Companies have become increasingly powerful political players in recent decades, using their political clout to influence public policy on social, economic and environmental issues – often behind closed doors and too often, in ways that undermine the public interest. In his new book, Corporate Political Responsibility, Tom Lyon and a series of leading scholars of […]
In their recent Harvard Business Review article, Strategy in a Hyperpolitical World, Roger L. Martin and Martin Reeves argue, “Almost everything about business today is political, in the sense that it requires consideration of a wide range of often controversial ethical, social and ecological issues.” Many executives know this reality all too well, as […]
As technology platforms provide more and more of the “public square” for civic discourse and debate, their actions will be critical as voters weigh choices in 2024 election in the US and around the world. Now, with the accelerated adoption of AI, technology will have an even greater role in averting electoral crises and navigating […]
As businesses seek to balance shifting expectations from stakeholders ranging from investors and legal counsel to customers and employees, they’re increasingly exploring how a principled structure for political activities can help increase business resilience and sustainability. In her recent work developing more than 30 case studies on corporate sustainability, Angeli Patel has discovered three indicators […]
An invitation to executives to manage risk, maintain stability and take non-partisan action to ensure the health of our civic institutions The 2024 General Election is approaching fast. Across the country, voters will go to the polls in a political landscape that is increasingly polarized and volatile. With energized stakeholders looking for companies to lead, […]
Trade associations are key players in helping businesses and industry sectors deliver on ambitious sustainability goals, stakeholder priorities, and an ultimate interest in a healthy environment. In these efforts, public policy is a critical lever. As a natural vehicle for industry advocacy on sustainability policy, trade associations lobby and sometimes make political contributions. Yet, specific […]
As more companies face challenges related to ESG and DEI initiatives, some are pulling back on investments and hesitating to take public stances on issues. But prevailing public sentiment and market indicators rebuke the conventional idea that business leaders must choose between profit and purpose. Increasingly, the numbers — factual and financial — show the […]
The communications and actions of companies and industries influence policy outcomes, including policies that affect people’s health, positively or negatively, directly or indirectly. One example of a large-scale industry with both influence and dependency upon policy outcomes is the U.S. firearms industry. Lecturer in Inequalities and Global Health Policy Nason Maani recently worked on a […]
A practical introduction to the Erb Institute’s Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce and the Leadership Now Project’s Corporate Guide to Navigating U.S. Political Risk In this critical election year, executives in every business function are faced with unprecedented risks and uncertainties related to an increasingly polarized and volatile US political landscape, from supply chain disruption to […]
A practical introduction to the Erb Institute’s Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce and the new CPR Decision Tool based on the Erb Principles for CPR Following the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump, the realities of an increasingly volatile and unpredictable geopolitical environment have never been more clear. In response, boards, companies, and associations are […]
As business leaders seek alignment between their political engagement and their companies’ stated mission and values, leading companies are increasingly auditing their trade association memberships. As unveiled by The Good Lobby Tracker, benchmarking around engagement with trade associations is increasing. In some cases, as in the recent high-profile Unilever trade association assessment, this analysis reveals […]
With the tumultuous events of the 2024 US election season, companies are reviewing a wider range of risk scenarios — from political violence to election interference, conflicting stakeholder pressures, regulatory uncertainty, and the politicization of strategic business issues. These challenges are unlikely to abate completely after the election. In this hyper-politicized environment, proactive risk management is […]
