Why do 70 per cent of change initiatives fail?

A Harvard Business Review study found that 70 per cent of all change initiatives fail. So what are the reasons for this and what can sustainability professionals learn from this?

Five reasons why ‘Plan A’ generated £105m in 2012

M&S launched its groundbreaking Plan A in 2007. Five years later, its progress shows how a structured approach to employee engagement, behaviour and culture change in sustainability can lead to considerable triple bottom line benefits.

How to make the most of your green credentials and sell the sustainability message – a workshop for small business

How to make the most of your green credentials and sell your sustainability using effective green branding and green marketing.

Sustainability: what if you don’t have a Ray Anderson to lead you?

A challenge for many sustainability practitioners working in organisations is their senior leadership doesn’t have the same passion for sustainability that they have. So what do you do if you don’t have your very own Ray Anderson to lead the way?

Barriers to sustainable change Part II: tackling process paralysis and M&S’ feedback loops

Once you’ve designed a strategy for your sustainable change programme, the journey to long-term change is all too often inhibited by two types of barriers – ‘process paralysis’ and ‘communications concerns’. So how can you overcome them?

Getting the bosses on board with sustainability: focus on the value

Sustainability is a diverse topic, ranging from relatively simple issues, such as efficiency, to more complex topics such as community development. But they tend to have two things in common: they require a systems approach and addressing them creates value for an organisation.

The CRC League Table and the power of reputation

Who doesn’t appreciate recognition? From the primary school child receiving a ‘gold star’ to the football star receiving the Player of the Year award. Your people and organisation are no different. So just how important is the power of reputation?

Profitable sustainability: show me the money

Over the last 16 years, I have found that a good sustainability approach can increase company profits, with lower risks and a higher return than most other company investments.

Why do companies treat sustainability as a cost?

It is disappointing that many companies begrudgingly treat sustainability as a compliance exercise – which costs them money and can limit the social and environmental benefits. There is a better way: solutions to today’s business challenges can be both profitable and sustainable, with new value available if companies can think a little differently.

Middle managers: how to turn a sustainability hindrance into an asset

Many middle managers are at best uninterested in sustainability and sometimes hinder its development. Here’s some ideas on how to deal with the challenge.