philanthropy brings satisfaction to those who give and receive, the argument goes, but let us not get carried away by talk of give-aways.
Global competition is relentless and exacting.
This kind of corporate thought control may be street-smart, but it violates the basic tenets of freedom of inquiry and action that are essential to creating wealth. So, let us exercise our right to talk about a social role for business. We have just witnessed a period of unprecedented wealth creation. Senior managers have benefited from this accomplishment. The value of their common stock holdings was even more stunning.