Over the last few years, many companies have been in the news due to different kind of scandals. You can think of a revelation of money which is snatched away or CEO’s that delivered false documents, and so on. Many citizens have been complaining about the reliability of such companies, and after all, I absolutely think that they have got that right!
The essence
After criticism, distrust and anger, companies are willing to make a change. A beautiful example is located in the United States of America. The DOE (Department of Energy) organised a better-building-challenge for the first time this year. The DOE invented a real life TV programme in which two companies, Whole Foods Market and Hilton Worldwide, are giving each other criticism and new opportunities to save more energy. They swap during the shows and are searching for points of improvement. ‘May the best HVAC win’ is the slogan. (HVAC means: heating, ventilation, air-conditioning)
Whole Foods Market and Hilton Worldwide in the better-building-challenge
The motives behind the story
There are a few reasons for such a (real life) TV show like this. As I said earlier, the different scandals that are revealed during the years is one of them. However, there are more grounds and changing motives. According to citizens, they gradually discover that many stories, documents, people and companies are not telling the truth. Everything can be based on a lie, and that is a thing we know nowadays. Because of disclosures, we become needy of a world that shows more openness, in which we all can be transparent. The consumer can actually see what the companies are doing and in which way they are saving more energy. Nevertheless, the companies are being judged by each other, what is tending to be a great example of being sincere and transparent.
A bigger context
If we date back to a few earlier and larger trends, we can relate to digitisation and the way technology taught us to think for ourselves. Due to these trends, people like you and me were discovering more and more information about companies, for instance. As a matter of fact, technology made sure that if there is something revealed, people will share this on social media with the consequence that everybody will know it sooner. As an individual we can look up everything we want, at any time, at any place. All this is making the authorities less powerful and what is even more important…less of a ruler!
Beneath you can see the first episode, where Hilton Worldwide visits Whole Foods:
How it sequels
Companies are no longer trying to only tell the people they are of good willingness. The next step is to really show everybody how it is done, when it is done, where it is done and more of such questions. True transparency is the future, a world where secrets can not be hidden. But…. where does our privacy go?
What do you think of this topic?
See you next time,
Amy Melenboer ♥
sources:
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/HVAC.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfkBti0H8ZU
amylifeinstyle 