Emphasizing Corporate Responsibility, IAC invites Professor Charles Kao to Give a speech on “The Corporate Social Responsibility of Knowledge Workers”

Reported by Justin Hsu

On October 17, IAC conducted an inter-plant management seminar via video conference simultaneously in Taipei, Shanghai, Nanjing and Xi''''an attended by 500 executives at the assistant manager level and above. In addition to work evaluation reports and future directions presented by work unit executive management, the day''''s agenda included Professor Charles Kao, founder of Global Views Monthly, who had been invited to talk on “The Corporate Social Responsibility of Knowledge Workers.”


 

Professor Kao said knowledge workers should possess a world view and keep up with the world. What he meant by “keeping up” had four levels: keep up with “high standards,” keep up with “high norms”, keep up with “Western culture,” and keep up with “the English-speaking world.” Thus, knowledge workers must observe eight rules: constantly outdo yourself, do your job perfectly, devote your efforts to raising the level of organizational performance, have the ability to “explain” clearly, “write” clearly and “listen” comprehensively, be creative in what you do, never discriminate against people, care for and protect the powerless, live up to individual ethical norms and corporate social responsibilities, conserve energy and finally, turn “lifelong learning” into “lifelong practice.”

Professor Kao pointed out that since the Industrial Revolution, science and technology has been constantly changing and that economic development has brought mankind a comfortable life. But the process of global development has at the same time also given rise to global ills. It has not only created severe environmental pollution, international corporations driven by a pure profit-seeking morality have bribed officials and manipulated governments in search of privileges and extravagant profits, widening the poverty and knowledge gaps and fostering social unrest. These global ills have now reached a historically critical point. For this reason the issue of “sustainable development” for the entire globe is an issue all mankind must face and ponder together. While business should made good use of its own resources and influence in seeking sustainable management, at the same time it should allow the sustainable development of the planet, work hard in its role as corporate citizen, fulfill its social responsibilities and take on a position of leadership.

Professor Kao said that corporate social responsibility (CSR) means, in addition to seeking profit and the well-being of the company''''s own stake-holders (shareholders, employees, suppliers and consumers), a corporation must fulfill its responsibilities as a corporate citizen vis-à-vis society at large, in such areas as environmental protection, energy resources, information and community involvement. Traditional donations and civic-minded activities are only one part of corporate responsibility. Entrepreneurs must hold fast to ethics and morality as they operate their businesses and fulfill their corporate social responsibility. If those on Wall Street had had such a concept of corporate responsibility, the financial crisis would not have been created and would not have put the entire globe in danger.

Professor Kao underlined the three great mountains corporations are now facing. The first is corporate profits. This is the sine qua non for running a corporation. The second mountain is social responsibility. After getting over the first mountain, corporations must come to grips with corporate social responsibility. Only by fulfilling its corporate social responsibility can a corporation get over the third mountain and become a good corporate citizen.

Professor Kao urged IAC executives to value moral character as it considers talent, innovation, growth and earnings. In the age of globalization, the entrepreneur takes moral character as a starting point and then aspires after a “brain for science and technology,” a “sentiment for humanism,” a “desire for learning,” a “world view” as well as an “enthusiasm for making contributions,” and in so doing becomes a good citizen in the age of globalization.

Following the conference Professor Kao visited some IAC CSR activities and was full of praise for them. He expressed the hope that IAC would be able to continue using its influence not only in achieving sustainable management for the company but also in spreading the positive force and capacity of CSR into every corner in order to attain the win-win goal of fulfilling social responsibilities and creating corporate value.