Governance
IBM Senior Management is ultimately responsible for our economic, environmental and social performance, as well as complying with IBM’s overall compliance programs. Corporate responsibility at IBM is integrated across the business through the following two forums:
Corporate Responsibility Steering Committee
Our Corporate Responsibility Steering Committee comprises senior executives from functional areas across the business and is chaired by the vice president for Corporate Citizenship. The Committee meets periodically to provide leadership and direction on key corporate responsibility issues. Each functional area is responsible for the development of its own corporate responsibility goals and strategy, with organizational-wide goals approved by the Steering Committee.
Corporate Responsibility Working Group
Our Corporate Responsibility Working Group consists of representatives from 10 functional areas (including global representation) and meets at least monthly to manage IBM’s corporate responsibility activities, reporting and stakeholder engagement across the company. The Working Group reviews key policy and strategic decisions with the Steering Committee throughout the year.
On a day-to-day basis our activities are coordinated in an organization called Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, which reports to the senior vice president for Marketing and Communications.
Stakeholder Engagement
At IBM, we view stakeholder engagement as much more than communications and consultation. For us, it is about business partnership and collaboration—working shoulder to shoulder with communities, governments and the social sector.
Here are a couple of examples:
- Jams, our large-scale electronic conversations, garner stakeholder input and engagement on a scale previously not possible in real time—accelerating the development of new business and societal solutions to problems such as water quality or healthcare. For example, this year we held ServiceJam, which brought together more than 15,000 representatives of not-for-profit organizations, corporations, academic institutions and government agencies in a discussion on how social innovation can help solve our world’s largest problems.
- We use a variety of social media to help us more deeply engage with our extended IBM workforce and community. This includes our retirees through the IBM On Demand Community, our online system of community engagement, and a range of in-depth social partnerships as we beta test technology breakthroughs with community organizations, teachers, students and parents worldwide.
We also actively seek to work with organizations that are taking similarly innovative, global, open and collaborative approaches to corporate citizenship and sustainability.
representatives from not-for-profit organizations, corporations, academia and government agencies took part in 2010’s ServiceJam
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Our memberships include:
- AmCham-China CSR Committee
- Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship (IBM is a Board Member)
- Business for Social Responsibility
- China Corporate Citizenship Committee
- Chinese Federation for Corporate Social Responsibility
- Confederation of Indian Industry National Committee on CSR
- CSR Europe (IBM is a Board Member)
- Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (IBM is the Chair)
- European Academy of Business in Society (IBM is a Board Member)
- Global Leadership Network (IBM is an initiator and founding member)
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Business Conduct Guidelines Refresh
Each year, IBMers demonstrate the importance of trust and personal responsibility in all relationships by reading and certifying IBM’s Business Conduct Guidelines. This year as IBM Corporation celebrates its Centennial and we reflect on our longstanding commitment to ethics and integrity, we refreshed the Business Conduct Guidelines (BCG). The new BCG are built upon the solid fundamental principles that have sustained us and brought us success, but have been refreshed to better fit our dynamic and increasingly complex business.
Designed to be used as an online tool, the new BCG include search functionality and connect IBMers to supporting resources and other essential guidance. The enhanced format includes learning aids, which are designed to help IBMers better understand and apply our fundamental principles in our daily work. These new guidelines were designed to be read more than once a year, a resource all IBMers can use to inform our daily actions and decisions.
CTEBA
In 2010, IBM launched a new global process and tool designed to harmonize and streamline the approval process for client travel, entertainment and business amenities (CTEBA). CTEBA is a set of principles that defines the legal and financial approval requirements for all client travel, entertainment and business amenities provided by IBM, directly or indirectly through third parties.
CTEBA establishes a process for vetting client travel, entertainment or business amenities and confirming that they comply with IBM’s worldwide policies, meet IBM’s own standards of business integrity and operate ethically and lawfully in all matters.
CTEBA is part of a broad portfolio of controls, and is supported by existing IBM corporate instructions and guidelines such as:
- IBM Business Conduct Guidelines
- IBM Government Client Guidelines
- IBM Business Partner Code of Conduct
- IBM Supplier Conduct Principles/Guidelines
- Corporate Policy Letter 103—Business Conduct and Ethics
Featured IBM Initiatives
A Century of Shared Value
As IBM celebrates 100 years of building a responsible enterprise, we look back at several moments that have defined our values and served as cornerstones in our pursuit of progress.
Launch FeatureSmarter Cities Challenge
The Smarter Cities Challenge is a competitive grant program awarding $50 million worth of services and expertise over the next three years to help 100 cities around the globe address a wide range of challenges.
Launch FeatureCelebration of Service
IBMers worldwide are improving the communities in which they work, learn and live by pledging time and expertise. IBM honors their commitments with a program of new and expanded grants, and the opportunity to join a global effort.
Launch Feature