VALUES DRIVEN BUSINESS

There's no shortage of books on how to run small businesses, but few of them cover the special value -- and special challenges -- of socially responsible business practices for small- or medium-size companies. "Values-Driven Business addresses that gap. The first entry in Ben Cohen's new "Social Venture Network series, this guide uses real-world examples to show how "triple bottom line" practices -- profits, people, and planet -- have helped companies throughout North America thrive. The book contains first steps that owners or managers can use to start narrowing the gap between personal values and business practices. It also illustrates the many dimensions of value-driven business, addressing the varied roles of customers, employees, the community, the environment, shareholders, and owners. Included is a self-assessment tool that lets readers determine how successful their company will be in implementing values-driven practices.

Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry's and a business icon who embodies the concept of socially responsible business in the public mind, was a founding member of Social Venture Network (SVN) in 1987. Mal Warwick, who has founded and run four successful businesses during the past 25 years, is now serving his second term as Chair of the Social Venture Network Advisory Board. The two have previously authored nearly two dozen books between them.