Sustainability Report - Dell

• In March 2005, Dell, jointly with Microsoft, contributed75 computers to the Women's Teacher Training Institute,designed to help teach basic literacy to Afghan women inrural areas of Afghanistan. This initiative was promoted byFirst Lady Laura Bush in cooperation with the U.S.-AfghanWomen's Council (USAWC). For more information aboutUSAWC, see www.usawc.state.gov.• Dell's Black Economic Empowerment strategy, coupled withthe Dell South African Foundation, equips youth for successin the digital world and provides support aimed at educationand technology.Privacy: Protecting Personal InformationDell's privacy policy, processes and practices demonstrate ourrespect for our customers' and employees' privacy. In additionto complying with legal and regulatory requirements, Dell'scustomer privacy practices are designed to deliver an optimumcustomer experience. To develop awareness and encouragecompliance with Dell's privacy practices, all Dell employees arerequired to successfully complete privacy compliance training.Privacy initiatives and governance are driven by the Privacy andInformation Protection Office, which is part of Dell's Ethics andCompliance Office. Dell proudly displays the Better BusinessBureau (BBB) Online Privacy Seal on domestic Web sites, certifyingadherence to industry-standard privacy practices. To helppromote public awareness of data privacy and security bestpractices, Dell is a sponsor of programs such as theGetNetWise coalition and the Get Safe Online campaign. Formore information and to see Dell's comprehensive privacy policy,see www.dell.com/policy/privacy.htm.Stakeholder EngagementAs a global business with a local presence in a number ofregions of the world, Dell has a wide variety of stakeholders.These groups include, but are not limited to, our customers, ouremployees, our suppliers, our shareholders, and a range of nongovernmentalorganizations (NGOs) that specialize in certainissues relevant to Dell.A cross-functional global team identifies and engages directlywith our stakeholders. Figure 5 illustrates the range of stakeholdergroups with which we interact. The Dell team uses avariety of models to listen to, inform, and involve key stakeholdersin our business plans. Dell continues to formalize andimprove our stakeholder engagement model to ensure that weunderstand the views and priorities of our stakeholders andbuild ways of communicating with them.A key challenge of a large global entity is ensuring thatresources are focused on particular relationships that enableus to effect sustainable improvements across the widest community.With multiple organizations focused on social and environmentalimprovements, Dell has found it most effective toidentify a few high-return relationships and dedicate our effortsto these. Yet, we have also participated in forums with multipleorganizations, allowing us to listen to and discuss our stakeholders'many perspectives.One of Dell's core values expressed in the Soul of Dell is directrelationships. Our stakeholder engagement process is built onthis foundation. Dell team members interact with stakeholders,ensuring efficient and transparent communication. In additionFigure 5: Stakeholder ModelOur ApproachDell values thediversity ofperspectives that ourglobal stakeholdershold. We encouragedirect dialogue anddisclosure ofpositions andmotivations. Ourmultistakeholderengagement modelprovides us with theopportunity to enrichand balance ourdecision-makingprocesses.GovernmentRegulatory AgenciesShareholdersBoard ofDirectorsGovernment/PublicEducationalBusinessAuthorizersCustomerGroupsConsumerDellEmployeesBusinessPartnersSuppliersExternalInfluencesTradeAssociationsServiceProvidersMediaIssues AdvocatesCommunityMembersEngagementExamples• Newsletters• Keynotes• Conferencesponsorship• Personalmeetings• Annual SRIconference• Global forums(adapted from Dowling, 2001)24 D E L L S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y R E P O R T • F I S C A L Y E A R 2 0 0 6