Sustainable Business

Practices
Strategies and Implications
BY (YOUR NAME)
DATE:
Introduction & Background
Sustainability has led to a number of companies and businesses to
innovate such as they could differentiate themselves from
Social Goals competition, such as to convert a greater market share.
Simultaneously, the sustainability factor has also created a plethora
of concerns, challenges and hurdles for business that must be
navigated. This includes hard challenges such as regulations and
laws and soft challenges such as consumer awareness.
The following presentation has examined the multiple approaches
Sustainable that can be undertaken in the pursuit of sustainable business
Corporate Economic
Business
Goals
Practices
Goals practices; such as developing sustainable models and taking up
practices that can be regarded as sustainable in different areas of
the organization.
This presentation further elaborates on the impact that sustainable
approaches may have on companies, assessing the strengths and
benefits it brings to business alongside challenges that must be
Environmental navigated with skillful managerial prowess.
Goals
Research Aims & Objectives:
Sustainable Business Practices
Strategies and Implications

Assess research philosophies and

Describe suitable data analysis
strategies applicable to analyzing
techniques
sustainability

Justify appropriate data collection Provide a reflective evaluation of the

methods research project
Methodology
DATA SOURCES JUSTIFICATION

Secondary data sources have been used for the
research, these include case studies, reports,
publications and books.
Published reports, case studies and books have
been written with the collection of confirmable
‘reliable’ and ‘valid’ data, therefore, it can be
used to make broader industry wide
assessments.

TIME PERIOD

May 2022 August 2022

Key Data Sources (1/2)
FOWLER J & HOPE C (2007)
Fowler & Hope in their paper assessed how indices
meant to measure sustainable business impacted
different corporations and the attitude of investors.
However this study and many others similar to this one
report that sustainable business practices have
underperformed when it comes to the impact that they
have on investors for the business. Furthermore,
companies with high sustainable business indices can
show lack of performance in other competitive market
indices.
At the end a number of recommendations are made for
future research that provides a deeper understanding
into the matter
BROCKEN ET AL. (2014)
This paper assesses the development of sustainable business models
through both practical and theoretical lenses.
It aims to have developed for the time a comprehensive assessment of
sustainable business models, the goals that they set, and what exactly they
achieve.
“Eight sustainable business model archetypes were identified:
◦ Maximise material and energy efficiency
◦ Create value from ‘waste’
◦ Substitute with renewables and natural processes
◦ Deliver functionality rather than ownership
◦ Adopt a stewardship role
◦ Encourage sufficiency
◦ Re-purpose the business for society/environment
◦ Develop scale-up solutions”
The paper has been regarded widely as a way to review innovations in
sustainable business.
Key Data Sources (2/2)
EISENHARDT (1989)
The paper describes the process of building theory using case studies.
This paper shows how theories in management are built from case studies.
It is an iterative process, that allows researchers to pose research questions
that allow them to conclude upon theoretical matters, answering these
questions through multiple case studies.
This is quite similar to the hypothesis testing method, however it requires a
qualitative assessment of secondary data.
Within the analysis of these cases one can induce arguments for a
particular direction in which a question may be answered.
Newer theoretical concepts can be reinforced quite strongly with this
research method.
The resultant theory can be tested at its own behest, and it is generally
shown to be reliable and valid.
It tests good theory and backs it with practical evidence.
CRESWELL (2014)
This book Is a comprehensive guide to qualitative, quantitative and
mixed method research.
The book extensively covers the multifaceted nature of these studies and
is considered a helpful guide to both new and old researchers.
The book consists of two parts: Part 1 consists of steps for developing a
research proposal, and Part II explains how to develop a research
proposal or write a research report.
The book covers every step from framing of the research proposal to
completion of research.
It also covers how philosophical assumptions of one’s methods must be
justified in their review of literature. The proper manner in which a
method must be justified by a researcher so that the findings that they
draw from said method can be concretely justified.
The book allows researchers to understand their methods more
thoroughly and develop their ideas in a much more stronger manner.
Data Analysis Methodology
(Qualitative):
• This methods allows one to interpret qualitative data by identifying recurring themes that demonstrate patterns. .
• This was done with the intention to identify key themes throughout the qualitative material present. And allowed
for observations to be made and perceptions to be formed
Thematic • Patterns were identified, that were used to then gain a deeper understanding of sustainable business practices
• The analysis of these patterns allowed for insights to be made.
Analysis

• When the thematic analysis was being conducted data familiarization was imperative.
• The data was assessed and reassessed over multiple days, through multiple cycles for a completeness in understanding it.
• Once familiar with the data, the passages were coded by assigning labels to sections of the data that represent specific
themes or ideas.
Data • As the analysis progresses, the codes were refined by revising or combining them to better reflect the themes and patterns
Familiarization that emerge from the data.
Data Analysis Methodology (Quantitative)
The following programs have been used for
correlation & regression analyses where applicable.
Microsoft Office Excel
IBM SPSS NOTE
Statistical Analysis not widely used given
The validity, reliability of quantitative metrics and
the qualitative nature of data.
analyses from key data sources was also assessed in
the use of these programs
Findings & Analysis (Objective 1):
Objective 1
• Assess applicable research philosophies and strategies

Findings
• Interpretivism and inductive qualitative methods suitable

Analysis
• Aligns with examining subjective aspects of sustainability
Findings & Analysis (Objective 2)
Objective 2 Findings Analysis

Justify appropriate Secondary sources Variety of sources

data collection offer comprehensive, provides holistic
methods affordable insights understanding
Findings & Analysis (Objective 3)
• Describe suitable data analysis techniques
Objective 3:
• Several data analysis techniques can be used to analyze sustainability.
These include:
• Regression analysis

Finding • factor analysis

• cohort & cluster analysis
• time series analysis
• Monte Carlo simulation

• These techniques can be used to analyze both qualitative and

Analysis: quantitative data and can provide valuable insights into the
dynamics of sustainability initiatives.
Findings & Analysis (Objective 4)
Objective 4: Provide a reflective evaluation of the research project
Findings:
• A reflective evaluation of the research project can be conducted using approaches such as a
reflective learning journal or a model of reflection such as Schön’s reflection before, during,
and after a learning process.

Analysis
• These approaches allow for documentation and reflection on the research process, including
reflecting on professional or academic practice, scrutinizing experiences, evaluating projects
or experiments, and linking theory with practice.
Conclusions
Adopting interpretivist philosophy enables
deeper understanding of sustainability practices
Qualitative analysis of secondary sources
provides affordable yet comprehensive data
Reflective evaluation facilitates continuous
improvement in research abilities
Recommendations

Overall, research
Stricter timelines would have Wider primary
aims achieved
allowed more time for data could have
through rigorous
analysis enriched insights
qualitative analysis
Reflections
Stricter timelines would have allowed more time for analysis

Wider primary data could have enriched insights

Overall, research aims achieved through rigorous qualitative analysis

GANTT Chart
Bibliography
Fowler, S.J. and Hope, C., 2007. Incorporating sustainable business practices into company strategy. Business strategy and
the Environment, 16(1), pp.26-38.

Incorporating sustainable business practices into company strategy | Emerald Insight

Bocken, N.M.P., Short, S.W., Rana, P. and Evans, S. (2014) ‘A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business
model archetypes’, Journal of Cleaner Production, 65, pp. 42-56.

A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes — Lund University
Creswell, J.W. (2014) Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 4th edn. Thousand Oaks,
CA: Sage Publications.

(PDF) Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (4th ed.). Thousand
Oaks, CA: Sage | Muhammad
Ishtiaq - Academia.edu
Eisenhardt, K.M. (1989) ‘Building theories from case study research’, Academy of Management Review, 14(4), pp. 532-550.

Building theories from case study research. (apa.org)