在過去的18個(gè)月里,商業(yè)和非營利領(lǐng)域發(fā)生了翻天覆地的變化。這些變化醞釀已久,但新冠疫情、延續(xù)整個(gè)夏天的種族和社會清算運(yùn)動、不斷升級的網(wǎng)絡(luò)攻擊,以及持續(xù)加快的氣候變化影響,顯然促使這些變化加速到來。而它們對董事會如何運(yùn)作,以及董事會如何與組織互動也有著深遠(yuǎn)的影響。
根據(jù)我與首席級高管和董事會成員的交流,盡管我們很難清晰地預(yù)見,在“漫長的2020年”最終劃上句號后,這個(gè)世界將呈現(xiàn)什么模樣。但不可否認(rèn)的是,它再也不會回歸現(xiàn)狀了。領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者現(xiàn)在必須緩解和管理一系列更廣泛的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。與此同時(shí),我們再也不能僅僅以企業(yè)運(yùn)營業(yè)績或產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量和價(jià)格作為評判領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。他們還必須在環(huán)境和社會影響、公司治理,以及多樣性、公平和包容性(DE&I)方面達(dá)到更高的行為標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。
利益相關(guān)者資本主義不再僅僅是商業(yè)圓桌會議(Business Roundtable)或商學(xué)院講座的主題。在一定程度上,隨著環(huán)境、社會和公司治理(ESG)投資的興起,它正在成為一個(gè)快速發(fā)展的新現(xiàn)實(shí)。企業(yè)正在招聘首席多元化官,向服務(wù)不足的社區(qū)投資數(shù)十億美元,并且在政府沒有采取行動的情況下,主動為各自的供應(yīng)鏈制定脫碳時(shí)間表。“光說不練”已經(jīng)不夠了。企業(yè)越來越需要衡量自身對社會的影響——而且需要實(shí)時(shí)衡量這種影響。
董事會角色的根本性變化
這些變化正在引領(lǐng)董事會成員進(jìn)入一個(gè)新時(shí)代。它們至少從三個(gè)基本方面改變了成為一家上市或私營公司(在較小的程度上,還包括非營利組織)合格董事的條件:
首先,董事會成員不再僅僅負(fù)責(zé)管理二元風(fēng)險(xiǎn),即董事和首席級高管必須設(shè)法讓企業(yè)避免那種可能導(dǎo)致企業(yè)在一夜之間垮臺的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)?,F(xiàn)如今,隨著利益相關(guān)者的數(shù)量激增,董事必須遵守新出爐的標(biāo)準(zhǔn),并駕馭各種風(fēng)險(xiǎn),其中一些風(fēng)險(xiǎn)仍然會立即構(gòu)成企業(yè)級威脅,而另一些風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的緩沖期貌似很長,但仍然不能忽視。
對商業(yè)領(lǐng)袖來說,這種更廣闊的視野也意味著那些坐在董事會中的人需要更廣泛的專業(yè)知識和經(jīng)驗(yàn)。在一定程度上,正是出于這個(gè)原因,Diligent公司一直通過現(xiàn)代領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力計(jì)劃(Modern Leadership)來增強(qiáng)董事會的多樣性和包容性。我們相信,它不僅僅是一個(gè)由價(jià)值觀驅(qū)動的主張,而且是一項(xiàng)能夠?yàn)楦邔雍驼麄€(gè)團(tuán)隊(duì)踐行這一理念的企業(yè)帶來價(jià)值的舉措。
第二,為了管理新的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)范疇,董事和首席級高管現(xiàn)在必須通過更廣泛的指標(biāo)來監(jiān)管公司——其中當(dāng)然包括財(cái)務(wù)指標(biāo),但也包括與ESG、DE&I以及其他影響領(lǐng)域相關(guān)的海量數(shù)據(jù)。有意義地定義這些影響領(lǐng)域的基準(zhǔn),使其不再囿于新聞通稿和大張旗鼓的企業(yè)社會責(zé)任努力,是現(xiàn)代董事會和監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)現(xiàn)在面臨的典型挑戰(zhàn)之一。
第三,隨著相關(guān)指標(biāo)和利益相關(guān)者激增,董事會和高管需要比以往任何時(shí)候都更廣泛地在企業(yè)范圍內(nèi)設(shè)定目標(biāo),衡量落實(shí)進(jìn)展,并報(bào)告合規(guī)情況。盡管作為現(xiàn)代董事會的一員并不意味著參與企業(yè)的實(shí)際運(yùn)營,但它確實(shí)意味著要比以往任何時(shí)候都更深入地了解企業(yè)的方方面面。
就私人企業(yè)而論,此類標(biāo)準(zhǔn)制定、能見度和合規(guī)性在今天顯得尤為重要。私募股權(quán)在這一領(lǐng)域繼續(xù)發(fā)揮著越來越大的作用。越來越多的私募股權(quán)基金有限合伙人要求其投資目標(biāo)設(shè)定并滿足真正的ESG和DE&I目標(biāo)。借助這個(gè)前所未有的機(jī)會,私募股權(quán)有望催生真正的影響,并使私人公司在一個(gè)遠(yuǎn)比上市公司更短的時(shí)間內(nèi)實(shí)現(xiàn)利益相關(guān)者資本主義。
利益相關(guān)者資本主義和ESG時(shí)代的深遠(yuǎn)影響將遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超出我們今天的預(yù)期。我由衷地希望“現(xiàn)代董事會”將成為一個(gè)幫助我們實(shí)時(shí)分享和學(xué)習(xí)最佳實(shí)踐的空間,以助力董事和首席級高管成就不凡事業(yè),并為他們的公司,以及他們生活、工作和做生意的社區(qū)帶來真正的影響。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
本文作者布萊恩·斯塔福德是Diligent公司的首席執(zhí)行官。
編輯對本文有修改
譯者:任文科
在過去的18個(gè)月里,商業(yè)和非營利領(lǐng)域發(fā)生了翻天覆地的變化。這些變化醞釀已久,但新冠疫情、延續(xù)整個(gè)夏天的種族和社會清算運(yùn)動、不斷升級的網(wǎng)絡(luò)攻擊,以及持續(xù)加快的氣候變化影響,顯然促使這些變化加速到來。而它們對董事會如何運(yùn)作,以及董事會如何與組織互動也有著深遠(yuǎn)的影響。
根據(jù)我與首席級高管和董事會成員的交流,盡管我們很難清晰地預(yù)見,在“漫長的2020年”最終劃上句號后,這個(gè)世界將呈現(xiàn)什么模樣。但不可否認(rèn)的是,它再也不會回歸現(xiàn)狀了。領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者現(xiàn)在必須緩解和管理一系列更廣泛的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。與此同時(shí),我們再也不能僅僅以企業(yè)運(yùn)營業(yè)績或產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量和價(jià)格作為評判領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。他們還必須在環(huán)境和社會影響、公司治理,以及多樣性、公平和包容性(DE&I)方面達(dá)到更高的行為標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。
利益相關(guān)者資本主義不再僅僅是商業(yè)圓桌會議(Business Roundtable)或商學(xué)院講座的主題。在一定程度上,隨著環(huán)境、社會和公司治理(ESG)投資的興起,它正在成為一個(gè)快速發(fā)展的新現(xiàn)實(shí)。企業(yè)正在招聘首席多元化官,向服務(wù)不足的社區(qū)投資數(shù)十億美元,并且在政府沒有采取行動的情況下,主動為各自的供應(yīng)鏈制定脫碳時(shí)間表。“光說不練”已經(jīng)不夠了。企業(yè)越來越需要衡量自身對社會的影響——而且需要實(shí)時(shí)衡量這種影響。
董事會角色的根本性變化
這些變化正在引領(lǐng)董事會成員進(jìn)入一個(gè)新時(shí)代。它們至少從三個(gè)基本方面改變了成為一家上市或私營公司(在較小的程度上,還包括非營利組織)合格董事的條件:
首先,董事會成員不再僅僅負(fù)責(zé)管理二元風(fēng)險(xiǎn),即董事和首席級高管必須設(shè)法讓企業(yè)避免那種可能導(dǎo)致企業(yè)在一夜之間垮臺的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)?,F(xiàn)如今,隨著利益相關(guān)者的數(shù)量激增,董事必須遵守新出爐的標(biāo)準(zhǔn),并駕馭各種風(fēng)險(xiǎn),其中一些風(fēng)險(xiǎn)仍然會立即構(gòu)成企業(yè)級威脅,而另一些風(fēng)險(xiǎn)的緩沖期貌似很長,但仍然不能忽視。
對商業(yè)領(lǐng)袖來說,這種更廣闊的視野也意味著那些坐在董事會中的人需要更廣泛的專業(yè)知識和經(jīng)驗(yàn)。在一定程度上,正是出于這個(gè)原因,Diligent公司一直通過現(xiàn)代領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力計(jì)劃(Modern Leadership)來增強(qiáng)董事會的多樣性和包容性。我們相信,它不僅僅是一個(gè)由價(jià)值觀驅(qū)動的主張,而且是一項(xiàng)能夠?yàn)楦邔雍驼麄€(gè)團(tuán)隊(duì)踐行這一理念的企業(yè)帶來價(jià)值的舉措。
第二,為了管理新的風(fēng)險(xiǎn)范疇,董事和首席級高管現(xiàn)在必須通過更廣泛的指標(biāo)來監(jiān)管公司——其中當(dāng)然包括財(cái)務(wù)指標(biāo),但也包括與ESG、DE&I以及其他影響領(lǐng)域相關(guān)的海量數(shù)據(jù)。有意義地定義這些影響領(lǐng)域的基準(zhǔn),使其不再囿于新聞通稿和大張旗鼓的企業(yè)社會責(zé)任努力,是現(xiàn)代董事會和監(jiān)管機(jī)構(gòu)現(xiàn)在面臨的典型挑戰(zhàn)之一。
第三,隨著相關(guān)指標(biāo)和利益相關(guān)者激增,董事會和高管需要比以往任何時(shí)候都更廣泛地在企業(yè)范圍內(nèi)設(shè)定目標(biāo),衡量落實(shí)進(jìn)展,并報(bào)告合規(guī)情況。盡管作為現(xiàn)代董事會的一員并不意味著參與企業(yè)的實(shí)際運(yùn)營,但它確實(shí)意味著要比以往任何時(shí)候都更深入地了解企業(yè)的方方面面。
就私人企業(yè)而論,此類標(biāo)準(zhǔn)制定、能見度和合規(guī)性在今天顯得尤為重要。私募股權(quán)在這一領(lǐng)域繼續(xù)發(fā)揮著越來越大的作用。越來越多的私募股權(quán)基金有限合伙人要求其投資目標(biāo)設(shè)定并滿足真正的ESG和DE&I目標(biāo)。借助這個(gè)前所未有的機(jī)會,私募股權(quán)有望催生真正的影響,并使私人公司在一個(gè)遠(yuǎn)比上市公司更短的時(shí)間內(nèi)實(shí)現(xiàn)利益相關(guān)者資本主義。
利益相關(guān)者資本主義和ESG時(shí)代的深遠(yuǎn)影響將遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超出我們今天的預(yù)期。我由衷地希望“現(xiàn)代董事會”將成為一個(gè)幫助我們實(shí)時(shí)分享和學(xué)習(xí)最佳實(shí)踐的空間,以助力董事和首席級高管成就不凡事業(yè),并為他們的公司,以及他們生活、工作和做生意的社區(qū)帶來真正的影響。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
本文作者布萊恩·斯塔福德是Diligent公司的首席執(zhí)行官。
編輯對本文有修改
譯者:任文科
Over the past 18 months, seismic changes have come to the business and nonprofit worlds. These changes were long in the making, but have been accelerated by the pandemic, a summer of racial and social reckoning, escalating cyberattacks, and accelerating climate change impacts. And they have profound implications for how boards of directors operate and interact with their organizations.
Based on my interactions with C-suite leaders and board members, while much remains unclear about what the world will look like after the “l(fā)ong 2020” finally ends, it is undeniable there will be no going back to the status quo. Leaders must now mitigate and manage a broader set of risks while no longer being judged merely by their bottom-line performance or on the quality and price of their products. They must also meet a higher standard of conduct, in their environmental and social impact; their corporate governance; and in their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Stakeholder capitalism is no longer merely a topic of declarations from the Business Roundtable or of business school lectures. In part fueled by the rise of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) investing, it is a fast-evolving new reality. Companies are hiring chief diversity officers, investing billions in underserved communities, and, in the absence of government action, setting their own timetables to decarbonize their supply chains. Lip service is no longer enough. Increasingly, businesses need to measure their impact on society—and do so in real time.
Fundamental changes to a board’s role
Those changes and more are ushering in a new era of board membership. They’re changing what it takes to be an effective member of the board of a public or private company—and, to a lesser extent, a nonprofit organization—in at least three fundamental ways:
First, board membership is no longer about managing binary risk, in which directors and the company’s C-suite executives are charged with avoiding make-or-break, enterprise risk that could bring down a company overnight. Today, with the proliferation of stakeholders, directors must comply with emerging new standards and navigate a spectrum of risk, with some still posing immediate enterprise-level threats while others play out on a longer fuse but nevertheless cannot be disregarded.
This broader aperture for business leaders also means those seated in boardrooms need broader expertise and experience. It is one of the reasons greater diversity and inclusion in boardrooms, which Diligent has championed through our Modern Leadership initiative, is not just a values-driven proposition, but also a move that drives value for companies that embrace it at the top and throughout their ranks.
Second, to manage the new spectrum of risk, directors and C-suites must now oversee companies across a broader range of metrics—financial metrics, of course, but also a plethora of data related to ESG, DE&I, and other areas of impact. Meaningfully defining benchmarks in these impact areas so they are more than press statements and amped-up corporate social responsibility efforts is one of the quintessential challenges facing modern boards—and regulators—today.
Third, with the proliferation of relevant metrics and stakeholders comes the need for boards and C-suites to set objectives, measure implementation, and report compliance across a broader swath of the enterprise than ever before. Although being part of a modern board does not mean being operationally engaged in the business, it does mean having visibility deeper into more aspects of the business than ever before.
Such standard-setting, visibility, and compliance are particularly important today when it comes to private companies, where private equity continues to play a bigger and bigger role. An increasing number of limited partners in PE funds are demanding that their investment targets set and meet real ESG and DE&I goals. This creates an unparalleled opportunity for private equity to drive real impact and make stakeholder capitalism a reality over a far shorter time horizon than can public companies.
The era of stakeholder capitalism and ESG will have consequences that reach much farther than we can anticipate today. It is my hope that the Modern Board will be a space in which we can share and learn, in real time, best practices for directors and C-suite executives alike to succeed and thrive while delivering real impact for their companies as well as for the communities they live, work, and do business in.
Brian Stafford is CEO of Diligent Corporation.