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AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT
Opportunities And Obstacles On The Path To Business Sustainability
Author(s): Deborah DeLong, Matthew Mehalik
Citation: Deborah DeLong, Matthew Mehalik, (2013) "Opportunities And Obstacles On The Path To Business Sustainability," American Journal of Management, Vol. 13, Iss. 3, pp. 98 - 112
Article Type: Research paper
Publisher: North American Business Press
Abstract:
Successful adoption of sustainability principles by an organization depends upon a variety of internal and
external conditions. In this study, facilitating and hindering factors in the literature are integrated with
results from a cross-industry survey of Sustainability Coordinators. Convergent as well as new insights
indicate customer demand, pressure to meet federal regulatory requirements, and peer group support as
primary facilitators of sustainable business transformation. Hindering factors include competing
organizational priorities and difficulties with quantifying the intangible returns of sustainability
strategies. Recommendations emphasize the importance of strategic integration and the need for robust
metrics to capture sustainability-related performance outcomes.
