Purpose

In this paper, the authors argue that there is a flip side to the business-and-sustainability relationship, which deals with how sustainability affects management practices. The so-called first-class leading companies in sustainability have put sustainability at the centre of strategic planning and defined their business case for sustainability. This paper aims to analyse these companies on sustainability imperatives and propose a comprehensive framework for developing a business case for sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates the sustainability strategies and initiatives of six leading global firms (Nike, Unilever, Siemens AG, General Electric, Interface and Walmart). It provides insights into how leading firms have developed a comprehensive business case for their sustainability initiatives and are enjoying a competitive advantage. The inductive approach, using the case method and interpretive structural modelling, is used to propose a comprehensive framework for defining the business case for sustainability that might help other organisations do well by doing good and create sustainable value.

Findings

The success stories of the chosen organisations reaffirm that there is a business case for sustainability initiatives and efforts, as companies derive long-term benefits and also enjoy a competitive advantage. Other firms, which are yet to pave their paths towards sustainability, have a lot to learn from these successes.

Practical implications

The conceptual framework proposed in this paper will be very useful for organisations that are still on the path to establishing a business case for sustainability as there is a lot to learn from the first-class companies practising sustainability and learn from their reflection and experience.

Originality/value

The study in this paper contributes to the existing knowledge base by presenting a comprehensive list of sustainability imperatives that helps an organisation define the business case for sustainability and proposes a conceptual framework in this direction.

中文翻译：

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制定可持续发展的综合业务案例：归纳研究

目的

在本文中，作者认为，业务与可持续性关系存在另一面，涉及可持续性如何影响管理实践。所谓的可持续发展一流公司已将可持续发展置于战略规划的中心，并确定了其可持续性商业案例。本文旨在分析这些公司在可持续发展方面的必要性，并为开发可持续发展业务案例提供一个全面的框架。

设计/方法/方法

本文研究了六家全球领先公司（耐克，联合利华，西门子公司，通用电气，英特飞和沃尔玛）的可持续发展战略和举措。它提供了有关领先企业如何为可持续性计划开发综合业务案例并享有竞争优势的见解。归纳法使用案例方法和解释性结构建模，用于为定义可持续性业务案例提供一个全面的框架，该框架可能会帮助其他组织通过做好事并创造可持续价值来做好事。

发现

所选组织的成功案例再次证明，存在可持续发展举措和努力的商业案例，因为公司获得了长期利益，也享有竞争优势。其他尚未为可持续发展铺平道路的公司，可以从这些成功中学到很多东西。

实际影响

本文中提出的概念框架对于仍在为可持续发展建立业务案例的组织中非常有用，因为从实践可持续发展的一流公司那里可以学到很多东西，并从他们的反思和经验中学到很多东西。

创意/价值

本文中的研究通过提供全面的可持续性要务清单来帮助现有的知识库，该清单帮助组织定义可持续性业务案例并为此提出了概念框架。