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Administration and Policy Forum
How do individuals and companies choose between public welfare and private interests?

[News from the Civil Society and Local Governance Research Center]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the hottest topic in this year. The "Administration and Policy Forum" organized by the Department of Public Administration invited Zheng Zhikai, co-founder and chairman of Taiwan Living Water Social Enterprise Investment and Development Company, to speak on "Public Welfare" on March 28. "Between Self-interest and Self-interest", he served as a lecturer on social enterprises. From the perspective of a venture investor, he analyzed how business operators, investors, and employees can maintain a balance between corporate public welfare and corporate interests. The lecture that day was hosted by Distinguished Professor Jiang Mingxiu of the Department of Public Adminstration. Distinguished Professor Shi Nengjie and Assistant Professor Xie Wenqi were present to communicate with the students.

Zheng Zhikai first mentioned how MPA (Master of Public Administration) and MBA (Master of Business Administration) should have different perspectives on enterprises and affairs. He also shared how to view social enterprises as an investor who focuses on investing in new social enterprises. In addition, he mentioned that the most difficult thing to evaluate for social enterprises is the "social impact" created by the enterprise itself. Although there are currently some analysis methods, including SROI (social return on investment), he believes that not everything can be valued. Many tangible and intangible values are difficult to trade and exchange.

Zheng Zhikai proposed a solution. The following three methods can be used. Through cross-analysis, social enterprises can be specifically evaluated:
1. New social enterprises directly or indirectly solve social problems.
2. Whether it can be scaled up.
3. The original intention of the founder.

Through the practical sharing of principle theory and utility theory, Zheng Zhikai suggested that individuals or enterprises should first return to the original intention when carrying out social impact projects. The so-called original intention means that deep thinking should return to the principle orientation at the beginning? Or profit-oriented? Only by honestly facing and understanding your own standards for starting a business can you make an appropriate decision between public welfare and private interests.

Participants interacted enthusiastically with Zheng Zhikai by raising questions such as "How does the government play a role in the wave of SDGs?" and "How to quantify social influence in the future?" In conclusion, Jiang Mingxiu pointed out that he hoped NPOs, social enterprises, and governments can carry out cross-departmental exchanges from various angles. He also encouraged participating students to regard this as an entry point for their careers, and hoped that he can become a professional bridge between the three parties.

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