Global executives say companies should be measured by their societal purpose, according to new Deloitte survey | Press releaseDOWNLOAD |
At the World Economic Forum 2012, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) will share the results of a global survey exploring business leaders' attitudes on the purpose, impact, and leadership of business on society. The survey, sponsored by DTTL and conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), found that more than three quarters of the respondents (76%) believe that the value of a company should be measured by the positive contribution its core business makes to society, as well as by its profits.
Furthermore, of the leaders surveyed, 73% believe that their core business activities make a positive contribution to society.
According to Yves Francis, Managing Partner at Deloitte Luxembourg: “CEOs are taking into consideration the emerging generation of future business leaders, who regard personal, corporate and societal responsibility as a consecutive line. This survey will encourage considerable discussions on the role of business in establishing a better society. By applying these new opportunities and integrating this ‘social purpose’ into a business’s core activities, organisations can motivate positive economic, environmental and social changes.”
Silent contribution
The study showed that while 82% of business leaders surveyed said their organisation had a formal statement detailing its ‘societal purpose’, and 52% said that this formal statement of purpose was essential for attracting the next generation of customers and employees, only 25% thought that this purpose was well known by their customers, consumers, or clients. This suggests that businesses can do a better job of communicating the contribution and impact that their core activities have on society.
Deloitte Millennial Views
Alongside the EIU survey, DTTL examined the opinions of more than 1,000 Deloitte member firm Millennials (employees joining the organization who were born after 1981) on their views regarding the impact business has on society. More than half (52%) believe that in the future, business, more than any other area of society, will achieve the greatest impact in solving society’s biggest challenges. Furthermore, 92% of the respondents believe that the success of a business should be measured by more than just profit, suggesting that a company’s ‘societal purpose’ is a key priority and expectation of the Millennial generation.
For more information and to view the survey results, visit: www.deloitte.com/business-society.
About the survey:
The findings are based on a survey of 390 executives conducted in October 2011. Respondents were distributed across Europe (33%), North America (31%), and Asia Pacific (24%), with the rest of the world—which incorporates Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa—comprising about 12%. In terms of seniority, 57% of respondents are C-level executives, board members, vice presidents, or directors, with the rest occupying senior management roles. Financial services provided the largest number of respondents (22%), followed by technology (12%), professional services (11%), healthcare and pharmaceuticals (8%), and manufacturing (5%), with additional responses from a wide range of industries. Around 74% of respondents represented corporations with annual revenues of over €383mio, including 27% with revenues over €7.66bn.
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Press release: Global executives say companies should be measured by their societal purpose, according to new Deloitte survey
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