Climeworks: Strategic Management and Sustainability Analysis

This case study analysis examines Climeworks, a company focused on capturing carbon dioxide from the air. The analysis critically evaluates the roles and responsibilities of Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher as strategic managers of sustainability within Climeworks, highlighting their strategic planning and communication responsibilities. It explores various management tools and concepts, such as balance scorecards, scenario planning, and benchmarking, and how these are applied to address sustainability issues within the business. Furthermore, the analysis delves into the economic and ethical challenges faced by leaders in balancing short-term and long-term goals, providing insights into the complexities of strategic decision-making in a sustainable business context. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of sustainability in organizational development and expansion, highlighting the roles of strategic managers and the impact of management tools on achieving competitive advantages and sustainable business practices.

Building a Sustainable
Organisation

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Critically evaluating the roles and responsibilities of Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher as
a strategic manager of sustainability............................................................................................1
Analysing various tools and concepts of management that are applied to issues of
sustainability in context to business organisation........................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
Demonstrate economical and ethical challenges faced by leaders in the procedure of balancing
short term and long term goals faced by strategic leaders...........................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Sustainability can be defined as meeting the needs of present generation without harming
resources of future generation in the economy. It is the ability of individual or firm that helps to
maintain specific level in ecological balance. In context to business, sustainability refers to
gaining competitive advantage with the help of organisational resources. It helps to reduce the
negative impacts on the business due to high competition in the market. Sustainability influence
environmental as well as economic growth in the society. Bringing sustainable factors helps the
business to be more productive. The management of business formulate their plans and policies
to sustain their organisation at competitive edge. For evaluating sustainability in the business
Climeworks is taken and tools of management are applied into it for sustainable development of
organisation.
The project reports covers critically evaluating roles and responsibilities of Christoph
Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher, which are strategic managers of sustainability. The report also
highlights various tools and concepts the management that can be applicable to issues of
sustainability in the business context. It also covers the analysis of economic challenges faced by
strategic leaders in the process of balancing short term and long term business goals.
TASK 1
Critically evaluating the roles and responsibilities of Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher as a
strategic manager of sustainability
The strategic managers are the people in business that frame plans and policies to achieve
organisational objectives. They may have various roles and responsibilities within business
organisation which are considered as essential elements for business growth (Mondal and Sahoo,
2020). Climeworks is a business organisation established by Christoph Gebald and Jan
Wurzbacher. The company deals to identify and sell the carbon-dioxide that can be criticised by
the customers. As strategic managers, Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher frame policies for
the company regarding supply in relation to demand in the economy. The strategic managers can
make specified strategies that helps to eliminate negative impacts on consumers from their
business. The roles and responsibilities of Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher as strategic
managers in Climeworks are mentioned below as:
Basis Christoph Gebald Jan Wurzbacher
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Roles
 Implementation of
strategies: Christoph Gebald
as a sustainable strategic
manager have a role in
implementation of various
strategies formed in the
business to achieve
organisational goals
efficiently.
 Creation of path: As a
strategic manager, it is also
necessary to make path for
taking different plans into
action for achievement of
business objectives. It is
also considered as making
roadmap to implement plans
and policies.
 Communicating plans: The
plans must be communicated to
subordinates and being a
sustainable manager, Jan
Wurzbacher performs role of
communicating the plans to
organisational people for
maintaining sustainability in
competitive environment.
 Completing sustainability
plans: Sustainability plans
helps organisation to obtain
competitive advantages in the
business (Vogel and Olynec,
2022). It is a role of Jan
Wurzbacher to complete
sustainability plan to sustain
Climeworks at the competitive
edge in economy.
Responsibilities
 To manage logistics: In
context to Climeworks,
Christoph Gebald is
responsible to manage
logistic work to influence
the proper supply as per
demands in the economy.
The logistics includes
transportation and delivery
of carbon-dioxide.
 To maintain environmental
sustainability: Jan Wurzbacher
is responsible in Climeworks to
create environmental policies
and sustainability in the
organisation. As company deals
in harmful products so
environmental sustainability is
important for their business
organisation.
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 To monitor performance:
Monitoring performance
also helps to influence
productivity in the
organisation and sustainable
strategic manager is
responsible for monitoring
performance of subordinates
within the company (Shi
and Et. Al., 2019).
 To bring collaboration: There
are few buyers available in the
market for carbon-dioxide and
collaborative activities can
attract large business towards
Climeworks. Jan Wurzbacher is
responsible to frame policies
and procedure to influence
collaboration in the market.
Analysing various tools and concepts of management that are applied to issues of sustainability
in context to business organisation.
Sustainability in business can be easily affected by various factors and to eliminate the
impact of these factors, various tools and concepts of management are required for obtaining
sustainable benefits (Kadeev and Et. Al., 2020). Business management have their sustainable
strategic manager to oversee kinds of situations for reducing the issues of sustainability and
provides competitive advantages to the firm. Climeworks deals with carbon-dioxide from air that
can harm the customers. So, sustainable tools help strategic managers that are Christoph Gebald
as well as Jan Wurzbacher to implement these tools into business strategies for meeting the
customer's needs. Some tools and concept of management that are applied to issue of
sustainability in context to Climeworks is given below as: Balance scorecard: It refers to system of strategic planning that helps management to
look over performance enhancement of the business organisation. The business use this
tool of management by identifying internal operation to obtain efficient output. Data
collection helps management to use balance scorecard for improving the performance of
organisation. The balance scorecard includes analysing learning and growth, business
processes, customers and finance into the organisation (Gunarathne and Lee, 2020). In
context to Climeworks, the sustainable strategic managers are using balance scorecard to
evaluate the performance of their business. It helps them to plan corrective measures for
any negative factor exits in the organisational environment. This organisation is working
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for supply CO2 as per demands arises in the market so, sustainability issues may have
chances to arise in the environment. The balance scorecard for Climeworks is
underneath:
Goals Indicators Objectives Initiatives
Financial Reduce the cost
of production to
$100 per ton of
carbon-dioxide.
Financial
statements.
To reduce the
cost.
Creating market
for renewable
fuel.
Customer Remove 1% of
global CO2
emissions from
the earth's
atmosphere.
Number of
customers.
Reverse emission
of carbon-dioxide.
Installing 250000
plants of
Climeworks.
Learning and
growth
Influence 12%
buyers of carbon-
dioxide.
Buyers in market. Increasing
customers.
Making aware
about needs of
carbon-dioxide.
Business process Maintain working
in partnership.
Partners of
Climeworks.
Collaborating
continuously with
various firms.
Obtain more
buyers from
another economy
also.
 Scenario planning: It is the method to create assumptions for future that helps to
maintain the control in the competitive market. It also leads business to demonstrate the
reaction of business towards the world (Gan and Et. Al., 2021). The management identify
specified uncertainties that can be arise in future and can affect the business organisation.
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In relation with Climeworks, there are high chances for uncertainties to be raised in
future that can impact the position of company negatively. The business uncertainties
includes change in environment, customer's preferences, demographic and climate (Peter
and Olynec, 2022). These are the factors presents under dynamic business environment
and have direct or indirect impact on business operations. Scenario planning is the tool of
management that helps business for decision making process in context to the future
uncertainties. The strategic managers of Climeworks are using Scenario planning to
reduce the risk of future uncertainties within their organisation. Christoph Gebald and Jan
Wurzbacher is implementing this tool for developing and smooth functioning of their
business organisation. Their motive of reversing emission of carbon-dioxide can also
accomplish through this tool and it also provides sustainability to their company in the
competitive market.
 Benchmarking: It is the tool of management that helps to compare the process of
business from other firm's procedures to analyse issues and deficiencies. It helps
management of business to influence productivity by analysing determinants of
organisation. In the issues of sustainability benchmarking plays key role to overcome
with the business situations by evaluating performance of strategies (Rendtorff, 2019).
The sustainable strategic managers of Climeworks are also using this tools for enhancing
their performance in the market. Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher is making
various strategies to enhance their market into various economies. Benchmarking also
provides sustainability to the business by identifying negative factors that can be
prevented by the business for their betterment. Many organisation is using this tool into
their organisation to improve profitability and productivity in the market (Chen, Lee and
Wang, 2020). Climeworks deals in carbon-dioxide which is hazardous for customers
using CO2 contained products. So, benchmarking is the requirement of their sustainable
strategic managers to gain competitive advantages in the market. The management of
company can compare their internal and external processes under this tool and can take
corrective measures to prevent all negativities from the business. Hence, it can be
appropriate to say that sustainability under competitive environment can be influenced
through benchmarking in the business organisation.
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TASK 2
Demonstrate economical and ethical challenges faced by leaders in the procedure of balancing
short term and long term goals faced by strategic leaders
The challenges faced by strategic leaders during balancing the organisational goals are of
various types. It can enhance the productivity of employees to perform better in the business.
These challenges can be ethical as well as economical into business environment. Business ethics
are key elements to perform business operations and activities in proper manner (Cillo and Et.
Al., 2019). It can be adopted in every organisation to improve their productivity and business
culture. The business can also face ethical dilemmas that needs to be prevented in strategies
formulation and decision making procedure. While setting long term and short term goals
strategic leaders may face ethical challenges like mutual coordination and integration. In relation
to Climeworks, Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher sets long term and short term goals for
their business development. They can set goals more efficiently with the help of business ethics.
They must have knowledge about ethics and its principles.
Business can also face economical issues as well like reduction in brand value, market
value and image of business (Rendtorff, 2019). Developing brand image is a critical task for
Christoph Gebald and Jan Wurzbacher because they are dealing in harmful product. Customer
have bad image in their minds about Climeworks so it can be considered as the biggest
economical issue arises for them. The strategies can be framed by sustainable strategic managers
to support short term and long term goals that are set by strategic leaders in the business
premises. Economic growth is very important for every business organisation to sustain in the
market. The economical challenges also faced by strategic leaders in the business organisation
while setting long term and short term goals. These challenges requires strategical frameworks
decided by management of business to meet goals of organisation. Strategies of management in
Climeworks also helps to change bad attitude and aggressive behaviour of employees working in
the business. These ethical and economic dilemmas raise issues for Christoph Gebald and Jan
Wurzbacher for sustaining their business organisation in the competitive market. It can be
appropriate to say that strategic leaders also faces ethical and economical challenges during
balancing of long term and short term goals (Walker, Pekmezovic and Walker, 2019).
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CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that sustainability in the organisation plays
vital role in development and expansion. The company use various concepts and tools of
management that helps them to eliminate issues of sustainability. These tools provides support to
the business for being sustain at the competitive edge in the economy. The sustainable strategic
manager are very important people in the organisations. They have different roles and
responsibilities in the business to develop and expand their organisation. Their roles are like
implementing strategies, communicating plans and creating path to achieve the objectives. Their
responsibilities are like managing logistic, bringing collaboration and monitoring performance.
They have to perform their work according to prescribed roles and responsibilities in the
business organisation.
The above report also conclude that there are different ethical and economical challenges
that can be faced by strategic leaders while balancing short term and long term goals in the
organisation. Balancing the goals is an important process for business, their plans and actions are
generally based on these goals. So, management have to perform this process for achievement of
objective and sustainability in the business environment.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Mondal, S. and Sahoo, K. K., 2020. A study of green building prospects on sustainable
management decision making. In Green building management and smart
automation (pp. 220-234). IGI Global.
Kadeev, Z. K. and Et. Al., 2020. The issues of sustainable management of innovative industrial
risks during sustainable development of entities. J. Advanced Res. L. & Econ. 11. p.400.
Gunarathne, A. N. and Lee, K. H., 2020. Eco control for corporate sustainable management: A‐
sustainability development stage perspective. Corporate Social Responsibility and
Environmental Management, 27(6), pp.2515-2529.
Gan, G.C. and Et. Al., 2021. Executive coaching effectiveness: towards sustainable business
excellence. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. 32(13-14). pp.1405-
1423.
Rendtorff, J. D., 2019. Philosophy of management and sustainability: Rethinking business ethics
and social responsibility in sustainable development. Emerald Group Publishing.
Cillo, V. and Et. Al., 2019. Understanding sustainable innovation: A systematic literature
review. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 26(5).
pp.1012-1025.
Rendtorff, J. D., 2019. Sustainable development goals and progressive business models for
economic transformation. Local Economy. 34(6). pp.510-524.
Walker, J., Pekmezovic, A. and Walker, G., 2019. Sustainable development goals: harnessing
business to achieve the SDGs through finance, technology and law reform. John Wiley
& Sons.
Chen, R., Lee, Y. D. and Wang, C. H., 2020. Total quality management and sustainable
competitive advantage: serial mediation of transformational leadership and executive
ability. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. 31(5-6). pp.451-468.
Shi, Y., and Et. Al., 2019. Sustainable transportation management: Integrated modeling and
support. Journal of cleaner production. 212. pp.1381-1395.
Online:
Peter P., and Olynec N., 2022. Climeworks (A): A visionary business to help stop climate
change. [Online] Available through: <https://www.imd.org/research-knowledge/case-
studies/case-studies/imd-7-2083/#:~:text=Climeworks%20(A)%3A%20A%20visionary
%20business%20to%20help%20stop%20climate%20change,-By%20Professor
%20Peter&text=Christoph%20Gebald%20and%20Jan
%20Wurzbacher,CO2%20directly%20from%20the%20air.>
Vogel P. and Olynec N., 2022. Climeworks (B): Business modeling - creating new market
opportunities. [Online] Available through:
<https://www.imd.org/research-knowledge/case-studies/case-studies/Climeworks-B-
business-modeling-creating-new-market-opportunities/>
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