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We live in the digital/information age. People are more enlightened and conscious of social and environmental issues. Businesses today operate in a fishbowl, everything is on display through social media enabling information to travel in no time. With constant external changes to the environment along with technological changes, customer needs are rapidly evolving therefore it is getting more important to think and plan ahead when managing a company.
The roots of the word sustainability comes from sustain and ability, meaning “the capacity to maintain” in a broad sense that would be a good way to put it, to maintain something. The most common definition comes from Brundtland:
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.“ - Brundtland
- Management is a problem solving process of effectively achieving organizational objectives through the efficient use of scarce resources in a changing environment.- Robert Kreitner
- Management is an art of knowing what to do, when to do and see that it is done in the best and cheapest way ‘. F.W. Taylor
Sustainable management
Focus on 3 aspects, all equally important
•Economics/profits
•Enviroment/planet
•Society/people
•Look at these three things as a whole, throughout all the operations actions.
Traditional management
•Focus on economics
•Focus on profits
•Focus on efficiency
•Focus on effect
LINK: Why it pays ...
Sustainable management looks beyond short-term quarterly profits, and focuses on long-term gain by incorporating the environmental and social costs of doing business into management decisions. In short, sustainability management looks to protect our natural environment, human and ecological health, while driving innovation and not compromising our way of life.
People- beneficial business practices toward employees, community and the region in which a company conducts its business, well being of the organisation, employees, and 
other stakeholders.
Planet -benefitting at natural order as much as possible or at least do no harm reducing ecological footprints by carefully managing its consumption of energy and non renewables and reducing waste as well as rendering waste less.
Profit- the real economic benefit enjoyed by the host society, the real economic impact the organisation has on its economic environment.
The Economy exists within Society which exists within the Environment.
If the Environment and Society do not do well, the Economy cannot possibly do well for any length of time.
Key practices of sustainable management-
Decision principles of sustainable management
•Does it enhance the health of people/planet/profit?
•Does it increase our responsiveness to individuals we serve and our adaptability to external changes?
•Does it foster trust, personal responsibility, transparency and collaboration among ourselves and our stakeholders?
Keeping key practices of sustainable management in mind, taking a look how your company runs would be the first step.
Rethinking policies, supply chains, networks and communication with the key practices of sustainability management in mind.
When you are implementing sustainable management policies, it is crucial that you get your team on board with you. They are after all the ones that follow and enforce the actions of the policies of the company.
When implementing sustainability into your company, you should also think about your external surroundings.
You should ask yourself these questions:
Keep your customers informed about your sustainability actions, it can attract new customers, get existing customers to be more loyal, and increase customer satisfaction
If your company is in partnership with other companies, it is important that you know your partner, what they stand for and that they do not go against your policies. Choosing a partner that shares your beliefs and standards can be very helpful so you are truly commited to your sustainable goals. Choosing a partner from your local community can have beneficial impacts for both your company and your community.
Make sure your suppliers do not go against what your company stands for. Try finding suppliers with green options, from your local community. Get to know your suppliers and their operation and make sure their product or service is a good fit for your company.
A systems-oriented expression of a proto-theory of sustainability management would include several elements identified with the systems concept, including values, strategies, inputs, processes, outputs, feedbacks, and connections to other systems.
Etsy