Choices and paradigms in the social ecosystem.

  • How could the social ecosystem transform in the new normal?
  • If a charity is in dire need of cash, should it accept a donation that might be tainted?
  • What happens when we place a value on all things in our marketised society?
  • Can the corporate beast be harnessed without reconstituting corporations?
  • Should charities be allowed to run businesses?

Willie Cheng provides his perspectives to these and many more questions in this sequel to Doing Good Well: What Does (and Does Not) Makes Sense in the Nonprofit World.

In this second collection of “do good” paradigms, he challenges the status quo and the shifts resulting from the convergence of the social and business sectors. His analysis and logic are supported by research, case studies and examples gleaned from his many years of experience in both sectors.

Written in an easy, friendly and readable style, this book provides valuable insights for volunteers, executives and leaders in nonprofits and corporates who want to know how they can succeed in doing good better in the new world order.

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Section 1: The Social Ecosystem

This section provides a birds-eye view of the social sector and its trends using the paradigm of an ecosystem. Those already familiar with how the social ecosystem works can skip this section, or go to the last chapter on the forces shaping the Singapore social ecosystem in the new normal.

Section 2: Dilemmas

Ethical thinking can be most effectively illustrated and developed through the framing of dilemmas. This section highlights several common dilemmas on donations, disclosures, growth, term limits, compensation and poison pen letters in the nonprofit world.

Section 3: Values

Values are core to the social sector, and they usually determine how dilemmas are resolved. But there are values and values. This section looks at market values, national values, religious values and personal values, and how they apply in specific contexts such as our marketised society, meritocracy, gambling, politics and our treatment of migrant workers.

Section 4: New Capitalism

Despite its success in fostering economic growth, modern capitalism has a bad name for the many ills it has spawned. The good news is that capitalism is being reformed, not least through the influence of the social sector. This section describes the evolution of this new capitalism and the forces behind it.

Section 5: Social-Business Hybrids

One aspect of the new capitalism is the growing fusion between the social and business sectors. This section describes the hybrid organisations, hybrid financing and hybrid collaborations that have consequently emerged.