At some point in their development, all companies will need either a helping hand or a shot in the arm. A fresh injection of capital or external managerial expertise is often necessary to help organizations overcome developmental challenges, realize their full potential and seize the opportunities that lie ahead. Start-ups hunt for the visionary capital that will enable them to turn a concept into a launched product. Mature companies are increasingly subject to market disruption, increased competition or pressure to update manufacturing processes and corporate governance structures.

Many of the values upheld by human rights theorists were recognised before the development of a rights discourse and are part of belief systems that have no vocabulary of rights. For example, prohibitions on torture, conceptions of free speech, and basic needs for food, clothing and shelter have long been recognised in most traditions. There was very little that was new in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and insofar as there were innovations, such as a right to work, rest and leisure and enjoyment of the Arts, doubts have been raised about their status as universal human rights.