Introduction

In today's complex world, leaders as well as employees in companies have to adjust continuously to complex changes in their environments. While in previous times companies could focus almost exclusively on making a profit (Friedman 1970), today's organizations and companies are embedded in global and local network relationships that demand more (Holmström 2010; Rendtorff 2009; Rendtorff 2010). Customers are concerned about how companies treat their employees at home as well as abroad, and care about the impact of companies and organizations on their environments. Employees and investors in companies have similar types of concerns. Employees prefer to work in companies that are respected in society and uphold higher than expected ethical standards. Investors understand and sometimes sympathize with such overall value changes in society, and adjust their investment strategies accordingly. Environmental issues arise concerning the effects of CO₂ emissions and global warming. Ethical and health-related issues arise around the use of biotechnology. Political issues arise in relation to competition from foreign workers who are not employed in accordance with national union standards. Social issues arise concerning corporate social responsibility (CSR), and how the behavior of corporate executives in financial and other firms may be greedy, immoral, and irresponsible, resulting in worldwide financial crisis. All these examples illustrate why it has become increasingly important for organizations and companies to reflect more systematically on how to balance profits with other criteria when making decisions and acting.