When it comes to engaging with host communities, even the best intentions can go awry without a robust process. Anglo American's award winning Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox (SEAT) provides a structured way to work with their neighbours to improve their well-being. The attached pdf document (which can be downloaded by clicking on the 'download' link) describes the evaluation carried out by the non-profit organisation "Business for Social Responsibility". It describes why BSI considers this a good example of how to be a force for good business: The review that was carried out The SEAT process The key findings ("SEAT represents an international best practice in sustainable community development" with explanations and examples of why this is so) Conclusions and recommendations The BSR website can be reached here. You can also read a brief overview/summary of the Anglo American approach here.

As a company committed to sustainable development, Anglo American believes that while its operations may deplete a natural resource in a particular location, it should deliver a combination of improvements in the social and human capacities of the communities around them. A growing number of key stakeholders share this expectation. The attached two-page pdf document (which can be downloaded by clicking on the 'download' link) describes a case study of how Anglo American used the tool at a colliery in South Africa. It briefly summarises the challenge the company faced, and its response.  You can also read an overview/summary of the overall SEAT approach here.

Date :  April 2006A set of global best-practices for responsible investment.

Mark Goyder discusses how changing trends in shareholder ownership will affect the decisions of executives and what this could mean for sustainable policies.  This article was published by Ethical Corporation in July. Mark Goyder is founder director of Tomorrow’s Company.  Mark holds a number of other positions, including British Airways Corporate Responsibility Board; BT Leadership Advisory Panel; Camelot Advisory Panel for Social Responsibility and Judge for Unipart group Mark in action awards. He was named Director of the month, June 2004, by Director Magazine and won the IMS Millenium award for best speaker.

Regardless of sector, size, structure or maturity, to be successful, organisations need to establish an appropriate management framework.  The EFQM Excellence Model was introduced at the beginning of 1992 as the framework for assessing organisations for the European Quality Award. It is now the most widely used organisational framework in Europe and it has become the basis for the majority of national and regional Quality Awards. The EFQM Excellence Model is a practical tool that can be used in a number of different ways:As a tool for Self-AssessmentAs a way to Benchmark with other organisationsAs a guide to identify areas for ImprovementAs the basis for a common Vocabulary and a way of thinkingAs a Structure for the organisation's management system The EFQM Excellence Model is a non-prescriptive framework based on 9 criteria. Five of these are 'Enablers' and four are 'Results'. The 'Enabler' criteria cover what an organisation does. The 'Results' criteria cover what an...