...HR and sustainability: An odd couple? By Marc Gunther Published March 20, 2013 This Q-and-A with Andrew Savitz explores how the human resources department can be a powerful tool for corporate sustainablity programs. Savitz is the author of a new book called "Talent, Transformation and the Triple Bottom Line: How Companies Can Leverage Human Resources to Achieve Sustainable Growth" (Wiley 2013). As you can guess from the title, Savitz argues that employees are the key to creating sustainable companies, but that they -- and their colleagues in human resources -- are often overlooked when companies embark on environmental programs. I think he's on to something. I've long thought that the single biggest business driver of corporate sustainability initiatives is the way they help better companies attract better people and motivate the ones they have. Savitz has spent his career working with companies on social and environmental issues. A lawyer by training (and before that a Rhodes scholar at Oxford), Savitz has been a congressional staffer, the general counsel for the Massachusetts Office of Environmental Affairs and head of the environmental advisory practice at PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Since 2005, he has led a consultancy called Sustainable Business Strategies. Here's our online conversation: Marc Gunther: You say that you've written the book "in large measure to bridge the gap between sustainability and HR." HR? Really? Why do we need human resources people to get...
Words: 1064 - Pages: 5
...EPG SHRM Foundation’s Effective Practice Guidelines Series HRM’s Role in Corporate Social and Environmental Sustainability Produced in partnership with the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA) and the North American Human Resource Management Association (NAHRMA) HRM’s Role in Corporate Social and Environmental Sustainability This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information regarding the subject matter covered. Neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering legal or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent, licensed professional should be sought. Any federal and state laws discussed in this book are subject to frequent revision and interpretation by amendments or judicial revisions that may significantly affect employer or employee rights and obligations. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel regarding specific policies and practices in their organizations. This book is published by the SHRM Foundation, an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM®). The interpretations, conclusions and recommendations in this book are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the SHRM Foundation. ©2012 SHRM Foundation. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in whole or in part...
Words: 25781 - Pages: 104
...in their interests of groups other than themselves”. CSR is looking at more than just company shareholders interest; rather it takes the good of the society as a whole into consideration (Mondy 33). CSR is evolving to include sustainability, which is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (qtd. in Werbach 8). The two terms will be used interchangeably throughout this paper, to illustrate the overall concept of companies acting in a responsible way rather than only looking out for the best interest of their company and shareholders. CSR is going above and beyond current laws and industry standards, it’s about looking at what practices the organization can do to improve the lives of their employees and the community in addition to focusing on the bottom line. Often times when people talk about CSR or sustainability they are referring to protecting the environment or adopting green practices; although that is part of it, it goes far beyond just looking at ways to conserve the environment. In his book Talent, Transformation, and the Triple Bottom Line, Andrew Savitz explains that social and economic sustainability are just as important as environmental sustainability. More organizations are looking at the so-called Triple Bottom Line – “a set of yardsticks that measures a company’s environmental and social impact as well as its economic performance” (Savitz 29). It is important for organizations...
Words: 1469 - Pages: 6
...Consulting MAY 2009 CSR and HR Management Issue Brief and Roadmap 2 ISSUE BRIEF AND ROADMAP OBJECTIVE • To understand the foundational elements that need to be in place to foster a high performance CSR (corporate social responsibility) organization and develop a framework or roadmap for firms wishing to become a high performing CSR organization. AT A GLANCE • Human resource professionals have a key role to play to help a company achieve its CSR objectives. Employee involvement is a critical success factor for CSR performance. Human resource managers have the tools and the opportunity to leverage employee commitment to, and engagement in, the firm’s CSR strategy. • High performing CSR organizations foster a culture of CSR and fully integrate CSR throughout their operations, rewarding and incentivizing CSR decisions and initiatives. • Employees prefer to work for organizations aligned with their values; thus, incorporating CSR into the employee brand can enhance recruitment and retention, particularly in tight labour markets. • CSR can be applied to the HR toolkit, resulting in a roadmap or pathway for human resource practitioners to follow who wish to contribute to the achievement of their organization’s sustainability and business aspirations, thereby improving social and environmental conditions locally and globally. CSR and HR Management Issue Brief and Roadmap 3 CSR and HR Management Issue Brief and Roadmap 4 CSR and HR Management Issue Brief and Roadmap ...
Words: 9639 - Pages: 39
...2 Enter the World of Business: Starbucks: HR Practices Help Focus on the Brew, Weather the Recession, and Prepare for Growth 3 Introduction 4 What Responsibilities and Roles Do HR Departments Perform? 5 Strategic Role of the HRM Function 7 Demonstrating the Strategic Value of HR: HR Analytics and Evidence-Based HR 10 The HRM Profession: Positions, Education, and Competencies 11 Competitive Challenges Influencing Human Resource Management 14 Key Terms 61 Discussion Questions 61 Self-Assessment Exercise 62 Exercising Strategy 62 Managing People Skill Shortages Make It Difficult to Fill Positions and Customer Orders 63 Twitter Focus 64 Notes 64 Parti The Human Resource Environment 69 2 Strategic Human Resource Management 70 The Sustainability Challenge 14 Enter the World of Business: HP's New Strategy 71 Evidence-Based HR 24 Introduction 72 Competing through Sustainability Volunteerism and Going Green Are Reaping Dividends for Employees, Communities, and the Environment 30 What Is a Business Model? 72 GM's Attempt to Survive 73 What Is Strategic Management? 74 Components of the Strategic Management Process 75 Linkage between HRM and the Strategic Management Process 75 The Global Challenge 44 Competing through Globalization Apple Polishes Its Image through Auditing Overseas Suppliers 47 The Technology Challenge 48 Competing through Technology Connectiveness Enhances HR Practices 51 Meeting Competitive Challenges...
Words: 2982 - Pages: 12
...HRM plays in sustainability, as defined in this article? HRM plays a very important role in helping organizations to maintain sustainability by: Partnering: HRM plays a very significant role in articulating the organizations social mission. It helps alignment behind this mission at the executive leadership level by bringing in the perspectives of stakeholders and employee interests. Engaging: HRM helps in engaging both internal and external stakeholders to identify ways in which the social and environmental actions of the company are affecting the people associated with it. Engaging can include external partnership with non-profit organizations. Employee attraction and selection: Another important aspect of HRM is proper selection of candidates who believe in company’s vision of sustainability. For example when an employee can connect with the eco-value of an organization he is more likely to stay with the firm which helps in reducing overall expense on recruitment. Employee training and development: Regular training may be required for employees who don’t align with the sustainability mission of the company or for employees who need to understand new ways of sustainable working. HRM plays a very important role by scheduling these training and development sessions for its employees. Creating a sustainable organizational climate: It is very important to create an environment which encourages employees to pursue sustainability. More often...
Words: 757 - Pages: 4
...HR Department and Business Sustainability Name Institution Affiliation Sustainability in Human Resource Management Sustainability is setting up the equilibrium of social, environmental and economic factors that affect the business with an aim of improving the short term and longtime performance of the business. Human resource department has a wide scope in the sustainability of the business by balancing several components of the business. These are financial feasibility of the organization and the welfare of the employees, the society, and environmental friendly integrating initiatives (Aras & Crowther, 2012). Sustainability involves compliance with the codes and regulations, integration of social and environmental factors and governance factors into the business and transformation. Frazer (2013) states that, “The primary role of any human resource manager is designing a holistic policy to manage the employee’s talents, which will create sustainability in business strategies and practices” (p .78). The HR should create a culture of unlimited Leadership development for the high potential employees. Workforce engagement contributes to sustainability through customer satisfaction that defines the business growth. Engaging the employees is a noble initiative and the best domain that epitomizes the workers part on the triple bottom line (Hitchcock & Willard, 2009). Collaboration and enhancing teamwork among different departments...
Words: 417 - Pages: 2
...Team Project Unilever: HRM Strategies Unilever HR Team Fengho Natalya Raul Acsenda School of Management Professor: Pomponia Martinez, M.A.M. BHRM490: HRM STRATEGIES AND WORKPLACE DEVELOPMENT April 28, 2015 Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………………………3 Strategic Directions and Priorities………………………………………………………4 Strategic Action Plans……………………………………………………………………5 Forecasting and SWOT Analysis…………………………………………………………5 Alternative 1 (hire more employees)………………………………………………7 Alternative 2 (create Green technology inspires innovative products)…………….8 Alternative 3 (new techniques to help increase its productivity)…………………..8 Alternative 4 (technological advancement “Automation and Robotics”)………….9 Recruitment………………………………………………………………….………….…10 Training and Development……………………………………………………………….11 Sustainable living plan ………………………………………………………………….15 Performance Management…………………………………………………………………17 Recommendation …………...……………………………………………………………18 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………….19 References………………………………………………………………………………….19 Introduction Unilever is a multinational company, headquartered in London and Rotterdam. Its products include cleaning agents, personal care, food and beverages. Among their brand are Dove, Axe, Rexona, Magnum and other. The company operates in more than 190 countries and is used by over 2 billion people every day. Their main competitors are Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal, Danone. Unilever is publicly traded...
Words: 5250 - Pages: 21
...Challenge of embedding Sustainability in Organizations: The role of HRM and Leadership INTRODUCTION In the last decade, the importance of sustainability in any part of business in any industry has increased. Sustainability needs to move from being an add-on to a way of life at the firm such that companies can balance their social, financial and environmental risks and obligations. While companies have begun identifying the need to ingrain sustainability into the organisation, most business leaders still do not have a clear idea on how to go about doing so. THE CULTURE OF SUSTAINABILITY When talking about sustainability in business we mean managing the ‘triple bottom line’ such that decision making takes into account not only profits but also people and the planet along with social and environmental risks and obligations. In this sense, corporate reporting takes into account the environmental and social impact of the firms operations. But a culture of sustainability is more than just the corporate report and the face value of the initiative. It is one in which all the members of the organization share the spirit and the passion for the cause of balancing profitability with environmental accountability and social well being. Such a culture constantly strives to improve the lives of stakeholders while successfully carrying out its operations over the long term. WHAT DIFFERENTIATES SUSTAINABILITY FROM OTHER INITIATIVES? Most organizational change initiatives are largely...
Words: 4769 - Pages: 20
...s the HR profession moving fast enough to capture the opportunities in emerging trends? Much of the work addressing this issue has defined the future of HR in terms of competencies, workforce demographics, or professional techniques or practices. Here we take a different departure point by starting with prominent emerging general trends and examining their potential effect on HR, now and in the future, and HR’s desired and actual role in addressing them. What we found was that while HR leaders generally feel their ideal role is one of broad leadership, their assessment of the current role often is far less than that. Our research at the Center for Effective Organizations was conducted with a consortium of 11 large companies: Citrix Systems Inc.; Electronic Arts Inc.; Gap Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corp.; Mattel Inc.; Rockwell Automation; Royal Bank of Canada; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Unilever; UPS Inc.; and The Walt Disney Co. Twenty to 30 HR professionals within each company participated in the consortium. We examined the trends of globalization, generational diversity, sustainability, social media, personal technology, mass customization, open innovation, big data and gamification. Beyond Tradition: Reach Out, Venture Out, Seek Out, Break Out Our findings suggest that human resources can make great progress by simply allocating more time, budget and expertise to the emerging trends that have the greatest potential effect on organizations. However, at a larger level...
Words: 2134 - Pages: 9
...stomer loyaltyLAU | School of Business BUS831: Management Theory Sustainability of Customer Loyalty Presented to: Dr. Silva Karkoulian Prepared by: Siham Kibbi Aline Ibrahim Mohammad El Mogharbel Mounir Ghazal Date: 27/11/2013 Paper Outline * Introduction: Four major approaches toward achieving sustainable customer loyalty * Corporate Social Responsibility: CSR plays a significant role in developing customer's loyalty * Customer Relationship Management: Delivering superior customer value has become a major concern targeting the buildup of a sustainable competitive advantage * Product/Services Cost and Price: Pricing strategies are considered to be critical aspects for creating competitive advantage and customer loyalty * Human Resources: Promoting sustainability requirements through HR management * Conclusion: Management, employment, social responsibility, and affordable prices are all keys to give customers a reason to come back Introduction Behind a sustainable business, there are many successful strategies to achieve customer loyalty. Fostering our customers’ decision in keeping a relationship with our company is not an easy job. Thus, attaining sustainability of customer loyalty is a key for a major long- term success of our organizational goals. It is our responsibility to create an attractive yet profitable business which focuses on the ways that not only satisfy but also keep a high satisfaction level...
Words: 1821 - Pages: 8
...Ph.D. Research Proposal Area of Research: Human Resources GREEN HUMAN RESOURCEMANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN ANKLESHWAR CHEMICAL FACTORIES Table of Contents Page No. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………..03 1.1 What is Green?............................................................................................. .04 1.2 What is Green HRM?.................................................................................. .04 1.3 Why HR?...................................................................................................... ...06 1.4 Some Practices and Example…………………………………......................07 1.5 Chemical Industry Profile…………………………………………………..08 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE……………………………………09 CHAPTER 3 IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY………………………………11 3.1 Green HRM Practices……………………………………………………….13 CHAPTER 4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY………………………………..18 CHAPTER 5 HYPOTHESIS……………………………………………………19 CHAPTER 6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY……………………………....19 CHAPTER 7 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND WEBLIOGRAPHY…………………..20 CHAPTER 8 END NOTE……………………………………………………….20 1. INTRODUCTION GREEN Green is the colour of emeralds,Jade, and growing grass. Green is the colour most commonly associated with nature and the environmental movement, Islam, spring, hope and envy. The term Green is derived from the German word Grun and Grene. The first recorded use of the word as a color as term in Old English dates to AD 700. In (Germanic, Romance...
Words: 3911 - Pages: 16
...Candy Butchino Chapter 1: Zappos 1. The biggest challenge Zappos has to face is the sustainability challenge. The sustainability challenge consists of maintaining a sustainable company that survives in changing market climate by continuing to generate profit, while at the same time being careful to not sacrifice the overall good of the employees. A huge implication of this challenge that also happens to be a huge part of the company’s culture, is to assure the overall community and working environment does not suffer for the sake of profit. It’s a fine line for Zappos because the company has a vision to be the best online retailer with “best service and selection,” but they also want humble employees who are truly passionate about the company. That is a good goal because it’s an objective that will generate profit as a healthy company should, and I think the culture that the Zappos CEO created with the 10 core values is the perfect way to keep that balance of focus on that goal, while keeping emphasis on employee happiness. HR’s evaluations on how well the employees reflect these 10 values creates not only an expectation but a reinforcement on how important they are to culture. Doing this also creates increase of value for intangible assets such as goodwill and brand recognition. I think the Zappos.com library is clever and that HR should do more with that to maintain a positive vibe with the employees. It gives them context and reason to be passionate about the company...
Words: 952 - Pages: 4
...Slide 2: The environmental forces impacting Human Resource: Two types: 1) Internal * Organizational culture- Organizational culture consists of the core values, beliefs, and assumptions that are widely shared by members of an organization. It serves a variety of purposes: • communicating what the organization “believes in” and “stands for” • providing employees with a sense of direction and expected behaviour (norms) • shaping employees’ attitudes about themselves, the organization, and their roles • creating a sense of identity, orderliness, and consistency • fostering employee loyalty and commitment. Below characteristics captures the essence of organizational culture: * Innovation and risk taking * Attention to detail * Outcome orientation * Team orientation * Aggressiveness * Stability * Organizational Structure * Organizational structure determines how the roles, power and responsibilities are assigned, controlled, and coordinated, and how information flows between the different levels of management. * A structure depends on the organization's objectives and strategy. 2) External * Economic- The economic environment has a major impact on business in general and the management of human resources in particular. Economic conditions affect supply and demand for products and services, which, in turn, have a dramatic impact on the labour force by affecting the number and types of employees required, as well...
Words: 869 - Pages: 4
...CHAPTER 2 Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility CHAPTER OBJECTIVES 1 Explain the purpose of paying for whistleblowers. 2 Define ethics and describe sources of ethical guidance. 3 Discuss attempts at legislating ethics. 4 Explain the importance of creating an ethical culture, describe a code of ethics, and support the importance of linking pay to ethical behavior. 5 Explain human resource ethics and describe ethics training. 6 Describe the concept of corporate social responsibility. 7 Explain why everyone is not on board with regard to corporate social responsibility. 8 Explain corporate sustainability. 9 Describe a social audit. 10 Describe possible difficulties for corporate social responsibility to succeed in the global environment. KEY TERMS Ethics: Discipline dealing with what is good and bad, or right and wrong, or with moral duty and obligation. Human resource ethics: Application of ethical principles to human resource relationships and activities. Profession: Vocation characterized by the existence of a common body of knowledge and a procedure for certifying members. Corporate social responsibility (CSR): Implied, enforced, or felt obligation of managers, acting in their official capacity, to serve or protect the interests of groups other than themselves. Social audit: Systematic assessment of a company’s...
Words: 3911 - Pages: 16
