Strategy and sustainability

Had a couple of interesting contacts on this last week. Seems senior executives in general certainly ‘want to do what’s right’, but face two difficulties. First, it’s not as obvious as it seems to know what the right thing is to do [think of the debates about exploiting cheap labour vs. destitution and poverty]. Secondly, it’s hard for CEOs to make the business case for doing things that seem to be just costly. We can help on both issues.

First, my ...

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9
DEC
2008

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Strategy

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Socio-political issues – lead or follow?

Posted by: Kim Warren

I’m sceptical of the value from surveys of executive opinion – why should I care e.g. whether X% of CEOs think that getting the talent they need is a problem? This one on attitudes to socio-political issues is interesting, but begs the same question. At least it makes the point that these big outside factors can present opportunities as well as theats. I’d go further, and be looking for ways to lead changes that would be desirable. Some really big issues will ...

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1
NOV
2008

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Strategy

consumer-attitudes, socio-political-issues, strategic management, sustainability

Wal-Mart = ‘Environmental Protection Agency’?

Posted by: Kim Warren

Sloan Mgmt Review highlights a New York Times article on Walmart’s toughening stance on environmental sustainability. It also points out the inherent conflict in this – that W. relies on selling ‘stuff’ in vast quantities. Yet even so, their leverage over suppliers may make them a very effective ‘Environmental Protection Agency’.

This is an intrisically unsustainable activity, but the headline reminds me of some discussions with the David Bent of Forum for the Future, which is working hard to ...

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31
OCT
2008

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Strategy

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