Page 4 - BUILDING BETTER BUSINESSES, FOR A BETTER ECONOMY -( David White - DRG )
P. 4
BUILDING BETTER BUSINESSES,
FOR A BETTER ECONOMY
his is for the purpose of a PDA Webinar, where David White, CEO at DRG and
Chairman at BusinessFit was requested to share with an international audience
Tknowledge on businesses in the Technological Age.
The booklet helps to define changing economic, social and environmental characteristics
of doing business, and responsibilities of being a good citizen entrepreneur and business
leader in our current time.
It was written during the time of COVID-19 Lockdown in South Africa, and aims to introduce
a modern framework for business where focus on the Green Economy, Stakeholders, and
better organisational planning and leadership is needed and required.
Defining ‘Green’: “The author’s use of the term ‘Green’ goes beyond its literal meaning and,
in modern day terms, its implied meaning, namely, environmentally friendly. In the context of
the principle of ‘first do no harm’ it implies:
Consider the potential consequences, whether intended or, unintended, arising
from any action directed at changing the Status Quo i.e. ‘how we always do things’.
This requires a ‘Reverse Root Cause Analysis’ with as its start point: ‘What could
possibly go wrong, and, why?’ which could cover:
Financial, Operational, and External Stakeholder (Investors, Suppliers, Service Providers, and,
above all, Customers) engagement processes founded upon presumption (e.g. knowing what’s
best for them)
Employee practices founded upon traditional mindsets (again, knowing what’s best)
Ego-driven agendas (e.g. ‘how could they simply not like this product?’ – any aspect which shows
disrespect towards parties expected to be allies in the achievement of enterprise goals
Purpose-blind corporate rituals
Limited or no exercising of Emotional Intelligence i.e. taking cognisance of the feelings, positions
and potential contributions of others
Of course, any action or omission which has the potential of harming the environment which is shared
by others must be teased out in the ‘Reverse Root Cause Analysis’.
The definition of ‘Environment’ may be extended to an Enterprise’s “Zone of Influence” across the
entire spectrum of ‘Environment’ – all stakeholders in the Enterprise equation … what the King IV
Report covers in its narrative on Enterprise Sustainability!
If we identify with the concept of: ”Everything is connected” then enterprise leaders will adopt a mindful,
or, green approach to leading enterprises, taking a holistic view when formulating decisions or actions
in avoiding unintended consequences.
The message being that entrepreneurs and business leaders must recognise their responsibilities
in creating suitable products and services to meet our world’s needs as we move forward as an
interconnected and caring global community.
Building Better Businesses for a Better Economy is essential for our individual and collective survival.
Entrepreneurs need to better understand their roles as creators of products and services, and leaders
of sustainable organisational design.
No longer can we have the wastage created by inefficient, incapable and badly schooled business
leaders who up to now have squandered resources on developing self-enriching and unsustainable
2 business models.
The aim of this booklet and subsequent webinar is to “Help businesses to be more successful
and sustainable".
