Wallingford in Oxfordshire, England is over 1,000 years old and prior to 1974 was in the Royal County of Berkshire. Some ruins of the Castle built by William the Conqueror still stand. There have long been stories about secret, hidden underground passages and tunnels under the town. These book has collected together many of the stories, and seeks to explore the question - are they fact or fiction?
Reliance on accounting information to understand organizational health and value is inadequate. Integrated reporting can provide part of the solution. Accountants must embrace the growing world of intangible assets and broad based stakeholders to ensure they remain relevant and valuable in a changing world. This book charts the problem and suggests some solutions.
Corporate Purpose is not enough for a human-centric organization. There must be a foundation of Values to guide behaviour between and among people. Without a clearly defined and embedded culture, there will be surprises, excess costs and lost opportunity. This book describes how to make your unique culture an enabler of success.
Organizational culture creates the foundation for an effective business. Few people realize the untapped financial potential that comes from a focus on a positive culture. This book demonstrates how surprises, excess costs and lost opportunities can be revealed and actions taken to improve organizational performance. It links the issue of culture to integrated reporting, human capital metrics and new approaches to cost management.
Business holds an important place in society. It benefits us by providing products and services that society wants or needs. Being "market driven" it has a core role in idea creation and through this encourages innovation and creativity. But business needs to "clean up its' act" and restore a more effective balance between investors and other "stakeholders" - those who have an impact on or are impacted by its activities. This book establishes the need for change and take the reader through ideas, activities, and actions necessary to restore a balance between investor needs and those of society - to become more responsible. It is a way of thinking that embodies caring and respect for those and the world around us. This book embraces the importance of business purpose - but believes that this MUST combine both a social and a commercial purpose.