Most Americans were disappointed in how the nation’s businesses conducted themselves in 2010, with 61% saying corporate America failed to meet their expectations, and only 5% saying that businesses exceeded their expectations, according to a survey conducted by StrategyOne, a Daniel J. Edelman research firm. Some of their responses:
• When asked to grade how well corporate America did in 2010, 82% assigned a grade of C or lower and 40% assigned a grade of D or F. Just 17% gave corporate America an A or a B for its 2010 performance.
• The survey also asked what corporate behaviors were important to improve in 2011; 88% said it was extremely or very important to conduct business in an ethical manner in 2011, and 87% said it was a top priority to do business in an honest and moral way.
• Other priorities for companies from the consumer perspective include delivering high-quality products and services (85%), demonstrating good governance (84%), paying back any bailout money loaned to them as quickly as possible (83%) and making fewer mistakes and errors (82%).
• And as the nation struggles with the economy, 88% of consumers said corporations recovered from the recession better than American families, and 85% thought corporations had better prospects for the coming year than American families did.
This certainly lends credence to my “Principles of Public Relations” classroom lectures on ethics and corporate social responsibility. You have to EARN trust and respect…you can’t BUY them. Corporate America is on an uphill climb…AGAIN.