Organisational transformation influence on the adoption of sustainable technologies

Abstract

Sustainability is an endeavour addressing the environmental, societal and economic global challenges that we all face. The United Nations in 2015 established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a framework for the pursuit of sustainability. Sustainability is meeting the needs of the current generation without jeopardising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Organisations therefore need to transform towards sustainability because of regulatory requirements, and market forces and it is the right thing to do. The journey towards sustainable development includes the adoption of sustainable technologies such as renewable energy. However, the sustainability challenge is multifaceted and complex. Organisations have responded to the need to do business more sustainably and have in some instances translated the SDG into Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies. This study conducted semi-structured interviews to gain insight into the influence organisational transformation has on the adoption of sustainable technologies. The interviewees included executives and specialists accountable for sustainability, subject matter experts and consultants working in the arena of sustainability. The study highlighted key factors that need to be considered and are essential for adopting sustainable technologies towards the sustainability journey. The highlights include leadership, the need for a transformational leadership approach, partnerships, a holistic approach to ESG and the consideration of external factors. This study considers a practical approach based on the experiences of the participants to sustainability and proposes a simple framework for leaders to consider when adopting sustainable technologies on their sustainability journey.