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Strategic Sustainability Risk Management in Product Development Companies: Key Aspects and Conceptual Approach

Author

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  • Jesko Schulte

    (Department of Strategic Sustainable Development, Blekinge Institute of Technology, SE-37179 Karlskrona, Sweden)

  • Carolina Villamil

    (Department of Strategic Sustainable Development, Blekinge Institute of Technology, SE-37179 Karlskrona, Sweden)

  • Sophie I. Hallstedt

    (Department of Strategic Sustainable Development, Blekinge Institute of Technology, SE-37179 Karlskrona, Sweden)

Abstract

Society’s transition towards sustainability comes with radical change, which entails significant threats and opportunities for product development and manufacturing companies, for example related to new legislation, shifting customer preferences, and increasing raw material prices. Smart risk management therefore plays a key role for successfully maneuvering society’s sustainability transition. However, from a company perspective, it remains challenging to connect the macro-level societal change with tangible risks for the business on the micro level. Based on interviews with academic and industrial experts, this study identified 21 key aspects for sustainability risk management. Drawing on these results and research from the areas of transition design, strategic sustainable development, and sustainability risk management, a conceptual approach for strategic risk management within the sustainability transition is presented. It builds on layered, double-flow scenario modelling in which backcasting from a vision, framed by basic principles for sustainability, is combined with forecasting from the present. The implications of such scenarios, i.e., risks, can then be identified and managed. By doing so on different scales, connections between macro- and micro-level change can be established. Thereby, product development companies shall be supported in making sustainability an intrinsic part of decision-making across the strategic, tactical, and operational levels to increase competitiveness while contributing to the transition towards a sustainable society.

Suggested Citation

  • Jesko Schulte & Carolina Villamil & Sophie I. Hallstedt, 2020. "Strategic Sustainability Risk Management in Product Development Companies: Key Aspects and Conceptual Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:24:p:10531-:d:462997
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dongsheng Zhang & Hongwei Wang & Wenfu Wang, 2022. "The Influence of Relational Capital on the Sustainability Risk: Findings from Chinese Non-State-Owned Manufacturing Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Katarina Buganova & Maria Luskova & Jozef Kubas & Michal Brutovsky & Jaroslav Slepecky, 2021. "Sustainability of Business through Project Risk Identification with Use of Expert Estimates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, June.
    3. N. Denuwara & A. Kim & V. Atree & P. Newenhisen & C. Gibson & D. Schork & M. Hakovirta, 2022. "Corporate economic performance and sustainability indices: a study based on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(7), pages 1-22, July.
    4. Carolina Villamil & Jesko Schulte & Sophie Hallstedt, 2022. "Sustainability risk and portfolio management—A strategic scenario method for sustainable product development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 1042-1057, March.
    5. Magdalena Zioło & Iwona Bąk & Anna Spoz, 2023. "Incorporating ESG Risk in Companies’ Business Models: State of Research and Energy Sector Case Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-25, February.
    6. Ramsey Jadim & Mirka Kans & Jesko Schulte & Mohammed Alhattab & May Alhendi & Ali Bushehry, 2021. "On Approaching Relevant Cost-Effective Sustainable Maintenance of Mineral Oil-Filled Electrical Transformers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-17, June.

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