KEY POINTS:
Kiwi bosses have a high awareness of corporate social responsibility compared with global results, according to a survey by IBM.
IBM's third global chief executive study interviewed more than 1130 people, including 69 in the New Zealand and Australia region - and found a significant difference with the rest of the world.
Chief executives in this region planned to increase investments in corporate social responsibility (CSR) by 74 per cent during the next three years, compared with 25 per cent globally.
IBM's Matt English, who led the study in Australia and New Zealand, was surprised by the extent of the difference.
"We are showing a much greater level and leading in terms of some of the attitudes and some of the approaches,"English said.
CSR actions included taking environmental initiatives, labelling for retailers, energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, design of buildings and how businesses respond to the needs of the community. "ANZ chief executives are seeing this as a really positive impact potentially on their business."
CSR was expected to have a positive business impact by 85 per cent of New Zealand and Australian chief executives, compared to 69 per cent globally.
Customer expectations were rising, while for many chief executives it was also an important tool for attracting and keeping staff.
The attitude of chief executives paralleled that of the broader community, English said.
Environmental issues were seen as critical by 33 per cent of chief executives in New Zealand and Australia, compared to 18 per cent globally.
"I think what it [the survey] is saying is that as investment plans and as strategies are developed for the next three years this whole issue is not something that is just incidental," English said.
"This is something up front and centre for CEOs and will be a key part of their strategy going forward."
The study also showed a growing so-called change gap - the difference between what chief executives said was the amount of change needed and what they said was the amount of previous success in change.
The global change gap had increased from 8 per cent in 2006 to 22 per cent in 2008, reflecting not so much the level of past success but the amount of expected future change.
"The CEOs are saying there's a dramatic amount of extra change coming down the pipeline presenting significantly greater challenges going forward."
WHO CARES?
* 33 per cent of chief executives view environmental issues as critical.
* Bosses plan to increase spending on corporate social responsibility by 74 per cent.
* 85 per cent expect it to have a positive impact on the business.
