IndustrialOccupational Social Work Practice

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Chapter 13 The Inclusive Workplace Level
IIInclusion Through Corporate-Community
Collaborations

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Inclusion Through Corporate-Community
Collaborations

• Level II Inclusion
• relates to the organizations sense of being a
  part of its surrounding community and the
  reciprocity embedded in this relationship
• reflects the mezzo system level of
  organizations and communities

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Inclusion Through Corporate-Community
Collaborations
Box 13.1. The Inclusive Work Place The Value
Base for Level I Inclusion and
Corporate-Community Collaborations
Value Frame
System Level
Exclusion
Inclusion
Organizations, Communities
Organizational focus is intrinsic with exclusive
responsibility to financial stakeholders.
Dual intrinsic and extrinsic focus with
recognition of community systems as stakeholders
as well.
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Inclusion Through Corporate-Community
Collaborations
Box 13.3. The Inclusive Work Place The Practice
Model for Level II Inclusion and
Corporate-Community Relations
Benefits
Barriers
Individuals
Organization

• Economic pressures to demonstrate profitability
• Limited company vision (short-sighted and
  internally- focused)
• Lack of leadership to champion and sustain
  efforts

• Employment, job training
• Mentorship
• Improved services to the community

• Improved corporate image and reputation
• Advantage in recruitment and in labor disputes
• Increased employee loyalty
• Strong connection between social performance and
  economic performance

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Four Corporate Cultures
Flexibility
Clan Culture
Adaptability Culture
Values Cooperation
Consideration Agreement
Fairness Social equality
Values Creativity Experimentation
Risk-taking Autonomy
Responsiveness
External focus
Internal focus
Bureaucratic Culture
Achievement Culture
Values Economy Formality
Rationality Order
Obedience
Values Competitiveness
Perfectionism Aggressiveness
Diligence Personal initiative
Stability
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Level II Case IllustrationUnilever Inc

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Level II Case Illustration Unilever Inc.
Unilever and the Palm oil industry

• Unilever and Palm Oil. Since 1850, Unilever has
  had a long history in the palm oil industry
  including, William Levers entry into the soap
  business in 1850s and the formation of the
  Unilever group in 1930. Since Unilever has
  evolved into one of the world's largest consumer
  goods companies.
• Impact of Palm Plantations. People living in oil
  palm plantation areas have felt the impact of the
  industry in numerous ways
• Environmentally (rainforests have been converted
  into palm plantations resulting in a rise in
  pests, changes in the flow of ground surface
  water, increased land erosion, and pollution of
  rivers and drinking water as well as the
  relocation of indigenous people to make room for
  plantations)
• Economically (low wages for plantation workers
  large non-local companies are noted for failing
  to promote the local economy)

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Level II Case Illustration Unilever Inc.
Unilevers Sustainability Initiatives

• Unilever's Sustainability Development. In 1995,
  Unilever commissioned two studies on sustainable
  development. The studies revealed a complex set
  of criteria for sustainable agriculture that
  targeted the triple bottom line economics,
  environment and society and resulted in several
  honors for the company.
• Sustainable Agriculture Initiative. Unilever used
  its Sustainable Development commitment and
  experience to facilitate a broader impact. They
  were one of the three founding companies of the
  Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI). SAI was
  created to actively support the development and
  communication of sustainable agriculture
  practices worldwide.
• Unilever's Current Involvement in Palm Oil.
  (Divesting of Plantations Helping Ghana Grow Oil
  Palm Plantations helping the Ghana government
  implement its oil palm tree initiative)

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Level II Case Illustration Unilever Inc.
Questions for Discussion and Further Analysis

• What can Unilever do to improve the wages and
  living conditions of the oil palm workers
  worldwide?
• What impact would such actions have on the triple
  bottom-line of Unilever's Sustainable Development
  plan?
• How can Unilever use its influence over the
  government of Ghana to improve worldwide
  conditions? Should Unilever encourage or
  discourage Ghana from entering the oil palm
  industry?
• What are the impacts of Unilever's divesting of
  oil palm plantations? Will Unilever still have
  influence over the triple bottom line of the oil
  palm industry? Why or why not?