Paul Bryant makes the case for Corporate Social Responsibility in AEC companies. Starting with a thoughtful challenge to businesses and proceeding through the issues, he concludes with current examples of the industry's efforts to embrace CSR. This book will greatly assist AEC firms in mapping out their appropriate strategy for CSR. -Timothy Psomas, Chairman, Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, U.S. ********************************************************* Corporate Social Responsibility is, like Climate Change - and long before it, Female Emancipation and the abolition of slavery; a no-brainer. As with the other, older themes, the disparagers of the day will one day be ashamed of their disapproval. Paul's book is another step along the road to establishing good sense as common sense; the sense of all in common. This is not an easy read or a gentle journey but I for one do not believe that easy reads and gentle voyagers are necessarily the ones that really engage or truly achieve their ends. Read, engage with, agree or disagree but get involved with one of the defining conversations of this time. -Dr. Simon Bell, Open University UK, Professor of Innovation and Methodology********************************************************************************************** One of the best books you can find on this topic. The reader can definitely find the depth of knowledge the author has on this issue in this book, and Paul's ability to present his ideas in another approach that is very different from the other CSR books. Paul might just reinvent himself to be the CSR guru with this publication.... -Dr. Oswald Chong, Associate Professor of Engineering, Kansas University ******************************************************************************** Paul Bryant's book is a clarion call to the engineering professionals for re-imagining the future. Construction professionals will find everything they need to know about CSR in this book. Its their code for building the earth's future. - Dr. Subhasis Ray, Centre for R&R and CSR, Xavier Institute of Management, India ********************************************************************************************* Today most engineering, architecture, and construction firms have sustainability project experience. This means that having LEED, BREEAM, Minergie, or other sustainability credentials no longer provides a competitive advantage, it is simply a feature set that is expected by clients, like airbags in a car. However, the sustainability game is evolving and firms are realizing "their cheese has moved - again." Sustainability, or more specifically environmental sustainability, is being superseded and absorbed into a more holistic approach to sustainable business known as corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR adds social and economic pillars to the environmental sustainability pillar. Ten years ago, customers were asking for a firm's environmental credentials. Today those same clients are asking about the design or construction firm's business itself. More specifically, clients want to know about supply chain companies' records on bribery, human trafficking, supplier payments, fair wages, in addition to the environmentally focused sustainability indicators such as water and carbon footprints. Some AEC firms see the CSR wave coming, but the majority have yet to recognize the tsunami. All firms are soon going to be swept up in the CSR wave and will have to develop policies, track data, and report on their CSR activity. This book is an introduction to the world of CSR presenting many of the resources available. Focused specifically on the AEC industry, it will help them quickly grasp the concepts behind CSR, including development of their own customized programs. A solid CSR program will take time to mature as both sustainability and CSR are continually evolving. Firms will have to find what works best for them in the pursuit of an integrated, strategic CSR p
About the Author: Paul Bryant, PE, has twenty years of industrial experience. The first decade he was a project manager leading the site selection, design, and construction of more than a dozen projects in three countries. The last ten he's been providing strategic planning, project, and process improvement services to engineering, construction, and professional technical services firms in the U.S. and Europe. Paul has given over two dozen conference presentations and webinars in recent years on topics of business interest to A/E/C. Since 2008, he's been studying the sustainability movement taking courses in LEED, Smart Grid, CSR, sustainable development, corporate governance, and climate change.