Building the sustainable organization: an integrated approach

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims to examine how some leading companies are integrating sustainability into their planning of future direction and growth. Readers will have a strong interest in sustainability and how it should be managed within organizations. Creating and maintaining sustainable organizations is of high priority to companies planning their future in a turbulent and difficult-to-predict operating environment. Readers will learn how sustainability may be better integrated into the strategic thinking and management processes. This article will be cited in the future for its early discussion on the importance of integrating sustainability discussion and planning into mainstream strategic management. Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on secondary data from seven international organizations to show how they are beginning to embrace sustainability issues into mainstream strategic management. This background is used to propose a process that integrates business and sustainability strategy processes that will deal with issues that emerge in more turbulent operating environments. Findings – Secondary research findings suggest that it would be timely to embrace sustainability issue processing with mainstream strategic management processes. Research limitations/implications – Information collected in this paper is based upon a small sample of seven international organizations; hence, observations and recommendations are not representative of the wider business community. Originality/value – Recommendations presented in this paper will be useful to senior practicing managers as they seek to integrate sustainability management into mainstream strategic management processes.