Sustainability
Integrating Impact into Business Growth
The impact of your innovation—both positive and negative—is central to sustainable business development, as is the effective prioritization of resources. From the early idea stage through to growth, integrating sustainability into your entrepreneurial journey not only refines your approach but also enhances your ability to communicate your value, attracting essential resources and partnerships.
Similar to our approach in Compliance and Regulatory, we propose a four-stage process for integrating sustainability: Orientate, Structure, Execute, and Grow.
Orientate, Structure, Execute, and Grow
1. Orientate
This initial stage begins with an idea or problem, culminating in an assessment and decision to invest time and resources. Critical questions at this stage include:
• What are the needs, requirements, and aspirations of our stakeholders, and how do these align with broader societal challenges?
• How should resources be prioritized in light of societal needs and the current status of the business?
• What measures are necessary to build trust and ensure sustainable business development?
2. Structure
Building on the decision from the orientation phase, this stage focuses on creating a structured approach and ends with a commitment to advance business development. Important questions to consider are:
• Which indicators of sustainable business development will guide our efforts?
• How do we establish a well-functioning governance structure?
• What are our most prioritized societal impacts, and which of these will significantly influence our business development?
3. Execute
Similar to the Compliance framework, the execution phase begins when the foundational structure is sufficiently defined. It is action-oriented, based on the groundwork laid in the previous stages. Adaptability and learning are essential as real-time challenges and opportunities arise.
4. Grow
The growth phase involves leveraging feedback and experiences to continuously refine and improve. It’s about applying insights, learning, and adapting through an iterative process. The focus remains on outcomes, impacts, and the methods used to achieve them, blending elements from all four stages to enhance maturity and sustainability.
