Mallen Baker's Blog

An important indicator of a company without values

30 Jul 2009

Is there any company out there that doesn't have a statement of values, written up as a poster and sitting on the chairman's wall? We know that one way to check is to ask the workers in the call centre whether they've heard of them. If they haven't, then the company has no values.

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Child labour in Indian sandstone makes TV news

29 Jul 2009

Marshalls has been getting more recognition of its leading campaign against child labour in the production of Indian Sandstone. A recent special report by ITN cited the company as an ethical supplier of sandstone, and its energetic marketing director, Chris Harrop.

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The frustration of the first to glimpse the big truths

28 Jul 2009

You know, of course, that it's the early bird that gets the worm. I was reading some commentary recently from one of the major oil companies. "We were one of the first oil companies to acknowledge climate change was a serious problem", it said.

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When the worst of your followers get to define you

21 Jul 2009

Why is trust in business at an all time low? Of course, because of those banks that behaved irresponsibly. And all the other businesses that have been caught out doing bad stuff. And yet those businesses remain the minority.

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What makes for a leader in social responsibility?

16 Jul 2009

What's your vision for the company that is a social responsibility leader? Admired and copied by its peers? The trailblazer for others to follow?

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Royal Bank of Scotland steps blinking into the sunlight

13 Jul 2009

The news has come out that the CEO of bailed-out bank RBS will be given what are described as "tougher" performance targets next year. This year his rather large pay award, tied mainly to share price performance, provoked some degree of controversy.

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Apple and the legitimate role of secrecy

6 Jul 2009

When is it a good thing to have a culture of secrecy within a company? Some would say 'never' - that it is always a good thing when you get maximum disclosure on all matters. I'm not so sure. (1 comment)

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Game, set and match for predictable campaigning

2 Jul 2009

Every time there is a major sporting or cultural event, one thing is pretty much guaranteed. Some campaign group or another will produce a report, or at the very least a press release, hoping to make big news stories on the back of the media coverage of the event.

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When does the reformed character win your support?

1 Jul 2009

British Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs, who is now old and infirm, has been denied parole by the government. It seems that many decades have not been enough to forgive Biggs. He will stay in prison for the rest of his life.

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