ABSTRACT
The direction of Singapore’s CSR presents an evolving opus that synchronizes an emphasis on strategic social enterprise and the formation of more sustainable and inclusive communities. With a highly effective, corruption-free but vastly centralized government known for its authoritarian propensity, this nation-state stands out among the countries in this book because it is the smallest in terms of population size and geography but is the only one with a developed economy that very well compensates for its size. It also is in a league of its own because the priorities of the government and corporate sector have homogenized using a shared values framework. As the CSR cases in this chapter convincingly illustrate, sample corporations have developed a strong culture of employee volunteerism, enabled social entrepreneurship and leveraged their strength to go beyond profit and into a deeper awareness and determination to be a force for good in society. Here’s the story of one Singapore-based multinational company and its companion foundation whose strategic corporate vision built a CSR program with the following core imperatives: environmental sustainability, skills training and disaster relief. For a company operating in an authoritarian ecosystem, it managed to have CSR priorities that emerged organically from its various global offices. The employment and empowerment of people with disabilities and other marginalized or underserved populations such as the elderly, vulnerable women and low-income families not only met government mandates but gave a hefty boost to their reputation and bottom-lines.
