Cory Searcy

Integrating Sustainable Development into Existing Management Systems

Abstract Organizations are under increasing pressure from both outside and within to apply the principles of sustainable development to their operations. Although a variety of initiatives have been undertaken, many organizations have struggled with the implementation of the concept in practice. This paper addresses this issue by providing a framework for the integration of sustainable development into mainstream business systems. The proposed integrated management systems (IMS) model illustrates how existing management systems for quality, environment, occupational health and safety, and corporate social responsibility may be enhanced so that they are more reflective of sustainable development. Integration is considered from both a macro-level and a micro-level perspective. The macro-level perspective emphasizes a systems approach to viewing the IMS while the micro-level perspective considers integration on the basis of the models seven elements. The paper highlights that sustainable development cannot be viewed as a disconnected initiative and implementation requires integration with existing business infrastructure.

Including sustainability in business excellence models

The purpose of this paper is to explore the adequacy of business excellence models (BEMs) to address corporate sustainability, which is conceptualised in terms of economic, social, and environmental bottom lines. How organisations may manage corporate sustainability in the absence of a comprehensive sustainability management system standard is also explored. A survey of literature has been carried out. The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) excellence model and the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence (BCPE) are analysed with regard to their considerations of sustainability. The findings reveal that while triple bottom-line considerations are addressed to some extent in the studied BEMs, the models per se do not comprehensively address sustainability issues and economic prosperity remains a dominant consideration. Suggestions for the improvement of the EFQM excellence model and BCPE are discussed. To provide a comprehensive approach for addressing corporate sustainability, an integrated quality-sustainability framework is proposed. The essence of the framework is that sustainability indicators, such as those provided in the Global Reporting Initiative framework, could be integrated with core business processes using the structures and infrastructure provided by BEMs. The proposed improvements should be considered in future revisions of the EFQM excellence model and BCPE.

An integrated management systems approach to corporate sustainability

Purpose – This paper seeks to describe an integrated management systems (IMS) approach for the integration of corporate sustainability into business processes.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive review of published literature was conducted. Building on existing research, the paper presents an original framework for structuring the integration of corporate sustainability with existing business infrastructure. The framework is supported by a detailed set of diagnostic questions to help guide the process. Both the framework and the diagnostic questions are based on the “Plan‐Do‐Check‐Act” cycle of continuous improvement.Findings – The paper highlights the need for a systematic means to integrate sustainability into business processes. Building on that point, the paper illustrates how an IMS approach can be used to structure the entire process of managing, measuring, and assessing progress towards corporate sustainability.Practical implications – The paper should be of interest to both practitioners an...

Updating corporate sustainability performance measurement systems

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an approach for guiding the evolution of a corporate sustainability performance measurement system (SPMS).Design/methodology/approach – A review of published literature highlights the need for further research on the evolution of corporate SPMSs. Building on existing research, the paper presents a three‐phase approach for structuring the evolution of a corporate SPMS: planning for an assessment of an SPMS; conducting an assessment; and following up on the results of the assessment. Key issues that must be addressed in each phase are highlighted and discussed.Findings – The approach presented in the paper will help guide decision‐makers through the process of reviewing and updating their corporate SPMS. The guidelines will provide needed insight into the challenges and opportunities associated with the evolution of a corporate SPMS.Research limitations/implications – The approach presented in the paper is a conceptual model. Opportunities for further resear...

Designing sustainable development indicators: analysis for a case utility

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present and analyze a case study on the design of a system of sustainable development indicators for an electric utility.Design/methodology/approach – The case study is based on collaboration with an electric utility and consultation with external experts. A six‐step process was used to create the indicators: conduct a needs assessment; conduct process planning; develop a draft set of indicators; test and adjust the indicators; implement the indicators; and review and improve the indicators.Findings – The case study demonstrates how existing projects impact the process of developing indicators. It highlights that any system of indicators must be linked to the business planning process. It shows how this may be accomplished through a design based on a hierarchical approach that also illustrates linkages between the indicators and incorporates existing measures.Research limitations/implications – The first three steps of the indicator design process have been comple...

Sustainability strategies in an EPQ model with price‐ and quality‐sensitive demand

This paper studies a manufacturer producing a single product which is sold on a market where demand is sensitive to price and quality. The production process of the manufacturer is assumed to impact the environment, for example by producing emissions or scrap or by consuming non-renewable resources. The environmental impact of the production process is treated as a quality attribute in this paper, and it is assumed that environmentally conscious customers are willing to pay a higher price for the product in case the environmental impact of the production process is reduced (or, likewise, a higher degree of sustainability is achieved). The model developed in this paper studies the trade-off between sustainability, costs and demand and proposes strategies to maximise the manufacturer’s profit. INTRODUCTION There is a growing recognition that corporations play a critical role in achieving global sustainability (Shrivastava, 1995). Over the last two decades, individual corporations and industry associations in virtually all economic sectors have developed policies, plans, and programs to address sustainability issues. These initiatives typically focus on addressing the “triple bottom line” of corporate economic, environmental, and social performance (Elkington, 1997). One industry that has been particularly active in implementing sustainability initiatives is the manufacturing sector. There are ongoing debates on what sustainability means in a manufacturing context. There is no universally accepted definition of sustainable manufacturing or sustainable production. However, one widely-used definition of sustainable production defines it as “creating goods by using processes and systems that are non-polluting, that conserve energy and natural resources in economically viable, safe and healthy ways for employees, communities, and consumers which are socially and creatively rewarding for all stakeholders in the shortand long-term future” (Glavic and Lukman, 2007). Although each corporation will define sustainability according to its own needs, this definition provides insight into the goals, objectives, and targets typically associated with sustainability initiatives in the manufacturing sector. To help measure the success or failure of their sustainability initiatives, many corporations in the manufacturing sector have developed sustainability indicators. The development of sets of sustainable production indicators has also been the subject of several academic publications, including Veleva and Ellenbecker (2001), Krajnc and Glavic (2003), and Fan et al. (2010). Many other papers have explored the development of sustainability indicators for specific companies within the manufacturing sector. An extensive review of the state-of-the-art of industrial sustainability indicators was provided by Arena et al. (2009). However, while the literature shows that many meaningful contributions have been made, work remains. In particular, none of the indicators in the publications noted above have explicitly explored the link between a corporation’s sustainability performance and demand for its products. A recent systematic review of 91 articles showed that the research on consumer willingness to pay for ethically produced goods – encompassing issues such as environmental and labour practices – has yielded mixed results (Cotte and Trudel, 2009). However, the overall findings of the systematic review suggested that consumers were

Corporate sustainability reporting in the apparel industry

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to identify the reported indicators in corporate sustainability reports, other documents and the web sites of 14 apparel brands belonging to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). Design/methodology/approach - – A content analysis of the corporate sustainability reports, other documents and web sites of the 14 SAC apparel brands was conducted to identify indicators related to sustainability. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected on all reported sustainability initiatives, actions, and indicators. A normative business model was developed for the categorization of the indicators and a cross-case analysis of the apparel brand’s sustainability reporting was conducted. Findings - – In total, 87 reported corporate sustainability indicators were identified. The study finds that there is a lack of consistency among them. The majority of the indicators dealt with performance in supply-chain sustainability while the least frequently reported indicators addressed business innovation and consumer engagement. Originality/value - – This paper provides one of the first in-depth reviews of the indicators reported by apparel brands within their web sites and other forms of corporate sustainability reporting.

Meta-management of integration of management systems

Purpose – The realm of standardized management systems (MSs) has expanded greatly over the last two decades. This expansion has highlighted the need for structured approaches to facilitate the integration of these systems. The purpose of this paper is to explore the integration of standardized MSs through a meta‐management approach.Design/methodology/approach – An extensive survey of literature was carried out. Based on the literature review, a comprehensive framework was developed to guide the integration of standardized MSs. The framework is based on the “direction‐consistency‐coherence‐feedback” cycle.Findings – A critical review of existing models and methodologies for the integration of standardized MSs highlighted the need for a systems‐oriented approach to integration based on stakeholder needs. The review further highlighted that the integration of MSs must be carried out at the meta‐level of organisational control. This focuses integration efforts on a higher level of abstraction, logic, and inqu...

A review of Canadian corporate sustainable development reports

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to present the results of a content analysis of Canadian corporate sustainable development reports.Design/methodology/approach – A comparison of existing content analyses of corporate sustainable development reports was conducted. Based on the comparison, eight key areas were identified for further research in the content analysis of Canadian corporate reports. A total of 89 reports were reviewed in the content analysis.Findings – The content analysis highlighted several interesting trends in Canadian reporting. For example, the analysis highlighted that relatively few corporations explicitly identify the audience for the report, include an endorsement from the board chair, provide details on specific standards used for managing the supply chain, discuss linkages to public policy, or use third‐party assurance. The analysis also highlighted the wide variety in report structure.Research limitations/implications – The content analysis did not address all issues related t...

Application of a systems approach to sustainable development performance measurement

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how a systems approach can be used to facilitate the development of an organizational performance measurement system. Design/methodology/approach - Based on a review of the literature, the paper introduces the implications for applying a systems approach to organizational performance measurement. To demonstrate the transition from theory to practice, a case study is provided to show how a sustainable development performance measurement system was developed at a Canadian electric utility. The case study involved extensive consultation with over 25 experts. Findings - The paper finds that a systems approach is useful in developing the process and that a set of formal systems criteria is useful in developing the structure and content of a performance measurement system. These concepts are highlighted throughout the case study example. Research limitations/implications - The case study section was based on findings from a single organization. Further work is required to validate the findings within other organizations. Practical implications - The paper shows how a robust sustainable development performance measurement system may be developed at an electric utility. The overarching emphasis on integration of the system with the case utilitys mainstream initiatives demonstrates that a performance measurement system must build on what the organization already has in place. The systems-based approach and formal systems criteria used in the paper may be transferable to other organizations. Originality/value - The paper shows that a systems approach provides both the structure and flexibility needed to guide the design, implementation, and evolution of a sustainable development performance measurement system within existing organizational infrastructure.