18th ABIS Annual Colloquium 2019
Business in Society: Measuring Impact and Creating Change
In light of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the ABIS Colloquium 2019 will represent a significant opportunity to reflect on the striking changes the world has experienced over the last 3 decades. The event will also mark 18 years from the foundation of ABIS - The Academy of Business in Society.
In light of the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the ABIS Colloquium 2019 will represent a significant opportunity to reflect on the striking changes the world has experienced over the last 3 decades. The event will also mark 18 years from the foundation of ABIS - The Academy of Business in Society. Founded by major companies and leading business schools, the initiative was driven by a shared belief that advancing the role of business in society required more relevant research and knowledge and new management and leadership skills, mindsets & capabilities. Nowadays, forward-thinking knowledge, tools and relevant skills – whether they support training, planning, analysis, strategy or reporting - is increasingly available to decision makers and change agents.
With a growing number of companies taking steps to be more responsible in how they treat employees, communities and the planet, business is now emerging as a true player in fostering societal progress. Business can provide real value to a wide range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders and communities. It can provide training, jobs and access to products and services which people need. In some companies, having a positive impact is deeply embedded within their purpose and business models. This is particularly true for emerging startups which are finding new creative ways to solve social problems while simultaneously growing their business.
But many companies are still adopting “business as usual” approaches which often take value away from people and planet, polluting the environment, overusing precious resources, contributing to the loss of biodiversity or selling harmful products. Such business models may still appear to provide value to the company’s shareholders in the short term, but they neglect long-term consequences and impact.
The amount and quality of information provided by companies, the difficulties in measuring and externalizing impact and the variety of existing reporting frameworks, tools and indicators represent some of the challenges businesses are facing in maximizing their positive impact on society. This is also crucial for investors, which find it extremely difficult to direct funding to companies which represent good investments in the long-term – for both shareholders and society.
As the world of business is being disrupted by new emerging players from startups, challenged by policy-maker regulations and consumer demands, and with the pace of digital innovation accelerating, during the 18th ABIS Annual Colloquium at ESMT Berlin we aim to examine the following:
- What role business should play in creating changes for reaching SDGs?
- How can the impact of business on society be assessed?
- How can investors invest with positive impact?
- How to source ideas from and collaborate with startups and social entrepreneurs for more positive impacts?
- What role can digital solutions play in the maximizing positive impacts of business on society?
Colloquium Report
Photos
Speakers
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Programme
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Logistics note
Please download our Logistics noteto find the right directions to the venue of ESMT Berlin.
Best Impact Startup Award
During this Colloquium, ABIS is holding a Best Impact Startup Award, in order to acknowledge the role of new, innovative companies that are positively contributing to sustainable development and inspiring others to do the same. We expect to invite and reward purpose-led start-ups which are finding creative ways to solve social and environmental problems while simultaneously growing their business.
For application, eligibility and selection criteria please read the following INSTRUCTIONS or access directly the online application form.
Call for Papers
For the first day of our Colloquium, we are inviting paper proposals which aim to advance our knowledge on the state-of-the art of business in society. As the world of business is being disrupted by new emerging players, challenged by policy-maker regulations and consumer demands, and with the pace of digital innovation accelerating, during the 18th ABIS Annual Colloquium at ESMT Berlin we aim to examine how impact measurement, the growing role of investors and start-ups as well as the latest digital advancements can further accelerate positive impact and create value for society.
Submissions
Submissions ended on August 31. We will be getting in touch with the acceptance of the abstract to the authors soon.
- For any questions, please contact us via: contributions@abis-global.org
Please find the full Call for Papers at this LINK
