Unleashing Learning: From Strategy to

Execution Green Training in a Blue Economy: The Role

of Training in Corporate Sustainability

Julie Ogilvie, VP Corporate Marketing SkillSoft

September 29, 2010

Wither Sustainability?

Whither Sustainability?

In 2007 sustainability was a growing trend. What’s happened since then?

•  Have companies pulled back on their planned investment?

•  Has the meaning of sustainability changed?

•  What are the drivers and challenges?

•  What is the role of training in sustainability initiatives?

•  What are you doing at your company?

•  Where do you start?

Heated debate! http://sloanreview.mit.edu/what-is-sustainability/

“Any company is better off creating both bottom-line and societal benefits, and creating synergies between them.” Rosabeth Moss Kanter How to Do Well and Do Good MIT Sloan Management Review Fall, 2010

“…the idea that companies have a responsibility to act in the public interest and will profit from doing so is fundamentally flawed.” Aneel Karnani The Case Against Corporate Social Responsibility Wall Street Journal

August 22, 2010

How has corporate sustainability fared?

Sustainability Is Alive and Well •  The vast majority of companies are

committed to sustainability. •  92 percent of organizations have

a sustainability initiative •  Since the downturn, 24% have

decreased support •  However, divergence of opinion

between sustainability “experts” and the general business population

MIT Sloan Management Review The Business of Sustainability: Findings and Insights from the First Annual Business of Sustainability Survey and the Global Thought leaders’ Research Project, 2009

What is sustainability?

It depends on where you sit.

“Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

A business definition of sustainability… …A proactive approach to ensure the long-term viability and integrity

of the business by optimizing resource needs, reducing environmental, energy and social impacts, and managing resources while not compromising profitability.

University of Washington, Foster School of Business, Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The Triple Bottom Line

Economic

Environmental Social

Sustainability

•  Pollution reduction •  Water usage •  Waste reduction •  Paper usage •  Energy reduction •  Carbon reduction

•  Local community •  Charitable support •  Programs for

disabled or disadvantaged

•  Diversity •  Employee work-life •  Transparency •  Learning

•  Profitability •  Shareholder return •  Long term growth •  ROI •  Customer satisfaction Andrew Savitz and Karl Weber

Copyright John Wiley & Sons, 2006

Many variables affect your view of sustainability

Your Industry

Your Department

Your Location

Your Role

Your Experience

Case Study

Google The world’s #1 employment brand

•  Sustainability is a big attractor

•  Efficiency of datacenters and facilities

•  Renewable energy investments

•  Transportation and community programs

Walmart’s approach to sustainability

•  Approach grows out of core brand promise

•  Efficiencies create environmental and economic benefits

•  “Sustainability 360” covers all aspects of the business – operations, associates, customers, communities and suppliers

•  Using their influence as world’s largest retailer to create ripple effect throughout supply chain

•  Offering lifelong learning opportunities for associates also seen as part of sustainability

Dow Chemicals

“Science for a Sustainable World”

•  Seen as one of the leaders in sustainability for: •  Aggressive targets •  Comprehensive approach •  Transparency/reporting •  Employee safety/compliance •  Innovation/product

development

“When we at Dow set our first sustainability goals, we projected that we would spend roughly $1 billion…and we expected ROI of $2-3 billion. To date, return has been in excess of $5 billion.”

David E. Kepler Chief Sustainability Officer, Dow Chemical Going Green: How Sustainability Can Work for Your Company ExecBlueprints, 2008

2015 Sustainabity Goals Update, 2Q 2010

What are the benefits?

(Be careful what you wish for.)

Sustainability 2.0

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be an effective component of your talent strategy

•  Recognize that a job offers more than benefits and pay! •  CSR as a recruitment tool •  Feeling pride in company leads to higher identity, engagement

and productivity •  The “reputation shield” •  Opportunities for personal growth (new skills, improved

performance) •  Enhancing work-life balance

Sustainability 2.0

Sustainability drives the development of new values and capabilities that are beneficial to the organization in broad ways

•  Going beyond compliance to a culture of accountability

•  Systems thinking and long-term outlook

•  Teamwork, collaboration (internal and external)

•  Transparency •  Lean thinking •  Asking “why?” supports culture of

innovation

Where to start?

Nike Says: Just Do It!

Roadblocks on the road to sustainability

•  Lack of knowledge/understanding of full range of drivers, issues and benefits – in general and by industry

•  Lack of common language to discuss internally •  Goals not clearly defined or well-communicated •  Measurement tools lacking

What do all of these have in common?

(Training is the key.)

Training Can (And Should) Play a Leading Role

Supporting a major corporate initiative with high visibility is great for business (yours).

•  Change management is what we are experts in •  Creating understanding of the language of

sustainability •  Communicating corporate mission, goals •  Help them to understand where they fit in •  Encouraging people to be aware of the impact of their

actions •  Re-thinking accepted practices •  Creativity, fun, competition •  Measurement tools and methodologies

Measuring the impact

How Can Training Lead By Example?

Go green (without reducing effectiveness)

1.  Conduct your own environmental-impact audit 2.  Educate employees on sustainability issues for your business 3.  Make sustainability a visible part of your training message 4.  Hold virtual meetings and training sessions 5.  “Green” your training facilities 6.  Go paperless when possible 7.  Choose green providers 8.  Eat local 9.  Support Telecommuting 10.  Use online training as part of the mix

Can we come up with 10 more?

Tom Peters on the meaning of corporate social responsibility

Unleashing Learning: From Strategy to

Execution