Purposeful Behavior is an action performed by an organization consistent or aligned with a Common Purpose that is meaningful and important to that organization’s key stakeholder groups.

In the short run Purposeful Behavior can be a competitive advantage for any business. However, we believe in the long run it will be a necessary condition for an organization’s very survival.

Businesses that adopt Purposeful Behavior, will experience fewer conflicts with their stakeholder groups, be more effective in their use of resources and create fewer problems that come from benefiting one stakeholder group at the expense of others.

The concept of Purposeful Behavior is based on the following premise:

An organization with a single common purpose that is aligned with its key stakeholder groups will have the greatest opportunity for success.

This premise has two corollaries:

1. An organization that is committed to a single purpose will be more successful in achieving that purpose than if it were committed to multiple purposes.
2. The chance for an organization’s success will be lessened when any stakeholder group is not aligned with its purpose (that is, when stakeholders do not find it meaningful and important to them).

To exhibit Purposeful Behavior, four conditions must be present:

1. The organization must have a clearly stated singular Purpose and related Mission
2. The organization’s key stakeholder groups must be aligned with that Purpose
3. The organization must have a credible and transparent plan to accomplish its Purpose
4. The organization must keep key stakeholder groups informed of progress in accomplishing its Purpose