Doing Good Better: Choices And Paradigms In The Social Ecosystem

by Willie Cheng

How can 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 questions and more in his new book, a collection of essays on issues including the social ecosystem in Singapore, market values in society, the role and future of nonprofit organisations, corporate responsibility, “new capitalism”, volunteerism and values. His analyses and logic are supported by research, case studies and examples gleaned from his many years of experience in both the social and business 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. With a foreword by Professor Tommy Koh, Professor of Law, National University of Singapore, and Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hardcover

Published October 15, 2021

About the author

Willie Cheng is a former partner of Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing firm. Prior to his retirement in 2003, he was the country managing director for Singapore and the managing partner of its Communications and High Tech practice in Asia.

Since his retirement, he has stayed involved with the business and the infocomm community. However, he spends the larger part of his time working with nonprofit organizations at the board and volunteer level. Among these, he is chairman of the Lien Centre for Social Innovation and Caritas Singapore.

He was formerly chairman of the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre where he started applying his management consulting background to nonprofit work.

He has written extensively on the nonprofit sector. Doing Good Well: What Does (and Does Not) Make Sense in the Nonprofit World, his first book, is a distillation of these writings, updated for an international context.

He lives in Singapore with his wife, Julie, and two sons, Ian and Ivan. He can be contacted at willie@doinggoodwell.net.

Reviews

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great reference book, with each chapter end-noted by pages of source materials.

Some chapters describe the author's position on topics related to the non-profit sector (effective methods to embed good board governance), while other chapters describe the state of play in a particular area (gambling in Singapore) or provide Singaporean/asian/western case studies to demonstrate a concept (broadband monopolies).

I think readers would obtain a well-informed and well-researched overview of the sector.

[Cassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cheng compels with an insightful reflection of Singapore's social ecosystem where public, private and people seek to do good. He challenges the status quo by asking pertinent questions: should charities be allowed to run businesses? can gambling be responsible and channelled for increased social spending? what happens when sustainability is, and simply, hype?
 
A comprehensive overview of practical dilemmas and emerging needs at the crossroads of philanthropy and sustainable finance. Critically, the social sector requires stronger governance models, data transparency, and innovation. Corporates who are, by nature, pathologically selfish, can consider a complete reconstitution to tame its beast. After all, social impact is not a binary concept; entities across the social compact can choose its fair balance of interventions.

Doing good better is not merely about complying with regulations and doing no harm. It is about a resurgence of moral senses to go beyond arbitrary boundaries. Cheng’s meticulous blend of relevant examples with sharp analyses gave me newfound clarity on the nuances surrounding impact investments and why we struggle. While this book was a compulsory read mandated by my boss, it makes a clarion call to aspiring entrants, investors, grantmakers, and practitioners worldwide - to do good, better.