Making the Business Case for Sustainability: How to Account for Intangible Benefits—A Case Study Approach

Kreiss, Cory; Nasr, Nabil; Kashmanian, Richard M.

doi:10.1002/tqem.21478

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Aware of the complexity of HC, others explore the dynamic involved in decision-making processes and use qualitative indicators in examining complex systems (Malina et al, 2010). challenging, as they are difficult to quantify and have longterm financial impacts (Kreiss et al, 2017). Prioritising soft factors and analysing them in proper context points to the domain of management and having strategic control systems in place.…”

Section: Measurement and Making The Business Casementioning

confidence: 99%

The role of management accounting in human capital management: Lessons from the services sector

van der Lugt

2024

South African Journal of Business Management

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Purpose: The article examines the role of management accounting in managing human capital, a key intangible asset for services sectors. Considering new expectations regarding the role of management accountants and human resource professionals, the article explores the ability of the disciplines to collaborate in becoming more strategic.Design/methodology/approach: The article considers literature on the evolution of the two disciplines, including archetype views on the role of management accountants, and presents case study analysis of a German information technology firm and a Dutch bank. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with senior managers from both the companies.Findings/results: From the interviews, it appeared that management accountants play the role of business partner but stop short of acting as comprehensive integrator of human capital information. While both companies have innovated in measuring and valuing human capital, human resources and finance analytics teams tend to work on their own and accountants remain ad hoc advisors.Practical implications: Efforts to refine the business case and value human capital fail to fully mainstream, as collaboration across departments remain loose. Innovations in soft management controls leave an impression of loose coupling between subsystems rather than comprehensively planned and integrated soft management control systems.Originality/value: The study defines complementarity between two disciplines, both seeking to account for and manage intangible assets more effectively. It concludes with lessons for researchers and practitioners on the development action-to-value pathways, improving non-financial metrics and purposefully shaping soft control systems.

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Section: Measurement and Making The Business Casementioning

confidence: 99%

The role of management accounting in human capital management: Lessons from the services sector

van der Lugt

2024

South African Journal of Business Management

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“…By incorporating sustainability into their marketing strategies, businesses can attract and retain consumers, improve their brand reputation (Park et al, 2022), and obtain a competitive edge in the marketplace (Taoketao et al, 2018). Sustainable practices may improve a company's reputation and brand image, resulting in improved consumer loyalty and trust (Kreiss et al, 2016).…”

Section: Climate Change and Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Green Marketing Strategies and Climate Change Awareness in Sustainable Transportation: The Case of Airline Companies

KOÇ

2023

Marine Science and Technology Bulletin

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The aviation industry contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, thereby contributing to the phenomenon of climate change. Green marketing strategies, which integrate environmental considerations into marketing practices, have emerged as a potential solution for reducing the environmental impact of airlines. This study’s primary objective is to examine how airline companies address the challenges of climate change, sustainability, and green marketing in the transportation sector. The investigation utilized qualitative analysis, employing the MAXQDA-20 program to meticulously examine a variety of corporate documents, including sustainability reports, business reports, and investor presentations, to gain insight into how these companies address critical sustainability challenges and promote environmentally responsible practices. The findings emphasize the substantial overlap between climate change and sustainability-related topics, emphasizing their interdependence in academic discourse and business practices. The study illuminates the crucial role of green marketing in promoting eco-friendly travel options to consumers, suggesting that it can boost a company’s reputation, appeal to environmentally conscious consumers, and contribute to a more sustainable future. This study offers valuable insights into the transportation sector’s efforts to comply with sustainability-related regulations, particularly the carbon tax, while also offering insights into future strategies.

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“…In the business case for sustainability, a firm's economic success is realized through, not just with, environmental and social activities (Kreiss et al 2016;Schaltegger et al 2012). Schaltegger and Burritt (2015) report that the relation between business cases and sustainability is linked to the firm's ethical foundations and sustainability management activities.…”

Section: The Business Case For Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Business modelling in farm-based biogas production: towards network-level business models and stakeholder business cases for sustainability

et al. 2018

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Farm-based biogas production is a promising renewable energy technology with the potential for creating sustainable economic, environmental, and social value. However, Swedish farmers engaged in this activity struggle to turn a profit because of high-investment costs and severe price competition with fossil fuels. One way to address this situation is to reorganize the activity by innovating the business model (BM) towards sustainability. In this study, a team of researchers took an action research approach that proposed solutions for the financial difficulties at a farm cooperative that intended to develop its farm-based biogas production. Two participatory workshops (including researchers, producers, students, and consultants) were conducted using the sustainable business-modelling tool called the Flourishing Business Canvas (FBC). Based on the 215 ideas developed in the workshops, five sustainable BM prototypes were created. These five prototypes form the basis of an approach for initiating the development of a network-level BM for sustainability that highlights its superiority over a single-firm BM. The network-level BM's main advantage in the farm-based biogas context is its strong focus on stakeholder collaboration that supports the development of a stakeholder business case for sustainability. Overall, this study highlights the usefulness of the network concept in the practice of sustainable BM development. Collaborative business modelling for developing network-level BMs that address environmental and social problems for and with stakeholders can be an effective way to increase long-term financial profit and promote the growth of a firm, a network, or an industry.

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Making the Business Case for Sustainability: How to Account for Intangible Benefits—A Case Study Approach

Cited by 9 publications

References 21 publications

The role of management accounting in human capital management: Lessons from the services sector

The role of management accounting in human capital management: Lessons from the services sector

Green Marketing Strategies and Climate Change Awareness in Sustainable Transportation: The Case of Airline Companies

Business modelling in farm-based biogas production: towards network-level business models and stakeholder business cases for sustainability

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