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IBM official speaks on corporate citizenship
by Matthew Brock
News | 4/1/08
Posted online at 2:54 AM EST on 4/1/08
/ Last updated at 1:32 PM EST on 4/1/08
Being a good corporate citizen means as much to a brand's identity as to products themselves, a high-ranking official from the world's largest computer company stressed at the International Business School last Monday.
Stanley Litow, vice president of corporate citizenship and corporate affairs and president of IBM's International Foundation, delivered a keynote address to inaugurate IBS' annual Business, Ethics and Society Week. Litow focused on the importance of coporate citizenship and the steps IBM has taken to connect with the community at large.
IBS Dean Bruce Magid introduced Litow, stressing the importance of corporate governance in this age of international corporations. Magid said that IBS is not only dedicated to producing upstanding professionals, but upstanding community leaders as well.
Litow began by describing the difference between "spare change" and "real change."
The spare change approach, he said, involves a corporation giving a portion of its profits to humanitarian endeavors. IBM stresses "real change" through its corporate citizenship program, he said.
"It's not about philanthropy, it's not about donations, and it's not about check writing," Litow said. "Corporate citizenship is about how you make your money in the first place."
Litow said that companies need to have good environmental, labor and social practices.
"If the business of business is business," he said, why should corporations give away profits? "I say that the business of business is being a good corporate citizen, and that's as much of a brand's identity as products."
Corporate citizenship, Litow said, depends on forming strong relations with the community. IBM employees also volunteer to be on school boards, community boards and other social organizations, he said.
"IBM employees are the community," he said. Through IBM's On Demand Community program, which helps employees find ways in which to contribute to the community, employees have donated a total of 6.8 billion hours of work.
Stanley Litow, vice president of corporate citizenship and corporate affairs and president of IBM's International Foundation, delivered a keynote address to inaugurate IBS' annual Business, Ethics and Society Week. Litow focused on the importance of coporate citizenship and the steps IBM has taken to connect with the community at large.
IBS Dean Bruce Magid introduced Litow, stressing the importance of corporate governance in this age of international corporations. Magid said that IBS is not only dedicated to producing upstanding professionals, but upstanding community leaders as well.
Litow began by describing the difference between "spare change" and "real change."
The spare change approach, he said, involves a corporation giving a portion of its profits to humanitarian endeavors. IBM stresses "real change" through its corporate citizenship program, he said.
"It's not about philanthropy, it's not about donations, and it's not about check writing," Litow said. "Corporate citizenship is about how you make your money in the first place."
Litow said that companies need to have good environmental, labor and social practices.
"If the business of business is business," he said, why should corporations give away profits? "I say that the business of business is being a good corporate citizen, and that's as much of a brand's identity as products."
Corporate citizenship, Litow said, depends on forming strong relations with the community. IBM employees also volunteer to be on school boards, community boards and other social organizations, he said.
"IBM employees are the community," he said. Through IBM's On Demand Community program, which helps employees find ways in which to contribute to the community, employees have donated a total of 6.8 billion hours of work.
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