Get to ‘Better’. How Using Data Drives Success in Corporate Citizenship

“In God we trust. All others bring data”
―W. Edwards Deming

Through corporate citizenship, we can improve our companies—and our world. But how do others know what we are doing?

We can create a healthier planet through more sustainable operations and green innovations. We can foster a society that welcomes the contributions of all of its members and works to ensure the health and safety of its communities. We can drive financial performance. How do we know we’re getting to “better”? We set goals and report on progress towards them.

In order to achieve big goals, we need teams of people who understand the objectives and what their parts are in the plan to reach them. After creating the vision for our desired future state comes the hard work of mapping out the time-bound playbook to achieve it. Everyone must understand their parts and deadlines. Creating a vivid image of success is critical to keeping the team focused on the jobs to be done.

Recent research shows that data are crucial to successful corporate citizenship programs. In the 2014 State of Corporate Citizenship report, findings point to three crucial elements for corporate citizenship programs that create more business and social value — selection, integration, and duration. Each of these are best achieved if informed by data.

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Katherine Smith is the Executive Director for the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship. Celebrating 30 years of helping companies know more, do more and achieve more in corporate citizenship, the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship was founded by an early recognition that community expectations of companies were changing. The Center combines the most valuable aspects of a professional community and the resources of a leading academic institution for 415 Fortune 1000 member companies in a variety of industries. The Center integrates the perspectives and experience of some of the leading corporate citizenship professionals in the field today with management best practices, helping align corporate citizenship objectives and business goals.