Originally published in 2004, this book offers a fresh approach to understanding responsible business practice. Global protests against multinational companies often give the misleading impression that the interests of multinationals and of peaceful societies are at odds. By contrast, Fort and Schipani contend, not only does business benefit from a peaceful environment but it can in fact effectively foster peace through adopting responsible and open working methods. Firms that promote economic development, that allow external evaluation of their affairs and that build a sense of community both within the company and in their local areas make a great contribution to building a more harmonious culture. Relevant for academics and practitioners, the book shows how companies can encourage collaborative working across borders, discourage corruption and create citizenship and problem-solving practices which tend to reduce violence and increase social harmony.

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Research on employee voice suggest that providing employees with the sense that it is safe to speak up to their managers about their concerns, ideas, and suggestions can have very positive effects on employee behavior inside organizations. Here, we argue that providing employees with voice opportunities is also likely to be essential in building "positive" organizations that contribute to the building of human potential in our communities and societies.Specifically, we argue that employees who perceive that they are able to voice their ideas and concerns to their managers will not only be more engaged employees but will also be likely to be more engaged and involved members of their communities. We elaborate the micro-level processes by which what happens to employees in their efforts to "speak up" in their work organizations can "spill over" and affect their interactions and behavior in the world outside of work. We also consider how employee voice opportunities in for-profit organizations may be influenced by the law and prevailing attitudes about corporate governance.

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