Richard Evans – a man who helped to change the rules
Richard Evans is one of two consultants who run the consultancy ethics etc. He has been in business all his life and spent many years developing new methods of assessing the ethical and social foundations of business. Some of his earliest work concentrated on how small businesses could be profitable but still stay true to their principles – sustainability accounting in other words. He has published a variety of books and papers on corporate accountability and related topics.
The recording lasts about 7 minutes. Can you answer the questions below on what he says?
1 What is Richard’s job now?
Next, he relates here how he arrived at this point:
2 What three industries does Richard Evans mention having had some experience of early in his working career?
3 Richard thought it important to enable poor people to do two particular things. Can you say what these were?
4 Richard says the sub-title of the book by Fritz Schumacher ‘Small is Beautiful‘ – ‘Economics as if people mattered‘ was an idea that ‘caught his imagination’. What does he say this message meant?
5 How many years did he work with the Intermediate Technology Development Group?
6 How does Richard say that he gradually realised that technology was not the be-all and end-all in these business environments?
The be-all and end-all = the only thing that is actually important
7 What does he say the success of projects depends on apart from getting the technology right?
8 Can you give any information about Traidcraft plc?
9 What two conditions did Traidcraft plc try to establish for these transactions and why?
10 What goods are mentioned as being some of those sold?
11 When did Richard Evans start working for Traidcraft plc?
12 What two responses does he mention having had to the term, ‘social accounting’?
13 What is social accounting?
14 Why did the term seem ‘about right’ to Richard Evans?
15 What was his main interest in at this stage?