Embedded Sustainability: The Next Big Competitive Advantage 1st Edition

Embedded Sustainability is a must read for any business leader and actually anyone living on this planet. The authors provide a compelling case that it's not a choice whether business should embrace sustainability. If a business is to succeed, sustainability should be part of a company's DNA due to declining resources, increased (radical) transparency, and also increasing expectations from stakeholders. However, the question still remains as to how to embrace sustainability. Others have noted as well - such as studies by McKinsey as well as Boston Consulting Group and MIT - that sustainability is not a choice for companies anymore. However, what is missing is understanding the how of embedding sustainability into a company's strategy and daily operations. In that respect, the authors provide an excellent roadmap for organizations. Actually, I do not know of any other book at this time that does so. That is why I think it is a must read. If sustainability is no longer a choice and if there is no better current resource on how to implement it, Embedded Sustainability is a book any manager who wants to succeed needs to read.Although the book is written in business venacular, implicit in the book is a positive message and hope for the future. If our planet is to become sustainable, not only must business be part of the solution; but also, business can also transform its own image. Currently, business leaders are among the least trusted and most looked "down upon" people in society (very close to politicians). Yet, it can be these same business leaders that can help us get out of this mess we created. Doing so not only has great consequences for the planet but also builds a favorable image of the business towards consumers, society, as well as motivating employees to actually feel good about coming to work. Having said that, other authors have argued how sustainability can also improve image. But what sets this book apart is that if sustainability is truly embedded, then it is not false marketing or greenwashing. Contrary to companies who might throw a few dollars here and there, have employee volunteer 10 hours a year, or have one-off sustainability projects, embedding sustainability is about completely changing the culture of an organization form one that is short-term exploitation oriented to one that cares about the well-being of all stakeholders - and thus good business.

Embedded Sustainability makes a compelling case that sustainability is here to stay, and that organizational leaders should embrace the opportunities created by this new phenomenon. Premising their case on the three distinct but interconnected trends of declining resources, radical transparency, and increasing expectations, Laszlo and Zhexembayeva present a powerful new paradigm to turn these challenges into organizational advantage.Highlighting that the boundaries between organizations, customers, the media and government are blurring, the authors argue that it is time for sustainability to migrate from a bolt-on strategy running parallel to the organization's key strategy to becoming holistically embedded in the culture and operational dynamics of the organization.A must-read for senior leaders of organizations of all sizes, as well as consultants and scholars, this book describes how to create strategy that creates value for both shareholders and stakeholders of the organization - a concept that the authors term sustainable value. What differentiates this book from other sustainability books is that the authors' work is founded upon research, and not just supposition, while maintaining easy readability. In taking this scholarly approach, this book avoids the trap of ideology that so often surrounds sustainability, and delivers a pragmatic roadmap for organizations serious about competing in the new world reality.

Our company, True Market Solutions, works with Chris Laszlo. We use this book as the core textbook for our Sustainability Learning Circles. We feel Dr. Laszlo's identification of the difference between embedded and bolted-on sustainability really defines the key question of our age. If we are to continue to flourish, the subject of Chris' next book written with numerous co-authors, we must move beyond the mind-sets and business models that have put us in the precarious position we find ourselves in. This book provides a thorough theoretical basis for understanding why pursuit of real sustainability is the mother of radical innovation. Radical innovation is what delivers breakthrough advances in business model, products, market, brand, reputation, and industry leadership that prevents companies and organizations from being blind-sided by trends they don't see, and delivers true profits. Profits come from innovation and meeting market needs that the market doesn't even know it needs. Truly valuing sustainability as a core of business strategy has been clearly demonstrated in study after study to help businesses stay at the head the pack in profitability. Well worth a detailed reading.

Embedded Sustainability: The Next Big Competitive Advantage has an important message and is an easy read. The authors have managed to take the many dimensional, and complex issue of sustainability and make it relevant for any business leader in any industry. This book explains the urgency for businesses to embrace the concepts of sustainability in order to ensure their own survival in this ever intertwined world that is becoming more and more transparent. This book clearly illustrates the importance of embedding sustainability into any organization and provides a guide on how to do so. The authors have done important work here, by taking the conversation of sustainability beyond environmental efforts, into the realms of value creation and profit increase. They make a compelling business case for doing good while doing well, at a time when businesses most need to embrace this message and make it part of their business model.

Interesting theory. Probably the future. Ok.

I have used this book for several terms now in an undergrad strategy course. I decided to throw out the boring textbook, and instead use this and a couple of other interesting books. Much more engaging for my students, and plenty of opportunities to review and critique the usual strategy models. Embedded Sustainability is very forward thinking and exciting. It challenges students and professors to think beyond traditional strategy building techniques, integrates much greater awareness of social justice, declining resources, and the need for radical innovation.

This book was part of my MBA program. It was an excellent read. Highly recommend even as a casual read.

A very comprehensive, deep-diving but practical and easy to read book. The authors reconciled me with sustainability, often gavaulded and superficially approached.