Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The crisis
planetary overheating growing weather volatility dwindling oil reserves increasing world population damaged terrestrial & marine eco systems we are the future eaters (Flannery) the tipping point when?
Climate change is the main game in town the essence of corporate responsibility is to recognise and ACT on this -urgently.
The post-carbon
sustainable world
elimination of coal/oil as energy move to alternate sources sources;
reduced material intensity of the entire production, transformation, distribution, consumption cycle
zero waste; remanufacturing and recycling reduced demand for and use of material resources less stuff, more services, more emphasis on quality of life
stabilised population; social justice.
The major obstacle to moving to a post carbon economy is not the availability of technology but rather human factors: political, social and cultural.
Making the journey: identifying the knowledge needed and the gaps
mapping the journey identifying the characteristics of future-fit organisations building capacity for ongoing corporate transformation generating high performance change-oriented cultures creating a cadre of leaders monitoring, evaluating and re-targetting change
sustainability is a process organisations advance by stages each stage presents new business opportunities
Compliance
Efficiency Strategic proactivity
Objective: Pursue the strategic opportunities in sustainability. Key business opportunity: Become market leader through pursuing the strategic potential of sustainability. Typical actions: commit strongly to sustainability re-brand and build wider stakeholder support be early in on new product/service demand curves creatively destroy existing product designs, manufacturing models and re-invent the firm, leapfrog competition by early breakthroughs increase employee and stakeholder engagement to source innovative ideas shift the prevailing business paradigm in environmental and social ideas innovate with new models of stakeholder governance concentrate on adding value and innovating. Potential business benefits: increased revenue and market share stronger stakeholder support (reputation and commitment) higher customer retention rates; faster attraction of new customers established lead in developing new markets employer of choice attract and retain skilled managers and professionals operate at high value-added end of market. LEAD IN VALUE-ADDING AND INNOVATION
SUMMARY
the environment is the forgotten basis of the economy a healthy biosphere is the only guarentee of a healthy economy and society
organisations are social institutions designed to provide sustenance to us throughout our lives and to leave the legacy of a healthy biosphere and world community for those who follow us this is their licence to operate
Summary continued we are involved in an unprecedented revolution that demands concerted action at all levels of society and by all institutions particularly visionary corporate leadership we have much of the knowledge we need to make the change: technological knowledge & social process knowledge we need to apply what we already know
then add to it through action research - carried out in collaboration between corporations and universities
Summary - continued
sustainability is a better way of doing business; constructive, innovative corporate cultures create high performance those organisations that dont adapt will end up in the dustbin of history those organisations that pick up the sustainability challenge increase their probability of surviving and thriving So pursuing sustainability and social responsibility make good business sense