CEOs Share Their Thoughts On CSR

In an ideal world, CEOs around the world would all agree that CSR should be an important company initiative that would actually boost company sales.  Unfortunately, the debate continues as to whether or not corporations should take it upon themselves to help and improve society.  Recently, Forbes asked some CEOs along with academics and investors to share their thoughts on CSR.  Naturally, the opinions vary. CLICK HERE to read the full article.

The Obama Administration’s Cloud Computing Policy

A recent cloud computing initiative by the Obama administration aims to reduce environmental impact and lower infrastructure costs.  Currently, $19 billion is spent on infrastructure and within six years, the federal government has doubled its energy consumption.  Given our government’s budget deficit and the ever increasing need for environmental efficiency and sustainability, this initiative is an important one, but one that won’t be achieved anytime soon.  One way the government hopes to achieve this is through cloud computing.  For example, creating a new Apps.gov site that will function as a “one stop shop” for agencies, which, in the past, has been a costly endeavor.   CLICK HERE to learn more about the initiative and its various elements.

The CSR Minute

As board member of the Young Ambassadors for Opportunity, an initiative of Opportunity International, I take great joy in learning about what other companies are doing to be more socially responsible.  There is no denying the impact companies and business have on the environment and on people.  Every effort counts and accumulates into something BIG. “Think globally, act locally,” right? A great resource for staying up to the minute on CSR is the cleverly named daily video series, “theCSRMinute.”  CLICK HERE to view today’s CSR minute on Seventh Generation and the top 10 sustainable beer breweries. Oh, NOW you’re interested …

A Study on CSR

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a major debate in the business world. If you’re of the same school of thought as Milton Friedman, then CSR is “a waste of money.” The other school of thought is that CSR creates value and, in turn, profits because consumers view your company or brand as a trusted one.  The following video discusses CSR and the reasons companies are adopting such practices and how it can be beneficial in driving business, based on a survey by IBM:

Advancing Education Through IT

As the CEO of a company that has served the education sector for over 10 years, I realize the importance of providing cost-effective solutions to schools with budget constraints.  Those looking to serve the education industry have to be able to craft solutions that fit a tight budget, particularly given the economic situation we’re currently in.

As someone who is interested and involved in philanthropic efforts (stay tuned to our blog to learn more about these), I think the education sector is great for those looking to use their IT capabilities to truly advance and improve others lives through education.  For example, below is a link to a study published by the Journal of Information Technology Education. The study compares the knowledge and usage of information and communication technology in male and female learners living in a developing country in Africa. Personally, I find this to be interesting because it shows the power of IT and all that can be done with it.  Click on the link below to read the full article:

http://jite.org/documents/Vol8/JITEv8p001-017Kwapong415.pdf