Systematic Review - Network for Business Sustainability

institutional redesign of not only the firm but also the
social, economic and political institutional infrastructures
in which firms are located. Achieving such changes is
likely beyond the individual capacities of most firms.
4. Initiate, mobilize, lead and inspire systems
changes
The ultimate objectives of sustainability may lie beyond
the individual capacity of firms to achieve, but firms’
role as Systems Builders becomes one of initiating,
mobilizing, inspiring and leading this change: business
is uniquely placed – more than government or civil
society – to lead toward a sustainable world (Hart,
2010). Sustainable development cannot logically be
an attribute of a single firm or entity but can only be
properly applied at the global level (Lamming, Faruk
& Cousins, 1999). Systems Builders are not wholly
or solely responsible for addressing sustainability
challenges, but firms leading in sustainability practice do
not only focus internally but also look to lead and inspire
change in the wider societal, economic, technical and
environmental management systems.
5. Apply equal weight to all aspects of the TBL in
organizational thinking and decision-making
The implications for innovation are profound, especially
in terms of treating the TBL dimensions with equal
importance and recognizing social aspects that are
largely neglected by Operational Optimizers. Research
on such innovation uses different rhetoric around the
purpose of business. McDonough and Braungart (2002:
1), for example, write about the need for “nurturing
solutions very different to the often outrageous initiatives
that harm the environment.” Chang (2010) suggests
moving away from metaphors of war and competition,
which can inappropriately inform leaders’ decisionmaking,
and instead using metaphors that describe
businesses as part of a co-operative community based
on relationships.
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