The article in the url link below is taken from the August edition of Strategy+Business, a magazine produced by the consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. The article proposes an interesting idea for a non-profit organization, ‘Executives without Borders,’ that would be modeled on the successful medical non-profit, ‘Medecins Sans Frontieres’:
“Like MSF, Executives Sans Frontières (ESF) would be run by an international board of directors, who would be in charge of recruiting a group of volunteer, adventurous business executives and rotating teams of committed members into regions like the Sahel to help establish businesses and develop untapped markets. Based on their background and expertise, these managers from the developed world’s corporate elite and recent startups would be parachuted in for several months to several years to address such critical issues as transportation of goods, sustainable harvesting, and international trade practices. ESF’s success would be predicated on its ability to locate, mentor, and, in some cases, underwrite local entrepreneurs. The overarching goal would be to teach people to run ventures themselves.”
The idea has much to recommend it and is potentially more effective than the uncoordinated similar actions some firms have already initiated:
“Although some businesses have tinkered with sending salaried consultants to developing countries on pro bono projects, such projects tend to be temporary and focused at the higher levels of government. The ESF, however, would be far more adventurous, appealing to executives’ altruistic instincts while giving them an opportunity to apply real business learning in exciting, uncharted settings. ESF would target mid-career managers with experience, drive, and a sense of joie de vivre. There could also be an opportunity for companies to get involved directly; for example, FedEx might donate 15 employees a year, who would each serve four years with ESF while remaining on FedEx’s payroll.”
Take care
Dave
Bill Werther & David Chandler
Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility
© Sage Publications, 2006
http://www.sagepub.com/Werther
Executives without Borders
by Jonathan Ledgard
August 14, 2007
A novel proposition for saving driest Africa from total collapse.
http://www.strategy-business.com/li/leadingideas/li00038?
