Knowing the expectations involved with maintaining operational sustainability and who is responsible for meeting these expectations is an important part of being an effective practitioner. In this assignment, you will create a guide that can be used throughout this course and in the future to help you better understand the roles, influences, and responsibilities of internal and external stakeholders involved in maintaining ethical business practices related to the triple bottom line (TBL). This assignment will also support you in completing your course project, which is due in Module Seven.
Scenario
You are working on a collaborative project regarding sustainability initiatives. During recent meetings, the group realized there is much confusion surrounding who is responsible for regulations, governance, and responsibilities surrounding the new initiatives being planned. To help everyone understand the roles and responsibilities of both internal and external stakeholders, you have volunteered to create a brief guide.
Directions
Use course and external resources to complete the Module Three Assignment Template linked in the What to Support section below. Be certain to identify key stakeholders and their roles, responsibilities, and level of influence clearly and concisely in upholding sustainable business operations regarding each aspect of the TBL.
For the purposes of this assignment, you can select one of the following industries to help contextualize your response:
Food service
Office supply
Accounting and finance
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Identification: Identify key internal and external stakeholders, groups, and organizations involved in enforcing and maintaining operational sustainability regarding each aspect of the TBL.
Roles: Briefly describe the role of identified internal and external stakeholders, groups, and organizations involved in enforcing and maintaining operational sustainability.
Responsibilities: Briefly describe the responsibilities of identified internal and external stakeholders, groups, and organizations involved in enforcing and maintaining operational sustainability regarding each aspect of the TBL, specifically regarding their level of responsibility and accountability in the following areas:
Evaluating or enforcing sustainable operations
Determining which aspects of the TBL framework they support most strongly
Explaining how their responsibilities can help justify prioritizing the TBL
Influence: Briefly describe the level of influence of the identified internal and external stakeholders, groups, and organizations involved in enforcing and maintaining operational sustainability regarding each aspect of the TBL. Be certain to note their ability to make decisions, enforce requirements, and justify prioritizing the TBL for an organization.
accountable for their actions. They primarily support the "People" aspect of the TBL through their direct involvement with labor practices and community engagement. Their responsibilities help justify prioritizing the TBL by showcasing how fair treatment and a positive work environment improve morale, productivity, and the company's reputation, attracting and retaining talent.
Influence: Moderate to high. Employees can influence corporate culture and public perception through their actions and collective voice. They can also influence decisions by providing direct feedback on operational practices.
Management:
Roles: Responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing sustainability policies. They act as the bridge between the company's strategic goals and its daily operations.
Responsibilities: Ensuring fair labor practices, maintaining a safe working environment, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. They have a high level of responsibility and are accountable for the success or failure of social sustainability initiatives. Their responsibilities strongly support the "People" aspect. They justify prioritizing the TBL by demonstrating that a strong social foundation reduces risks, improves employee retention, and enhances brand loyalty.
Influence: High. Managers have the authority to make decisions, allocate resources, and enforce requirements related to social sustainability. They can directly influence the company's operational practices and strategic direction.
External Stakeholders
Customers:
Roles: Consumers of the company's products. Their purchasing decisions can directly impact the company's success.
Responsibilities: Making informed purchasing choices based on a company's social and environmental record. They have a low level of direct responsibility but a high level of accountability through their purchasing power. They can help justify prioritizing the TBL by demonstrating that consumers value ethically sourced and produced goods. This creates a market incentive for the company to prioritize social responsibility.
Influence: High. Their collective purchasing decisions can force a company to change its practices. Social media and online reviews give them a powerful platform to express their preferences and concerns.
Local Community:
Roles: The geographic area where the company operates, including residents, local businesses, and community organizations.
Responsibilities: Collaborating with the company on community projects and holding the company accountable for its impact on local employment and well-being. Their level of responsibility is moderate, as they are often the most directly affected by the company's operations. They justify prioritizing the TBL by highlighting the long-term benefits of being a good corporate citizen, such as a strong social license to operate and a positive community relationship.
Influence: High. A company's social license to operate is critical for its long-term success, and the local community can withdraw that license through protests, boycotts, and political action.
Sample Answer
A Practitioner's Guide to Sustainable Business Practices
Overview
This guide clarifies the roles, responsibilities, and influence of key stakeholders in maintaining ethical and sustainable business practices. It focuses on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, which measures a company's success not just by its financial performance (Profit) but also by its social (People) and environmental (Planet) impact. Understanding these relationships is crucial for effective collaboration and ensuring accountability in sustainability initiatives.
Scenario: Office Supply Industry
The following stakeholder analysis is contextualized within the office supply industry, which faces unique challenges related to resource consumption, waste generation, and labor practices.
People: Social Responsibility
Internal Stakeholders
Employees:
Roles: Directly involved in daily operations, from manufacturing and logistics to sales and customer service. They are the frontline implementers of sustainability policies.
Responsibilities: Adhering to ethical labor practices, such as fair wages and safe working conditions. They also have a responsibility to raise concerns about unethical practices. Their level of responsibility is high in day-to-day operations and they are held