Self-Consciousness and Awareness as Adaptation Enablers

The idea of a free and not finite environment is fundamentally incorrect. Firms failing to implement effective adaptation strategies would consume natural capital at the expense of other stakeholders. Corporations have a responsibility and an interest to preserve natural capital. The traditional concept of corporate mission should be reassessed assuming that firms are defined by self-consciousness and consciousness. Consciousness generally involves the perception of the physical environment based on knowledge and experience. Self-consciousness involves the perception of being physically distinct from a surrounding ecosystem. Self-consciousness is therefore an essential pre-requisite for a firm to define its mission and long-term vision and position itself relative to its ecosystem. Self-consciousness should enable firms to engage with purpose and create value for the entire stakeholders base.