How HIP is Your Company?

Score your results. Download HIP’s questionnaire PDF.

1. HIP Vision:
Is your company’s vision/timeline designed to realize both Human Impact and Profit?

• A) We have financial goals but what is Human Impact?
• B) Our financial targets are lined up; we would like to have a positive impact our community—if we have more resources, we might establish a community grant program.
• C) Our financial targets are well established with clear timelines; we broadly advertise our Human Impact accomplishments to attract new customers and shareholders. For example, in 2006, ALL of our employees had access to affordable health coverage.
• D) We have comprehensive goals, measures and timelines for our Human Impact and Profit accomplishments over the last year AND we have clear plans and measures long term. For example, we are committed to being carbon neutral by 2010.
• E) Human Impact and Profit are synonymous with our company vision – we’re HIP! Our company has a clear timeline and can demonstrate how our success at both ends feeds into value. For example, we will increase sales within the Hispanic community by 8% by increasing our supplier diversity by 35% over the next 2 years.

2. HIP Metrics:
How does your company track Human Impact?

• A) Tracking Human Impact means??
• B) We advertise our good work in the community. For example, we always donate to a few local charities and have two company-sponsored employee volunteer days a year.
• C) At the end of the year, we look back to see what impact we had. For example, last year, we began opening supermarkets in low-income areas that previously had no grocery stores and where residents were suffering from high rates of obesity and poor health consuming the accessible fast food; we have tapped a new market AND improving access to healthy food.
• D) We publish a detailed report for customers and shareholders demonstrating our Human Impact + Profit. For example, in 2006 we invested in profit-sharing measures for all employees, which led to a 4% increase in employee engagement levels–which translated into increased customer satisfaction levels and sales!
• E) We have a 10-year plan outlining all of our Human Impact + Profit goals with bi-annual targets and measures for each. Our metrics demonstrate the sustainable and profitable growth we offer to all stakeholders. For example, we are preparing to launch a line of new solar-powered flashlights that will cost 70% less and last 3-5 years longer than traditional flashlights; for millions in the developing world, this can be life-changing by extending hours for education and commerce, increasing safety and being more environmentally friendly (than wood fires), all while creating a new market and profit for our company.

3. HIP Financials:
How much revenue (or profit) is related to Human Impact?

• A) What do profits have to do with Human Impact?
• B) Last year we donated to a local charity and were honored at their annual dinner–it was free marketing and exposure to new clients!
• C) We can demonstrate real cost savings from our impact efforts. For example, we invested in green technology for our offices, which reduced costs by 10% in the first year (after accounting for the original investment). We now have a continuing cost advantage vis a vis our competitors.
• D) More than half of our revenue is driven by impact. For example, we launched an innovative community hiring strategy for each of our locations coupled with comprehensive benefits and advancement opportunities for all employees, which reduced our HR costs nationwide by 33% because of increased retention, improved performance and becoming an “employer of choiceâ€�; we increased sales in each location by 2% in the first year alone because of our new community image.
• E) Nearly all of our financial results (over 90%) are from Human Impact driving profit. For example, last year we offered a new, affordable medical device in Africa at 60% below the existing competing model, We achieved control over the existing market AND grew the market to add new customers who could now afford treatment; this launch resulted in a 25% increase in our share price as we attracted investors worldwide.

4. HIP Accountability:
At what level does your company require accountability for Human Impact and Profit?

• A) How would you write Human Impact and Profit in job descriptions?
• B) We hope that all of our employees take responsibility for the company’s successes on some level!
• C) A few key employees are taking leadership on different initiatives and projects; these are individuals who have usually expressed an interest and made an effort to be in these roles.
• D) We encourage employees at all levels to develop a sense of accountability for Human Impact + Profit and have integrated key measures for each position into the annual review process to ensure everyone is actively participating.
• E) Our employees report regularly, all the way up to the Board and CEO, on integrated measures of Human Impact + Profit – everyone is involved.

5. HIP Decision Making:
How are new products or projects approved?

• A) Will it make money? We’re good to go!
• B) Making money–great! Making money people AND helping people–even better!
• C) Can we have a positive human impact and make a profit at the same time on this project is a question we always ask–but we don’t necessarily spend much time exploring and answering it.
• D) All of our ventures must demonstrate measurable and achievable Human Impact + Profit to move forward.
• E) Every new product and project must maximize both Human Impact + Profit for the company, our shareholders and the world.

6. HIP Health:
What share of your products and initiatives improve the health, extend the life, or benefit the quality of life of customers, employees or suppliers?

• A) A small fraction or less
• B) Around a quarter (25%)
• C) About half (50%)
• D) Most (about 75%)
• E) Nearly all (90% and up)

7. HIP Wealth:
What share of your products and initiatives increase the income or assets (or reduce the debt or taxes) of your customers, employees or suppliers?

• A) A small fraction or less
• B) Around a quarter (25%)
• C) About half (50%)
• D) Most (about 75%)
• E) Nearly all (90% and up)

8. HIP Earth:
What share of your company’s products and services are carbon-neutral; and are designed to have no environmental impact?

• A) A small fraction or less
• B) Around a quarter (25%)
• C) About half (50%)
• D) Most (about 75%)
• E) Nearly all (90% and up)

9. HIP Equality:
How representative is your company’s customer, employee and supplier bases relative to the demographics of the overall market(s) in which you do business?

• A) Companies measure that?
• B) We have a diverse staff; though most of the diversity is found in lower levels in the organization
• C) We have promoted from within and hired from our base for the front-line and managers but we need to work on better representation among the Board and executive positions
• D) Mostly representative – we’re within reach of being balanced at Board, execs and managers and we’ll get there!
• E) Exactly representative at all levels–balanced on gender, ethnicities and income class.

10. HIP Satisfaction:
Add up your Customer and Employee satisfaction scores (max = 200%; if not measured, then answer A)

• A) What’s a customer/employee satisfaction survey?
• B) From 40% to 79% combined
• C) From 80 to 119% combined
• D) From 120 to 159% combined
• E) Over 160% (averaging 80% or higher for both)

Score your results. Download HIP’s questionnaire PDF.