The complex challenges facing contemporary society are driving the private, public and not-for-profit sectors together. Increasingly cross-sector partnerships and initiative co-design (with employees, customers and communities) are required to address opportunities.
Change requires sustained investment of time, resources and capital. Success is measured not only in economic or financial terms, but social and environmental impact - the creation of shared value.
All organisations need to pivot.
Watch: Rhod Ellis-Jones introduce the playbook
The world today faces an escalating set of wicked problems, many of which have not been tackled before. The climate is changing and, with it, every landscape, industry and population. Markets are now global and digital, as well as local. The capitalist democracy that has provided freedom and prosperity to developed and developing nations, is struggling to adapt.
The world’s largest companies reach into every household, shift markets and have financial value greater than almost any national economy. In most countries, business is the largest employer of people and the primary creator of wealth for nations, communities and families.
Communities are demanding leadership. There is an expectation that every organisation defines where it stands on social and environmental issues, and acts on its commitments. Increasingly, investment funds and the shareholders they represent – many of whom are everyday people who expect their investments to do no harm – are becoming increasingly active in their demand for transparency or change.
It costs money to do good. Shared value is a business strategy designed to solve social issues profitably.
It does this by leveraging resources and innovation to create new solutions to some of society’s most pressing issues. In doing so, it creates a more prosperous environment in which to operate, making organisations more sustainable and resilient.
As an innovation process, shared value focuses the unique set of assets and expertise of an organisation and its partners on the social and environmental needs of the communities it serves, to address the challenges and opportunities present in its markets and other settings.
By focusing on financial returns linked to social and environmental impact, it builds sustainability and scalability into any business case. And that means de-risking innovation.
Define and nurture the fundamental human attributes that make your skills and talents creative, productive and remarkable. Focus on who you are and what you can do. Download the playbook and get ready to receive a range of tools and resources as the community of practice grows and thrives.
Ellis Jones acknowledges the Indigenous people of Australia as the traditional custodians of the country on which we live and work. We value your traditions, customs and culture, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We walk with you.
