Operation
We want to understand the many ways our business has an impact. Our goal is to cultivate a human quality in our work and relationships, rather than having a bureaucratic or mechanical approach.

Self-survey
The first step in being part of the Conscious Business Alliance to complete a self-survey. This is an introspective process of understanding the actual position of your business now. It involves looking at the real value of your product or service, the way it affects customers, and the impact on suppliers and nature. An further step is making a plan for improvements.
As a service, a member of the Conscious Business Alliance will be glad to review your survey with you, or to assist in completing it. Completed surveys are accessible to all members on our website, unless you prefer that it is kept private.

Inclusiveness
We invite any interested parties to participate in the Conscious Business Alliance: businesses and customers, Alaskans and travelers. This is a non-judgmental partnership, where each participant reviews their own situation and makes their own commitment to achieve a more compassionate working environment. We don’t intend to make judgments about how businesses qualify for membership.
Anyone who understands and endorses the principles at the heart of the alliance can play a part in it.

Raising and addressing problems
Resolving conflicts in a positive way is a crucial part of spiritual life. We want to encourage the thoughtful exploration of problems and how this can be improved, and we hope that our customers will bring their insights about this to our attention – not in a divisive or critical way, but in a positive way that opens up possibilities for businesses to respond.
We know that we must continually monitor our business to see the many ways that we are impacting people and nature. We may not know about all the hidden ways we effect those involved in our business, but together we can learn how to make a healing response. Concerns and responses will be posted on our website.

Principles

Spirit (overall attitude)
The motive of the business is not wholly personal, or to get as much as one can for oneself. Concern for the impact on the lives of the people whom the businesses affects is primary. The way things are done is as important as what is accomplished. In some ways we hope to serve what is of lasting or inner value. Some of these qualities might include belonging, contribution, beauty, joy, relationship, and spiritual connection.

Relationships (with customers and producers)
The interests of all stakeholders are primary. This includes employees, producers and suppliers, consumers, the community, and the environment, as well as stockholders.
Human relationships are personal and honest. Businesses do not appeal to lust, violence, or envy. They do not prey on desire or fear (for instance, in advertising). They don’t seek to make customers dependent.

Value (of product or service)
The product satisfies real needs, not manufactured or artificial ones. Quality is more important than quantity. Businesses recognize and serve inner qualities that are important. Or they may serve an external need, but do so in a way that is generous, thoughtful, caring.

Justice
Profits and prices
Business are not greed-driven. Profits are distributed fairly. Price structures are not hidden. Prices are commensurate with actual costs and a fair profit.
Relationship to producers
Products are produced under socially just conditions. Wages are fair, ensuring a decent living standard. Working conditions are safe and humane.
Transparency
Businesses do not have trade secrets or hidden price structures. They encourage the free sharing of information, knowledge, and technology.
Nature
Business are ecologically sound and protect the natural environment. They do not pollute excessively, release toxics, or risk the health of customers or others.
Community
Localism. Where possible businesses are locally owned, and use local suppliers, purchasing from rural, inner-city, and other locally owned companies and producers, and they protect local natural resources.
Scale. Businesses should be human-scale.
Jobs. They provide meaningful jobs.

Self-survey

Spirit. What is your overall goal in your business?
What is the overall role and goal of the organization, its leaders, managers, and employees?
Why are you here, working in this business?

Relationships. What kind of relationships do you have are wish to have with your customers?
Is your main goal to sell your product or service? Are the relations fast, mechanical and manipulative, or personal and honest? Do you seek to make customers dependent?
Are sales manipulative? Does it depend on irrational advertising, and it does it seek to make customers dependent?
What is the nature of your relationships with employees and suppliers?

Value. What is the value of your product or service?
What needs do your business fulfill? In what ways is the product or service you sell useful for customer?
Does it satisfies real needs, or manufactured ones? Is this truly beneficial for them? Does it appeal to lust, violence, envy, or ambition? Does it prey on desire or fear (for instance, in advertising)?

Justice. How fairly is your business structured?
Profits and prices
Are profits distributed fairly?
Are prices commensurate with actual costs?
Producers and suppliers
Are workers and producers paid fairly? Do they earn enough to maintain a decent living standard?
Are the conditions under which they work safe and humane?
Transparency
Do you have trade secrets or hidden price structures? Is there free sharing of information and knowledge?
Nature. What is the impact of your business on the environment?

Community
Localism. Is it locally owned or owned by an a corporation based in another state?
Scale. Is the business a human-scale, permitting understanding and response to personal situations?
Are meaningful jobs available?