Meeting the challenge of economic development through business and community partnerships
A sourcebook profiling examples of good practice from around the world
The great debate on the advantages and failings of economic
globalisation often obscures the
reality that the vast majority of people earn their living by
participating in local enterprise, either as self-employed or as
employees of small medium and micro enterprises.
Employment in large national and international companies remains an
important ingredient in the world’s economic life, but advances in
technology, subcontracting and outsourcing combine to limit its growth.
At the same time, large companies clearly have a business interest in
participating in, supporting and encouraging vibrant local, national
and international economic activity where enterprises of all shapes and
sizes play complementary roles.
The main barriers to small, medium and micro enterprises playing
their full parts in economic
activity are lack of knowledge, skills and technology, which large
companies have in abundance.
Increasingly these large companies are learning to share their
resources and the skills of their employees with business partners and
their host communities, to mutual advantage.
The Business of Enterprise profiles examples of
successful business linkages between large companies and local
enterprises from around the world - the drivers that led to action, the
business links, the nature of the support from the large company, the
outcomes and the lessons learned. Some initiatives look to develop
supply chains and some help to build local communities, while other
projects give previously marginalised groups access to economic
activity. In all cases, benefits flowed to all the participants, and
the example initiatives make a powerful business case for large
companies engaging in such enterprise development.
The sourcebook draws from these experiences to encourage and support
business linkages and provides a framework for planning and
implementing the appropriate activities.
Download an executive summary of the Business of Enterprise