How Can Sustainability Enhance Business Problem Solving?

image: problems“Well-defined problems lead to breakthrough solutions. When developing new products, processes, or even businesses, most companies aren't sufficiently rigorous in defining the problems they're attempting to solve and articulating why those issues are important. Without that rigor, organizations miss opportunities, waste resources, and end up pursuing innovation initiatives that aren't aligned with their strategies.”

This quote taken from the recent HBR post, The Power of Defining the Problem, frames a common issue that business sustainability concepts can likely addresses.  Presenting examples of breakthrough solutions, the article describes one of the defining themes of a new mindset.  By allowing an organization the space to explore ideas and concepts, the issue of engagement becomes obsolete in a problem solving scenario.

Research has found, and real world examples have demonstrated, that employees with a vested interest in the success of the company become much more aligned with the goals of the organization. Our sustainability consulting believes that linking sustainability concepts to business success mutually supports both interests.  The key is to focus on what employees care about most and guess what, that is usually not salary.  Addressing these needs, we ask the questions:

  • Are  your sustainability strategies cascaded down through management and incorporated into organizational and individual performance goals?
  • Are your employees informed, motivated, and actively engaged in the company’s sustainability programs?

Increasing employee engagement means uniting the corporate sustainability plan with employee values.  At Taiga Company, we firmly believe that business sustainability presents the unique opportunity to increase profitability while creating meaningful work in the process.   The key is value alignment.  

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