Deeply Responsible Business: A Global History of Values-Driven Leadership

Corporate social responsibility has become mainstream, but running a successful purpose-driven business requires a deep commitment to values alongside profits. Harvard Business School professor Geoffrey Jones explores the challenges and benefits of deeply responsible business, highlighting leaders who combine social purpose with financial success. He offers an invaluable historical perspective, showcasing business leaders who have confronted inequality, inner-city blight, and ecological degradation while navigating restrictive laws and authoritarian regimes. Jones' research shows that these leaders are motivated by bedrock values and sometimes driven by faith, choosing to operate in socially productive fields and interact with stakeholders with humility. While not perfect, they demonstrate that profit and purpose can be reconciled, and their businesses have been highly successful. Inspired by these leaders, Jones envisions a future in which companies and entrepreneurs can play a key role in healing communities and protecting the natural world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2023
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained widespread recognition as a critical aspect of business operations. However, what are the key factors that contribute to the success of purpose-driven businesses? In a comprehensive examination, a Harvard Business School professor delves into the challenges and opportunities associated with leaders who prioritize values alongside profits.

For decades, CEOs have been primarily focused on maximizing financial returns, often at the expense of other stakeholders. However, a growing consensus suggests that companies and their leaders must engage with their social and environmental contexts. Geoffrey Jones, a renowned professor at Harvard Business School, distinguishes between deep responsibility, which encompasses radical social and ecological responses, and corporate social responsibility, which often amounts to mere window dressing.

Deeply Responsible Business provides a valuable historical perspective, tracing the roots of responsible business practices back to the Quaker capitalism of George Cadbury and the worker solidarity of Edward Filene. Through a series of in-depth profiles of business leaders and their companies, the book takes readers on a journey from India to Japan, from the tumultuous nineteenth century to the latest developments in impact investing and the B-corps.

Jones profiles business leaders from diverse backgrounds who have successfully combined profits with social purpose. These leaders are driven by fundamental values and, in some cases, guided by their faith. They choose to operate in socially productive fields, engage in humble interactions with stakeholders, and feel a strong obligation to support their communities. While their approaches may not always be flawless, each leader demonstrates that profit and purpose can be reconciled.

Many of the businesses featured in the book have achieved remarkable success. These leaders have not only generated financial returns but also made a positive impact on society and the environment. Their examples serve as a testament to the potential for businesses to be both profitable and socially responsible.

In conclusion, corporate social responsibility has entered the mainstream, and purpose-driven businesses are emerging as a powerful force for change. By prioritizing values alongside profits, leaders can create a sustainable and equitable future for all stakeholders. As the book demonstrates, deep responsibility is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in the way
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained widespread recognition as a critical aspect of business operations. However, what are the key factors that contribute to the success of purpose-driven businesses? In a comprehensive examination, a Harvard Business School professor delves into the challenges and opportunities associated with leaders who prioritize values alongside profits.

For decades, CEOs have been primarily focused on maximizing financial returns, often at the expense of other stakeholders. However, a growing consensus suggests that companies and their leaders must engage with their social and environmental contexts. Geoffrey Jones, a renowned professor at Harvard Business School, distinguishes between deep responsibility, which encompasses radical social and ecological responses, and corporate social responsibility, which often amounts to mere window dressing.

Deeply Responsible Business provides a valuable historical perspective, tracing the roots of responsible business practices back to the Quaker capitalism of George Cadbury and the worker solidarity of Edward Filene. Through a series of in-depth profiles of business leaders and their companies, the book takes readers on a journey from India to Japan, from the tumultuous nineteenth century to the latest developments in impact investing and the B-corps.

Jones profiles business leaders from diverse backgrounds who have successfully combined profits with social purpose. These leaders are driven by fundamental values and, in some cases, guided by their faith. They choose to operate in socially productive fields, engage in humble interactions with stakeholders, and feel a strong obligation to support their communities. While their approaches may not always be flawless, each leader demonstrates that profit and purpose can be reconciled.

Many of the businesses featured in the book have achieved remarkable success. These leaders have not only generated financial returns but also made a positive impact on society and the environment. Their examples serve as a testament to the potential for businesses to be both profitable and socially responsible.

In conclusion, corporate social responsibility has entered the mainstream, and purpose-driven businesses are emerging as a powerful force for change. By prioritizing values alongside profits, leaders can create a sustainable and equitable future for all stakeholders. As the book demonstrates, deep responsibility is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in the way
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained widespread recognition as a critical aspect of business operations. However, what are the key factors that contribute to the success of purpose-driven businesses? In a comprehensive examination, a Harvard Business School professor delves into the challenges and opportunities associated with leaders who prioritize values alongside profits.

For decades, CEOs have been primarily focused on maximizing financial returns, often at the expense of other stakeholders. However, a growing consensus suggests that companies and their leaders must engage with their social and environmental contexts. Geoffrey Jones, a renowned professor at Harvard Business School, distinguishes between deep responsibility, which encompasses radical social and ecological responses, and corporate social responsibility, which often amounts to mere window dressing.

Deeply Responsible Business provides a valuable historical perspective, tracing the roots of responsible business practices back to the Quaker capitalism of George Cadbury and the worker solidarity of Edward Filene. Through a series of in-depth profiles of business leaders and their companies, the book takes readers on a journey from India to Japan, from the tumultuous nineteenth century to the latest developments in impact investing and the B-corps.

Jones profiles business leaders from diverse backgrounds who have successfully combined profits with social purpose. These leaders are driven by fundamental values and, in some cases, guided by their faith. They choose to operate in socially productive fields, engage in humble interactions with stakeholders, and feel a strong obligation to support their communities. While their approaches may not always be flawless, each leader demonstrates that profit and purpose can be reconciled.

Many of the businesses featured in the book have achieved remarkable success. These leaders have not only generated financial returns but also made a positive impact on society and the environment. Their examples serve as a testament to the potential for businesses to be both profitable and socially responsible.

In conclusion, corporate social responsibility has entered the mainstream, and purpose-driven businesses are emerging as a powerful force for change. By prioritizing values alongside profits, leaders can create a sustainable and equitable future for all stakeholders. As the book demonstrates, deep responsibility is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in the way
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained widespread recognition as a critical aspect of business operations. However, what are the key factors that contribute to the success of purpose-driven businesses? In a comprehensive examination, a Harvard Business School professor delves into the challenges and opportunities associated with leaders who prioritize values alongside profits.

For decades, CEOs have been primarily focused on maximizing financial returns, often at the expense of other stakeholders. However, a growing consensus suggests that companies and their leaders must engage with their social and environmental contexts. Geoffrey Jones, a renowned professor at Harvard Business School, distinguishes between deep responsibility, which encompasses radical social and ecological responses, and corporate social responsibility, which often amounts to mere window dressing.

Deeply Responsible Business provides a valuable historical perspective, tracing the roots of responsible business practices back to the Quaker capitalism of George Cadbury and the worker solidarity of Edward Filene. Through a series of in-depth profiles of business leaders and their companies, the book takes readers on a journey from India to Japan, from the tumultuous nineteenth century to the latest developments in impact investing and the B-corps.

Jones profiles business leaders from diverse backgrounds who have successfully combined profits with social purpose. These leaders are driven by fundamental values and, in some cases, guided by their faith. They choose to operate in socially productive fields, engage in humble interactions with stakeholders, and feel a strong obligation to support their communities. While their approaches may not always be flawless, each leader demonstrates that profit and purpose can be reconciled.

Many of the businesses featured in the book have achieved remarkable success. These leaders have not only generated financial returns but also made a positive impact on society and the environment. Their examples serve as a testament to the potential for businesses to be both profitable and socially responsible.

In conclusion, corporate social responsibility has entered the mainstream, and purpose-driven businesses are emerging as a powerful force for change. By prioritizing values alongside profits, leaders can create a sustainable and equitable future for all stakeholders. As the book demonstrates, deep responsibility is not just a trend but a fundamental shift in the way businesses operate.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674916531