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Global Challenges as Opportunity to Transform Business for Good

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Laszlo

    (Department of Organizational Behavior, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA)

  • David Cooperrider

    (Department of Organizational Behavior, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA)

  • Ron Fry

    (Department of Organizational Behavior, Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA)

Abstract

Using insights from Peter Drucker’s Theory of the Business framework, the authors show that global challenges such as pandemics and climate change are contributing to a critical misalignment between businesses and their increasingly complex external environments, leading to a growing malaise in many organizations. Central to this misalignment are seven legacy assumptions which no longer serve businesses effectively. Seven new assumptions better reflect today’s external environment and point to how businesses can thrive (“Do Well”) by making a positive difference in society (“Do Good.”) The authors propose a set of change management methods and tools along with specific steps that leaders and organizations can take to transform their businesses into what they define as Positive Institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Laszlo & David Cooperrider & Ron Fry, 2020. "Global Challenges as Opportunity to Transform Business for Good," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-17, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:19:p:8053-:d:421661
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gunnar Friede & Timo Busch & Alexander Bassen, 2015. "ESG and financial performance: aggregated evidence from more than 2000 empirical studies," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(4), pages 210-233, October.
    2. Dave, Dhaval M. & Friedson, Andrew I. & McNichols, Drew & Sabia, Joseph J., 2020. "The Contagion Externality of a Superspreading Event: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and COVID-19," IZA Discussion Papers 13670, IZA Network @ LISER.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Leilei Jiang & Wenming Sun & Lin Ren, 2024. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Bridging the Gap: Anxiety’s Role in Shaping Consumption Patterns of Chinese University Students in the O2O E-Commerce Landscape," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 13211-13232, September.
    3. Lambrechts, Frank & Gnan, Luca, 2022. "Human resources and mutual gains in family firms: New developments and possibilities on the horizon," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 13(2).
    4. Jasper O. Kenter & Simone Martino & Sam J. Buckton & Sandra Waddock & Bina Agarwal & Annela Anger-Kraavi & Robert Costanza & Adam P. Hejnowicz & Peter Jones & Jordan O. Lafayette & Jane Kabubo-Mariara, 2025. "Ten principles for transforming economics in a time of global crises," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 8(7), pages 837-847, July.
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    6. Manisaligil, Alperen & Gölgeci, İsmail & Bakker, Arnold B. & Faruk Aysan, Ahmet & Babacan, Mehmet & Gür, Nurullah, 2023. "Understanding change in disruptive contexts: The role of the time paradox and locus of control," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
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