Göran Finnveden, Eva Friman, Anna Mogren, Henrietta Palmer, Per Sund, Göran Carstedt, Sofia Lundberg, Barbro Robertsson, Håkan Rodhe and Linn Svärd
Since 2006, higher education institutions (HEIs) in Sweden, should according to the Higher Education Act, promote sustainable development (SD). In 2016, the Swedish Government…
Abstract
Purpose
Since 2006, higher education institutions (HEIs) in Sweden, should according to the Higher Education Act, promote sustainable development (SD). In 2016, the Swedish Government asked the Swedish higher education authority to evaluate how this study is proceeding. The authority chose to focus on education. This paper aims to produce a report on this evaluation.
Design/methodology/approach
All 47 HEIs in Sweden were asked to write a self-evaluation report based on certain evaluation criteria. A panel was appointed consisting of academics and representatives for students and working life. The panel wrote an evaluation of each HEI, a report on general findings and recommendations, and gave an overall judgement of each HEI in two classes as follows: the HEI has well-developed processes for integration of SD in education or the HEI needs to develop their processes.
Findings
Overall, a mixed picture developed. Most HEIs could give examples of programmes or courses where SD was integrated. However, less than half of the HEIs had overarching goals for integration of SD in education or had a systematic follow-up of these goals. Even fewer worked specifically with pedagogy and didactics, teaching and learning methods and environments, sustainability competences or other characters of education for SD. Overall, only 12 out of 47 got a higher judgement.
Originality/value
This is a unique study in which all HEIs in a country are evaluated. This provides unique possibilities for identifying success factors and barriers. The importance of the leadership of the HEIs became clear.
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Stephen A.W. Drew and Peter A.C. Smith
Major change efforts, such as business process redesign andtransformation of the supply chain, can usefully be linked to anorganizational learning approach. Radical change stands…
Abstract
Major change efforts, such as business process redesign and transformation of the supply chain, can usefully be linked to an organizational learning approach. Radical change stands a far greater chance of success if attention is first paid to overall organizational readiness. Suggests a framework for first conducting a “change audit” using a holistic and systemic view of the firm. Concepts of the learning organization can then be applied to increase flexibility and increase capacity to withstand and exploit unexpected and rapid change. Makes recommendations for successfully combining a learning approach to strategy with proactive and integrated logistics management.
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The concept of customer value is becoming increasingly used in strategy and marketing literature in recent years. Customer value is considered central to competitive advantage and…
Abstract
The concept of customer value is becoming increasingly used in strategy and marketing literature in recent years. Customer value is considered central to competitive advantage and long‐term success of business organizations. Consequently, a great importance attached to this concept. This paper attempts to build an integrative configuration of the concept of customer value that reflects its richness and complexity. It reviews, synthesizes and extends the literature on the subject. The configuration includes three complementary models, namely: customer value in exchange, customer value buildup, and customer value dynamics. Thinking about customer value in this way is helpful in the designing of and studying service offerings.
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Carlos Ferro, Carmen Padin, Nils Høgevold, Göran Svensson and Juan Carlos Sosa Varela
The purpose of this paper is to validate or refute the previous empirical findings of a TBL dominant logic for business sustainability and to expand the TBL dominant logic for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to validate or refute the previous empirical findings of a TBL dominant logic for business sustainability and to expand the TBL dominant logic for business sustainability with additional dimensions and items. The study aims to provide bottom-up-based multi-dimensional framework in relation to the sustainable development goals (SDG) of the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
Design/methodology/approach
Key corporate informants in top Spanish companies were requested to participate in the study. A total of 89 usable questionnaires were returned, generating an initial response rate of 42.4%.
Findings
A framework for a TBL-dominant logic in the context of business sustainability has been empirically tested successfully across contexts and through time, thus providing substantiation for universal applicability.
Research limitations/implications
This study provides a relevant and important substantiation for validity and reliability across contexts and through time. It is important in research to establish a theoretical framework at the corporate level for business sustainability in connection with SDGs. This study is not without its limitations, but offers opportunities for further research.
Practical implications
The framework provides practitioners with a foundation to assess their efforts at business sustainability, taking into account a broad selection of aspects across environmental, social and economic elements that contribute to SDGs.
Originality/value
This study makes two relevant and valuable contributions to developing a framework of TBL dominant logic for business sustainability, namely, validation and expansion. It offers also multiple opportunities for both research and practice to assess business sustainability efforts across environmental, social and economic aspects in relation to SDGs.