Great article below! Yesterday at the Kellogg School of Management class that I teach, I proclaimed “strategic planning” dead. Morbid, I know. But the point is that “old school” tools and consulting techniques– like strategic planning, board governance and program evaluation - are increasingly irrelevant in today’s world of social change. Instead these are being replaced by new more business-derived techniques like Benchmarking, Success Equations, even dare I say Logic Models. These new set of tools are practitioner-focused, easy-to-use, non-academic and tied directly to mission success. Anyway, the below is further to the point… ...

Great article below! Yesterday at the Kellogg School of Management class that I teach, I proclaimed “strategic planning” dead. Morbid, I know. But the point is that “old school” tools and consulting techniques– like strategic planning, board governance and program evaluation - are increasingly irrelevant in today’s world of social change. Instead these are being replaced by new more business-derived techniques like Benchmarking, Success Equations, even dare I say Logic Models. These new set of tools are practitioner-focused, easy-to-use, non-academic and tied directly to mission success. Anyway, the below is further to the point…

It’s that time of year again in Chicago: winter. Its arrival was marked by the first snowfall and, just as predictably, the first story about a shoveling-related death. Local media outlets were quick to pronounce the dangers of shoveling and lament the deaths of the citizens who dare to clear the sidewalks in front of their homes. But is shoveling really as dangerous as the nightly news makes it out be?

It’s that time of year again in Chicago: winter. Its arrival was marked by the first snowfall and, just as predictably, the first story about a shoveling-related death. Local media outlets were quick to pronounce the dangers of shoveling and lament the deaths of the citizens who dare to clear the sidewalks in front of their homes. But is shoveling really as dangerous as the nightly news makes it out be? ...

SAT flashbacks? Good. That will get you in the right state of mind for what follows. We had a chance to attend the “The Real Story about Going to College” in Richmond, VA on January 22, 2008. The panel discussion was hosted by America’s Student Loan Providers, College Parents of America, ECMC Foundation and The Educational Policy Institute. Some notes from the session: ...

In their recent contribution to the Harvard Business Review, Doing Well By Doing Good? Don’t Count on It, Joshua Margolis and Hillary Anger Elfenbein rekindle the venerable debate on the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and financial performance. Since its inception, CSR has struggled to build legitimacy against forces pressing corporate social and environmental strategies to demonstrate a direct, causal relationship with stock performance. ...

In their recent contribution to the Harvard Business Review, Doing Well By Doing Good? Don’t Count on It, Joshua Margolis and Hillary Anger Elfenbein rekindle the venerable debate on the relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and financial performance. Since its inception, CSR has struggled to build legitimacy against forces pressing corporate social and environmental strategies to demonstrate a direct, causal relationship with stock performance.

Historically, investors pursuing socially responsible investment (SRI) strategies have been forced to choose among imperfect investment solutions.  An evaluation of current investment products which incorporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria reveals some seeming contradictions.  Are SRI funds truly meeting the needs of socially conscious investors by excluding Starbucks – a company respected by many for its sustainable supply chain practices and strong employee relations – because the company licensed its brand to promote an alcohol product?  Should CSR ranking ...

Historically, investors pursuing socially responsible investment (SRI) strategies have been forced to choose among imperfect investment solutions.  An evaluation of current investment products which incorporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria reveals some seeming contradictions.  Are SRI funds truly meeting the needs of socially conscious investors by excluding Starbucks – a company respected by many for its sustainable supply chain practices and strong employee relations – because the company licensed its brand to promote an alcohol product?  Should CSR ranking systems honor international oil firms – many of which operate in emerging regulatory climates – among the Top 10 most socially responsible companies simply because they have more sophisticated ris