Kaushik Sridhar

A multi-dimensional criticism of the Triple Bottom Line reporting approach

While the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach has triggered a sense of shift in ways companies think about sustainable reporting, there are still many limitations within TBL. The fundamental roots of TBL are ingrained in a quantitative framework and have no sense of integration or a systemic approach to viewing problems. The main purpose of this paper is to provide a critical review of the TBL approach and its weaknesses. The paper provides a detailed literature review of the evolution of TBL, and then shifts towards the limitations of TBL especially in terms of measurement and the lack of systemic thinking.

The Emissions trading scheme : an analysis on its economic instruments and methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

This paper discusses some of the economic issues likely to be encountered when establishing an emission trading scheme and highlights some economic instruments that can be used to battle carbon emissions. A summary of the current initiatives to climate change management is presented in this paper, including a review of the different types of schemes proposed under carbon trading. The various stages in developing emissions trading scheme is discussed in detail. The pricing of carbon credits and some of the limitations in implementing an emissions trading scheme are also analysed at length.

The emerging issue of the emissions trading schemes in Europe and Australia

This report covers an overview of the origins of the carbon trading market and the mechanics involved in trading carbon emission units. The report seeks to analyse the carbon trading market in Europe and Australia. The carbon trading market is reviewed with an overall concern for the role government regulation plays in the market, as well as the impact of introducing an emission trading scheme on businesses in general. A summary of the current initiatives to climate change management in Europe and Australia is presented in this paper, including a review of the different types of schemes proposed under carbon trading and also the concept of carbon tax. The emissions trading scheme in Australia is turning into a hot topic, and the purpose of this paper is to analyse different trading schemes, and provide an economic analysis of the trading scheme and its implementation issues.

An Incumbent vs. a new entrant : a Porter's five forces tale of a powerful electricity provider vs. a green energy retailer

This article has two themes: the energy (electricity) industry and strategy from a Porters five forces framework. The concept of the various types of energy provided by electricity companies in Australia is becoming a hot topic, due to the sustainability movement. While EnergyAustralia, an incumbent, has dominated the industry for a long time, new entrants like JackGreen, focusing primarily on retailing green energy, are attempting to disrupt the energy industry (a big hint is the decision by the Australian Government to sell EnergyAustralias retail arm). Firstly, this paper provides an industry overview using Porters National Competitive Advantage framework. Secondly, this paper uses the Porters five forces framework to breakdown the power struggle between these two companies and microscopically analyses the two firms based on each of Porters five forces.

Sustainability – ‘enough for all forever’

People must overcome their tendency to waste increasingly limited time and resources on futile attempts to resolve problems associated with natural resource depletion, or natural habitat degradation, or climate change, or overpopulation, or the economic crisis du jour. These problems will only be resolved through the resolution of our fundamental ‘predicament’: our way of life is unsustainable. There is only one solution to our predicament, and to all of its derivative ecological and economic problems. We must, as a society, transition quickly and beginning immediately to a sustainable lifestyle paradigm, one in which we live entirely within our means ecologically and economically – forever. Any alternative course of action will, at best, only briefly postpone societal collapse. The focus of this paper is to discuss the issues and opportunities around sustainability from a multi-dimensional perspective.

Critical reflections of the triple bottom line as a schema for reporting: a practitioners’ view

Triple bottom line (TBL) reporting has become a way of life in terms of non-financial reporting at major corporations. However, its utility in terms of value-add for these corporations seems to be a mystery at present. This paper aims to look at how corporations use the TBL as a framework for reporting and what limitations key members of these corporations see with the TBL approach. In particular, the motivation behind the employee in charge of conducting non-financial reporting and providing sustainability information has been identified. The paper analyses the results of an empirical investigation into the constructions people put on the triple bottom line framework, and its utility in making sustainability information public, either through standalone reports, annual reports, or online reporting. The main purpose of the analysis was to focus upon issues and factors that drove TBL practices and reporting within a sample size of 40 corporations around the world, considered to be best practices adopters in non-financial reporting.

The nature of environmental problems and environmental degradation

A basic characteristic of environmental problems is that they are cross-disciplinary and it is this characteristic that so often makes them difficult to solve. This paper reflects an increasingly holistic perspective of environmental literature in the last few decades. It seeks fundamental explanations for environmental problems in economics, culture, resource, pollution and population problems. Environmental studies have been bedevilled by a multiplicity of facts and theories, some of which contradict each other. This paper attempts to be comprehensive yet digestible by concentrating on theories that are arguably true.

An environmental reporting tool for small scale entrepreneurs

This article gives full details of the derivation and operation of a tool that has been devised to enable small business to track their environmental footprint. We present the case of the Australian company – Oztech – in which we developed the tool. The case uses emissions factors applicable to Australia. However, the tool can easily be converted to the local conditions of any country if the relevant national government has calculated emission factors that describe typical industrial activities within that country. This tool is a robust framework for environmental reporting for small businesses, which lack resources compared to large corporations, who would like to track and manage their impact and contributions to the environment.

Implementing environmental sustainability in a leading Australian gaming and tourism organisation

The main purpose of the paper is to provide a literary analysis on why and how organisations become sustainable. To aid in this description, a brief real-life example is provided of one of Australia’s premium tourism and gaming brand, Tour National (fictional name). The financial sustainability of the company is secure, given its impressive, consistent growth, its position as one of the largest private employers and the award-winning recognition of its hotels, restaurants and facilities. The actions and outcomes of this report therefore focus on the third area of sustainability in business, environmental sustainability. The paper begins with an understanding of corporate governance, ethics; key issues in environmental sustainability like compliance; finally a description of Tour National and its operations is provided along with some key areas of opportunity for them to enhance their environmental footprint.

Employment branding at Google: a challenge to attract and/or build talent

Many organisations are realising that it is better to develop the leaders of tomorrow from within the organisation and that development is a critical strategic objective. Development helps to retain talent and ensure leaders are prepared to succeed strategically, operationally and culturally. This paper looks at the topic of recruitment and talent selection through the eyes of Google. Google has extraordinary appeal, which helps attracting not only the top talents in computer science and information technology but also throughout various industries from all levels of employment. This paper attempts to fi ne-tune their recruitment approach to optimise the scanning and selection of these applicants as this will be fundamental in ensuring good organisational and job fi t, timely processing and minimising discrimination and biases. Effective talent management is crucial in today’s tight labour market and skill and balancing a buy and build talent policy will position Google well for its future.