Subject category:
Economics, Politics and Business Environment
Published by:
International Institute for Management Development (IMD)
Version: 28.01.2015
Length: 7 pages
Data source: Field research
Abstract
As sustainability challenges escalate around the world, the outcome for the planet and for its populations will depend in large measure on the behavior of individual people. That includes executives at all levels within corporations. Managerial behavior reflects corporate culture but also personal value systems, as has been patently observed during the recent and still ongoing financial crisis. Delivering on these ambitious objectives will take more than just a determined and target driven set of leaders within and throughout the organization. Research has revealed that the single most difficult aspect of embedding sustainability strategy in business are related - not only to external factors such as lack of buy in from shareholders - but significantly also to internal factors; the mindset of managers (either fixed - ie 'sustainability doesn't sell' - or short- term focused) , and/or a corporate culture inflexible to new ways and means of seeing and doing things. The case raises questions around how companies can create an enabling corporate culture and a set of value systems amongst managers that allows sustainability to become a seamless part of the way of doing business.
Locations:
Industry:
Size:
Turnover of EUR49.797 billion
Other setting(s):
2011-2015
About
Abstract
As sustainability challenges escalate around the world, the outcome for the planet and for its populations will depend in large measure on the behavior of individual people. That includes executives at all levels within corporations. Managerial behavior reflects corporate culture but also personal value systems, as has been patently observed during the recent and still ongoing financial crisis. Delivering on these ambitious objectives will take more than just a determined and target driven set of leaders within and throughout the organization. Research has revealed that the single most difficult aspect of embedding sustainability strategy in business are related - not only to external factors such as lack of buy in from shareholders - but significantly also to internal factors; the mindset of managers (either fixed - ie 'sustainability doesn't sell' - or short- term focused) , and/or a corporate culture inflexible to new ways and means of seeing and doing things. The case raises questions around how companies can create an enabling corporate culture and a set of value systems amongst managers that allows sustainability to become a seamless part of the way of doing business.
Settings
Locations:
Industry:
Size:
Turnover of EUR49.797 billion
Other setting(s):
2011-2015