A Reflection On Transparency Using A Gemstone Metaphor
By Ian Doyle
Introduction:
Ian Doyle is an associate with Lifeworth Consulting, a consultancy dedicated to helping companies improve their corporate responsibility by integrating environmental and social values as part of their strategies. He has recently been involved in researching the colored gemstone sector.
~ Marc Choyt, Publisher
Gemstones have fours characteristics to be classified as ‘precious’ namely, transparency, hardness, rarity and beauty. In terms of evaluating and appraising a gemstone, four important indicators are used, also known as the fours C’s, clarity, cut, colour and carat weight. The clarity and transparency properties of a gemstone offer an interesting parallel for corporate responsibility.
Clarity is a measure used to determine the level of flawlessness of a gemstone by assessing both the internal and external characteristics of the stone whilst transparency is the ability of light to pass through. The better the clarity and cleaner the cuts, the better the stone’s transparency, therefore increasing its rarity and subsequently its value.
Applying such principles to corporate responsibility can offer gem companies a potential metaphor for their own industry. Where the corporation represents the stone, its value is enhanced when there is clarity and transparency. An analysis of the organisation’s ethics with respect to decision making and its organisational governance could be a measure of its internal flaws, whilst a measure of the external flaws could be the surface blemishes from poor stakeholder engagement where proper cutting and polishing could have increased the stone’s clarity. The fewer the flaws, the greater the value of the stone, and hence the organisation.
Interestingly though, a precious stone is never flawless perhaps reflecting current trends in luxury whereby beautiful objects are those that provide novelty and stimulation on an aesthetic level. Novelty is a preference for minor irregularities and imperfections and thus the stone’s intrinsic quality is something to be embraced rather than to be hidden. This also explains the why synthetic stones of the greenwashing kind that appear to have no flaws are of lesser value. The flaw is a sign of the authenticity of the stone.
Furthermore, the location of the flaw in the stone is important, often increasing its value. This perhaps suggests that in assessing a corporation’s flaws, there is the potential of increased value. But if the position of the flaw is strategic, then the flaw that originates from within may extend to the surface, decreasing its apparent worth.
The corollary is that with greater clarity, there is also greater transparency. Light passes through the stone effortlessly, highlighting the intrinsic value of the stone. Features that are clear and defined, but not necessarily perfect, are brought into the light rather than needing to be hidden. There is no blurring as is the case for semi-transparent or translucent gemstones nor are the internal characteristics completely hidden as in the case of their opaque cousins. The transparency of the stone is used as a means to appreciate any imperfections. A simple change of angle with respect to the light provides a whole new perspective as can be evidenced through dialogue of the stakeholder kind.
Such a transparency would add to the rarity and beauty of the stone and hence its preciousness. But in corporate terms, preciousness is not to be measured according to the stone’s hardness. Softness would be more appropriate, perhaps providing the novelty needed to stand out from its counterparts, as a true and beautifully rare gem.
