Evaluation Ratio
Evaluating Social Responsibility

Evaluation Ratio is the relationship between the needs of the client vs. the needs of the business. When evaluating the social responsibility of a business one must keep in mind the question, "is the business hunting or farming?"* A socially responsible business in effect grows (farming) its client base by way of its good relations with its clients. It builds on its sincerity, service, and attention to the needs of the client.  A business based on hunting is not interested in growing a relationship with the community. Here the business person is hunting for opportunity. As such weaknesses of character or intellect a client might exhibit is seen as an exploitable opportunity to make money. A further analysis of the habits of such a business revels a pattern of deception and sometimes aggressive business tactics. Struggle, conflict and anger are sometimes experienced by the customer in dealing with this type of business. In this sense, it is important to know the ratio of investment of the business person in making profits and serving the needs of the client. For example, many trades people value the relationship with their clients more than they do maximizing their profit. The job is not about the money. The ratio of the client's interest verses maximizing profit exceeds 50%. Instead of using every little excuse to increase the cost of the work the trades person adsorbs some of the additional costs and make the client happy.  

Tooth & Claw Darwinians the ratio might be 1% clients interest verses 99% the business owner's interest. These people are not about to adsorb any extra costs unless they are forced to. This is not a socially responsible business marked by a buyer beware attitude and an inclination to take advantage of the client. This business may project the image of of a socially responsible business but they are not in fact. An underlying theme of behavior here is "the glorification of struggle." Believe in a learning curve.

The Enlightened Darwinian The ratio might be 10% the client's and 90% the business owner's. Here some unexpected costs are adsorbed in the interest of one's professional image but maximizing profits is very much a part of this category. Here there is not an exaggerated drive to glorify winning out over the client, but there is a strong satisfaction with outmaneuvering the customer in a transaction. There are good and bad elements of ego here.  There can be a very real supremacist attitude that sees business owners as a higher class of people in a society where it is their given right to fleece the unsuspecting public. The exploitation, however, is more sophisticated than that of the Tooth & Claw Darwinian. Here, t he enlightened Darwinian has learned from intimate associations with clients that there is a very real struggle in society that defines a person's rank in society. Otherwise intelligent people are observed to be fools yet they assert themselves a savvy and smart people clever enough to outwit the business person. Other customers are observed to be predators and opportunists, people who do not care about fundamental values of society and flaunt the law. Within a society of such people a hierarchy of power and wealth evolves. In this respect it is difficult for "the ideal observer" to know the ethicacy of an action taken by a business person. The Enlightened Darwinian believes that their ethical behavior is defined by rules of a culture that they very plainly see. These ethics often conform to what can be termed "customary ethics." The problem here is that mistakes of judgment are made and a climate of deception, lies, and fraud are reinforced and perpetuated in society.

Socially Responsible Enlightened Darwinian Here there is a higher ratio of in. Very high level deceptions High level games. Learning curve.

Socially Responsible, Straigh-Shooter no learning curve Tiny bit of learning curve.

Note: While controversial, in all of these categories if a business is being cheated or manipulated by someone it does not mean the business will not respond in kind. At some level Tit for Tat Theory holds sway. The limitations of Tit for Tat is that the business owner discerns cheating, games, lying and stealing when none in fact is actually happening. Stopping a predatory game of a client sometimes requires extreme measures.

*Hunting and farming term coined by Business Network International