Sustainability & Competitive Edge: Building a Successful Organisation

This report explores the concept of sustainability and its impact on achieving long-term competitive advantages for organizations. It discusses the three pillars of sustainability: environmental protection, social development, and economic development, providing examples of companies like Tesco that have successfully integrated sustainable practices. The report also analyzes the attributes and capabilities necessary for business success in a complex and changing environment, such as the use of technology and recyclable materials. It concludes that adopting sustainable development practices helps organizations gain a competitive edge by optimizing resource utilization, reducing waste, and aligning with government initiatives promoting sustainability. Desklib offers a wide range of solved assignments and study tools for students.

Building Sustainable
organisation

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
Critically discuss the concept of sustainability and its impact on the long-term competitive
advantages for organisations.......................................................................................................1
Critically discuss attributes and capabilities that are necessary for business success in a
complex and changing environment. .........................................................................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Sustainable development is the process of utilising the resources of the surrounding in such a
way that it does not impact the future need of the resources. It is a social process that integrates
social, economic and environmental objectives that focus on meeting the present need without
compromising the future. Human beings have the ability to save the environment from any
harmful effects by effective utilisation of resources in operational activities. Sustainable
development is important to reduce the unethical and harmful practices of human beings and
industries (Munsamy and Telukdarie, 2018).This report will include the concept of sustainability
and how its implementation in a organisations helps to achieve a competitive edge in the market.
It also includes the capabilities and attributes that are required to implement the changes of the
environment.
MAIN BODY
Critically discuss the concept of sustainability and its impact on the long-term competitive
advantages for organisations.
Sustainability is the concept that focuses on utilising the environment resources in such a way to
meet the current needs which does not impact the future needs. The concept of sustainability is
important to improve the quality of living , protect the ecosystem and preserve the natural
resources for future. In organisation, sustainability means managing and coordinating the efforts
which helps the organisation to be efficient and effective in its operations without any wastage of
resources. There are three pillars of Sustainability which are discussed below- Environmental protection: This pillar focuses on reducing the activities that may impact
the surrounding which includes reduction of the carbon footprints in the industry, non
recyclable plastic bags and packaging waste, water wastage etc. Adoption of sustainable
practices can help an help an organisation to maintain the surrounding as well as it will
have a positive impact on the financial position of the company (Nguyen and Johnson,
2020). For example Tesco have intiated a Little Helps Plan, which makes commitments
to society , community to serve the environment (TESCO PLC, 2022). The company has
also contributed its efforts towards deforestation by making their packaging recycable. Social development: It refers to the resources that brings equality and respect for all the
employees, stakeholders and others. It focuses on the concept that improves the quality of

individuals, laws and regulations that help in the development of the population,
improvised political factors like education, security and leisure. This factor focuses on
creating healthy and wealthy lifestyle for the individuals, maintain healthy relations in the
workplace in order to develop personal and collective development. For example Tesco,
follows Corporate Social Responsibility by providing its employees good working
conditions, Healthy living and education facilities to their families and more which helps
a company to acquire a share in the market.
 Economic development: It is very important for the organisation to improve its
operational activities which will help the organisation to maintain its profitability. The
organisation should produce such goods and services that brings competitive advantage
for the company by offering higher quality of goods with reasonable prices in order to
develop and maintain growth. For exmple Tesco is adding sustainability in its operations
which helps them to provide quality goods and services to their customers (TESCO PLC,
2022). The company is also supporting thousands of business across UK to expand their
operations.
Impact on the long term competitive advantage
Sustainability have positive impact in the organisation it helps the organisation to acquire a
competitive edge in the marketplace. There are various government programmes that promotes
sustainability plans and its adoption in the business practices as it reduces the waste and helps in
making optimised utilisation of resources. Many businesses are using and adopting digital
practices in their operations which helps the company in reducing the impact of carbon footprints
on the organisation. It is important for organisation to adopt sustainable practices to remain
competitive in its practices. The company should make use of natural resources in optimised
manner to acquire a high share in the market.
Critically discuss attributes and capabilities that are necessary for business success in a
complex and changing environment.
Business environment is dynamic and it is essential for the enterprises to adopt those changes in
order to be effective and efficient in their functioning which will help them to achiever the
success and growth. There are various attributes that are important and significant to be adopted
by the firm to achieve growth and success which are discussed as below-

 Use of technology: In order to sustain the environment it is important to adopt
technological aspects in the operations. It will protect the environment as there are lot of
trees are required to make papers which may impact the surrounding and the wildlife. In
order to maintain the dignity and position in the market the company should adopt
environment protection acts to sustain the environment (Raut and et.al, 2019). The
company should record all the information and accounts digitally to reduce the use of
papers.
 Recyclable paper and paper bags: The company should adopt sustainability in the
organisation by using recyclable paper and bags which may reduce the degradation in the
environment . Organisations should come forward to use environment friendly materials
which does not deplete the surrounding . The organisation contribution in the safety of
environment will makes a recognisable reputation in the society.
Hence, it is necessary for the organisation to make changes in its structures and functions
according to the environment changes otherwise the company cannot sustain in the environment.
To remain competitive it is important to keep a balance in the ecological, economical and
environmental changes(Hofmann, 2019).
CONCLUSION
From this report it is concluded that adoption of sustainable development in the practices help an
organisation to achieve a competitive edge in the market whether in the current perspective and
long term developments as well. It is significant to make use of natural resources in a manner
that does not effect the natural surrounding which may have an impact on the future generations
as well. The organisation should adopt sustainable plans and adopt complex changes of the
environment that may contribute in the success of the firm .

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Hofmann, 2019. Circular business models: business approach as driver or obstructer of
sustainability transitions?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 224, pp.361-374.
Munsamy and Telukdarie, 2018, December. Application of Industry 4.0 towards achieving
business sustainability. In 2018 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering
and Engineering Management (IEEM) (pp. 844-848). IEEE.
Nguyen and Johnson, 2020. Consumer behaviour and environmental sustainability. Journal of
Consumer Behaviour, 19(6), pp.539-541.
Raut and et.al, 2019. Linking big data analytics and operational sustainability practices for
sustainable business management. Journal of cleaner production, 224, pp.10-24.
TESCO PLC ,2022 [Online] Available through
<https://www.tescoplc.com/sustainability/planet/packaging-and-plastic/>
TESCO PLC ,2022 [Online] Available
through<https://www.tescoplc.com/sustainability/planet/protecting-forests/>