Session Summary

Session Number:467
Session ID:S126
Session Title:Sustaining the 'Sustainable'?
Short Title:
Session Type:Division Symposium
Hotel:Hyatt West
Floor:LL1
Room:Wrigley
Time:Monday, August 09, 1999 9:00 AM - 10:20 AM

Sponsors

ENT  (Robert Hisrich)rdh7@po.cwru.edu (216) 368-5354 

General People

Presenter Entine, Jon  Ruffrun runjonrun@earthlink.net 818-991-9803 
Chair Krueger, Norris F. Entrepreneurial Strategies nfkrueger@rocketmail.com 406-587-5664 
Presenter Alexander, David  U. of Toronto david_alexander@ymcatoronto.org 416-928-3362 
Presenter Park, Jacob  U. of Maryland jpark@bss2.umd.edu 202-234-1756 
Discussant Jennings, Marianne  Arizona State U. marianne.jennings@asu.edu 602-965-2710 

Submissions

Abstract

Two recent phenomena have intrigued management scholars (and perhaps entranced business journalists). First, we have seen the rise of business firms who have placed social responsibility in some form (often environmental sustainability) equal to - or ahead of- profits in their stated mission. Several of these have risen to considerable prominence: The Body Shop, Ben & Jerry's, Odwalla. In Jon Entine's words, these firms first earned a significant 'integrity premium' (before 'squandering' it). Second, many of these same firms run into considerable difficulty in maintaining their social responsibility: again, The Body Shop, Ben & Jerry's, Odwalla are prime examples of significant legal -and moral- difficulties. However, if we can better understand how these firms ran into problems, that understanding should be invaluable in teaching how to be sustainable in the first place. These intriguing stories present a pattern of events that we can learn from, if we only ask the questions such as: 1) How did this happen? What went wrong? 2) What can we learn from this? How might we avoid the pitfalls? The premier investigative journalist in this field, Mr. Jon Entine, has agreed to serve as both provocateur for this panel discussion and as an informational resource. His widely-read, award-winning popular articles 'blew the whistle' on several of these firms' ethical downfall. The panel consists of a useful mix set of experts on sustainability issues to offer their unique insights and to help lead what is likely to be a 'spirited' discussion!