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The Inter Business Index: Developing a Tool for Measurement and Comparability of Holistic Sustainability in Businesses

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  • Johanna Hallin
  • Michelle Sandberg
  • Nathalie Ahlstedt Mantel

Abstract

The scope of sustainable development is undoubtedly growing, and becoming increasingly more important due to the process of globalization, amounting in complex environmental, societal and economic issues. Although the subject of business sustainability has been gaining traction and resulted in increased knowledge in the field, the business sustainability discourse is still at a young stage, where the different streams of approaches, definitions, systems and measures are fragmented and challenged. Today¡¯s global challenges are so large and complex that they require a new kind of problem-solving and way of doing business. Identifying solutions requires a diversity of perspectives, approaches and capabilities, and the business sector plays a critical role. The integrated approach has been examined to some extent, proposing a holistic manner of moving on to true business sustainability, and a sustainable development on a global scale. This article presents the concept of Inter Business and the Inter Business Index, a tool for measurement and comparability of holistic sustainability in businesses. The Inter Business framework consists of four key-components that describe the skills needed for future-preparedness. In our research, we have analysed the 50 biggest corporations in Sweden and identified purpose, empathy, system approach and transformation as components that respond to the hypothesis that interconnection and integration are key for companies to survive and thrive, whilst contributing to society at large.

Suggested Citation

  • Johanna Hallin & Michelle Sandberg & Nathalie Ahlstedt Mantel, 2017. "The Inter Business Index: Developing a Tool for Measurement and Comparability of Holistic Sustainability in Businesses," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 7(2), pages 27-44, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibn:jmsjnl:v:7:y:2017:i:2:p:27-44
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gorry, G. Anthony & Westbrook, Robert A., 2011. "Once more, with feeling: Empathy and technology in customer care," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 125-134.
    2. Jijun Gao & Pratima Bansal, 2013. "Instrumental and Integrative Logics in Business Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 112(2), pages 241-255, January.
    3. Sergio Barile & Marialuisa Saviano & Francesca Iandolo & Mario Calabrese, 2014. "The Viable Systems Approach and its Contribution to the Analysis of Sustainable Business Behaviors," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(6), pages 683-695, November.
    4. Gorry, G. Anthony & Westbrook, Robert A., 2011. "Once more, with feeling: Empathy and technology in customer care," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 54(2), pages 125-134, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Johanna Hallin & Nathalie Ahlstedt Mantel, 2018. "Swedish Business Leaders Prospecting Sustainability¨CFinding the Future with Purpose, Systems Approach, Empathy & Transformation," Business and Management Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 4(1), pages 59-67, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    business sustainability; business transformation; empathy; inter business; inter business index; purpose; sustainable development; system approach; transformation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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