I’m in the process of applying to participate in IBM’s Corporate Service Corps program.?? It’s a wonderful program which some have described as a sort of “Peace Corps for business” and I desperately would love to be selected.??

Part of the application process is to respond in essay form to several questions.?? One of the questions was quite thought-provoking but I wasn’t able to completely respond since there was a character count restriction on the application form.?? So I decided to blog about it.?? Here’s the question:

What, in your opinion, is the role of business in society? In particular assess if, how and why businesses should address core societal, environmental, educational and governance issues.

After getting over the initial “wow, that’s a big & complex question” and working through a few revisions, here’s what I included as my response (limited to 800 characters):

I believe ???Think Global, Act Local??? applies directly to the role of business in society.

On a global or aggregate level, “Business” has an important role in facilitating and leading widespread change for the benefit of mankind.?? Capitalizing on science & research advancements, collectively “Business” can scale those innovations to span a very wide spectrum of humanity’s challenges & opportunities (societal, environmental, educational, etc.).

On the local level, I believe the bedrock social issue of any individual business is to provide employment & stability to the community???s citizens.?? Beyond this foundation, it is often the values (soul) of the business that influences the focus given to ???greater good??? deeds that stretch beyond the company???s markets, offerings, and missions.

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Adequately answered I think, given the character count limitation.?? But I wrote much more and feel as though my response, while adequate, was somewhat unfinished since I was unable to reflect on the inherent conflict of global corporate growth at the expense of local corporate pain (lost loyalty, jobs, security) and what I think about that.

Luckily, there’s avenues such as this blog which allow me to finish this philosophical debate with myself.?? So here’s what was left unsaid in my application:

Personally, I fear the soul of business (its values) is being enveloped by corporate goals which rock the very foundation of our global society.?? When the loyalty between individual employers and employees erodes as a result of corporate cost-cutting initiatives to fuel growth, it is the very communities in which the business operates which are poisoned.?? That’s not very socially beneficial, at least in the communities where it happens.

Consider just a few significant examples of how business has shifted more and more of the heavy load of risk to their employees over the last decade or two.

• Business-managed pensions shifted to individual-managed retirement accounts (401k, etc).
• Sourcing of employees from local markets to global markets in pursuits of cheaper costs.
• Healthcare cost shifts from employer-provided to employee-financed.
• Vacation and “unlimited” sick time evolving to become capped Paid Time Off.

I have to wonder where the social benefits of many of these kinds of changes are leading us.?? We know they are leading business to less risk and oftentimes reduced costs.?? But what about society??? What about the communities??? What about you and I?

Now I’m not foolish enough to believe that all businesses have the luxury to coast indefinitely without making strategic decisions which can lead to changes. Businesses are constantly under assault as competition seems fiercely knocking down the door all the time. The unquenchable thirst of investors for faster & higher returns leaves many business leaders little choice but to go mainstream with soulless pursuit of profits and growth.?? Who cares about higher-cause values and social good when you are just as replaceable as any of the “resources” (nee employees) that work for your business?

I know there are countless counterpoints to the few examples I cited above, including the Corporate Service Corps program I’m applying for.?? I just think pondering business’ role in society is a complex question that has many sides.?? I’m worried about how the larger business/society trends will impact me in the coming years (and I’m getting more and more terrified of how they will impact my children’s future).

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I’d love to know what you think.?? How will this play out for your career? And for your children’s career??? Please comment.