Such goals enhance focus and accountability throughout theorganization and serve as metrics for evaluating performance

Such goals enhance focus and accountability throughout theorganization and serve as metrics for evaluating performance, rewardingemployees and allocating resources Plan and execute the rollout with great care. If your goal sounds like an empty promise, that's what it will be. Whether your sustainability goal is connected to your strategic plan or issuedseparately, it should be simple, measurable, achievable, relevant andtime-based. The mission statement is a verbal framework that can provide a commonunderstanding of citizenship and sustainability goals across the organization.In addition to internal statements about a company's commitment to citizenshipand sustainability, external codes can also offer a way to share a vision withother firms. While they may not be tailored to a company's specific culture orneeds, popular codes like the United Nations Global Compact can provideimmediate credibility. Since the strongsupport and involvement of top management is critical, CEOs, executivecommittees and corporate boards should also be active participants insustainability programs Your mission statement is more than a slogan.

Because they have access to such a wide variety offunctional viewpoints, these teams, which may be either formal groups or loosenetworks of contributors, can have a broad strategic focus. The report finds that most C&S team leaders tend to come from corporatecommunications, public affairs or environment, health and safety departments.They may also include representatives from human resources and suppliermanagement/purchasing. The report includes a blueprint for building a solid citizenship andsustainability program. Below are some of the key insights gleaned from thecase studies: Build the right team. The companies featured in the report include: Abbott Laboratories; Alcan Inc.;Aveda Corporation; Baxter International Inc.; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company;The Coca-Cola Company; Dow Corning; Florida Power & Light Co.; Hospira, Inc.;J.C Penney Company, Inc.; and Pfizer Inc.

In fact, these benefits are even more imperative in tough timesthan they are under business-as-usual. But a C&S program needs clear goals, a strong framework and ongoing managementsupport to succeed, reports The Conference Board in a new study. The report,Frameworks for Integrating Citizenship and Sustainability into BusinessStrategies and Operations, features case studies on 11 major companies thathave successfully integrated citizenship and sustainability programsthroughout their organizations. Report by The Conference Board Identifies Frameworks for IntegratingCitizenship and Sustainability into Business Strategies and OperationsReport Includes Case Studies from 11 Major CompaniesNEW YORK, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- During troubled times, the drivers ofsustainability activities like enhanced productivity, morale and reputationcan help companies realize valuable benefits from their corporate citizenshipactivities. The company is a market leader in business aviation;land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuildingand marine systems; and information systems and technologies.

More informationabout General Dynamics is available online at Dynamics Information TechnologyMark Meudt of General Dynamics Information Technology, +1-703-246-0525, Fax,+1-703-246-0206, . With approximately 16,000 professionals worldwide, the companymanages large-scale, mission-critical IT programs delivering IT services andenterprise solutions. More information about General Dynamics InformationTechnology is available at General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately92,900 people worldwide. "General Dynamics' successful 25-year relationship with thecustomer and the program will allow us to provide comprehensive support on theextremely critical mission of securing the United States from potentialthreats."As a trusted systems integrator for more than 50 years, General DynamicsInformation Technology provides information technology (IT), systemsengineering and professional services to customers in the defense,intelligence, homeland security, federal civilian government and commercialsectors. In addition, General Dynamics will serve as the single systemmanager for communications systems supporting the North American AerospaceDefense Command's air sovereignty mission by developing, integrating andmaintaining mission systems at the control centers and more than 150 remotesite locations."General Dynamics will continue to support the U.S. Air Force by maintainingexisting systems and through integration of current technology solutions forthe United States' air defense network," said Charlie Plummer, vice presidentand general manager of General Dynamics Information Technology's Air Force ITSolutions sector.