Transform Unsustainable Organization Into Sustainable One

Transform Unsustainable Organization Into Sustainable One

Sustainability

Land and water management

Energy, carbon and transport management

Supply chain management

Waste, pollution, recycling management

Sustainability performance indicators

Social sustainability

Long-term sustainability vision

The final report is prepared in conjunction with the ANW Construction Ltd. The report prepared to demonstrate the level of sustainability is effective in highlighting the key features that the business has implemented in its operations. The following sections are focused to the differences that a sustainable organization can have in comparison with the unsustainable business. The recommendations are made based on the academic and professional literature. The notable areas for sustainability in a business are addressed as land, water management, energy, carbon, transport management, supply chain management, waste, pollution, and recycling management. Furthermore the report also provides insight on the sustainability performance indicators, social sustainability, and long-term sustainability vision for businesses.

Sustainability:

According to Bell, and Morse (2008) the original forms of sustainability are divided into two categories. These categories include the maintenance of environment quality and a multidimensional effort to achieve the objectives. The ecological and technological roots are also explained in order highlight the effectiveness of sustainability causes. The carrying capacity of the system is explained in the research through using a conjunction of maximum sustainable yields. These yields are also represented as (MSY) that are related to ecological resources utilization. The overuse of resources eventually results into a collapse of population. The concept presented through MSY helps in identifying the relative features of population increase or greed. The collapse of the system has consequences that are not beneficial for the dependents of the system.

Land and water management:

The construction companies leading the industry with Operations acquire land for their projects. The companies are also socially responsible for their existence. It is already an effort to develop a sustainable project for housing and commercial use. The destruction of ecological agriculture and assurance of natural products should also be catered. In order to maintain environmental regulations the organization has to establish a robust mechanism for compliance with the industry and governmental laws (Prakash, & Potoski, 2006).

Climate change is also an important factor which is influenced by land utilization for purposes other than earthly businesses including development of land for housing and commercial purposes. Climate change can be denoted as the changes occurring in earth's temperature, wind, sea levels, rain schedules, and floods. The world is worst most effected by climate change. The causes of the climate change can be related to natural as well as unnatural factors. However, the human factors causing climate change are denoted as extensive energy consumption. The increased amount of carbon and nuclear emissions are also affecting global climate which is expedited through construction industry and it will also impact ANW Construction Limited projects (Williams, 2013).

ANW Construction Limited also causes land utilization and as result it impacts climate change. The forests of the planet are decreasing on hourly basis causing a major damage to environment. It is also a cause of increased floods and high temperatures. The increased rainfall, snow, fog, and storms are also caused by disruptive eco systems. The environment around the industrialized and urbanized cities is worst effected through energy consumption and carbon emissions. The efforts for renewable energy are not appropriate to mitigate climate change risks and damages caused by unnatural factors on earth (Williams, 2013).

The climate change factors are not only limited to the factors discussed above. The influence of political and economic factors is also overwhelming in climate change efforts and causes of such elements incurring as notable components of the issues. The climate changes are propagated by a number of nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations throughout the globe. However they are only regarded as activists and major players for energy, oil, and gas strongly lobby with government officials to resist environmental policies, laws, and regulations.

The ANW Construction Limited should take serious actions in individual capacity to preserve earth's environment. Furthermore taking active position for strict implementation of environmental regulations is also helpful for sustainable operations. The industries are also causing major contaminations for water, air, and disposal of waste without treatment. The combination of all these factors is causes of climate change and disturbing eco system of plant earth. The natural causes including solar activity is a fractional factor as compared with above mentioned unnatural components of the climate change.

The climate changes occurring on earth are also relevant for other notable features of human life including the production of food, average yield of the crops as well as other social, political, and economic indicators (Alcamo, & Olesen, 2012). The relevance of environment on agriculture is a most common example of a direct influence. The ecological farming is promoted in order to safeguard environment and its related effects. The human food consumption is also directly related to the food production, prices, and availability (Alcamo et al., 2012).

Energy, carbon and transport management:

The companies should focus on innovation and develop policies to produce renewable energy and alternatives to conventional energy exports. The world energy outlook is changing and the environmentalists are emphasizing on the issues of climate change as well as global warming which is causing food scarcity due to lower agriculture yields. Brazil, Mexico, and Peru are working towards developing alternative energy sources for export (Gonzales, 2012). It is also required by the western importers to facilitate these countries in developing energy fuels that are not based on the fossil elements. The energy outlook requires a world aligned policy for reducing pollution caused by excessive use of energy and careful conservation is also recommended. The cost of producing energy should also be considered as an important factor in producing and distributing affordable energy.

The renewable energy requires distribution over large areas of U.S. And an integration of electrical grids is required (APS, nd). The eastern and western electrical grids of U.S. can be integrated to accommodate 20% - 30% of the renewable energy within the supply system. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is actively investigating to explore opportunities for the initiative (NERL, nd). The integration of the pipelines and increasing the capacity of refineries is also an important aspect of the energy policy regarding stable availability and mitigating energy crisis.

The organizations are required to design and develop strategies for business operations that are well managed and provide suitable sustainability. This sustainability can be derived from fulfilling their corporate social responsibility and addressing all environmental issues. The large U.S. corporations i.e. Southwest Airlines is a significant example of developing sustainable operations throughout their business.

There are several programs offering sustainable green operations. Environmentally sustainable business operations are regarded as health and alive and they are also denoted as consuming less energy and using sustainable energy to operate. Southwest Airlines follows environmentally sustainable strategy for its business operations. This allows the company to operate using fewer fuels, resulting into increased revenue (Laura, 2012). The airline is following a consistent point to point low fare carrier's business strategy. Fuel hedging is an effective strategy of Southwest Airlines which allows the organization to offer relatively low fares for its customers. The fuel prices are most relevant for a low fare carrier. It is also essential to maintain a fleet of aircrafts that has low fuel consumption for the reasons to maintain low cost as well as a clean environment. These examples can be used for ANW Construction Ltd. As a strategy for developing sustainable operations.

The functional level strategy for environmentally sustainable operations is aligned with the specific functions of the organizational operations. These operations and process are dealt individually, according to their dynamics and limitations (Evans, Campbell, & Stonehouse, 2003). The examples for functional strategies are mainly waste reduction, green operations, waste re-cycling program, and minority suppliers in logistics. The company also has a marketing, and advertising strategy to promote the goals of their sustainable operations.

The programs for gathering and re-cycling the waste materials produced through the operations. The re-cycling will not only reduce cost but it will also compliment corporate social responsibility. The waste re-cycle programs are developed at various facilities. The green filters program is one of the unique programs offered within the industry. The sustainable construction business is regarded as responsive towards environment and appreciated in the communities around them. The suppliers, employees, and customers appreciate the efforts for a clean and green environment provided by the construction business.

Supply chain management:

Supply chain management may involve contracting third parties for showing interest to enter into partnership with the business. ANW Construction Ltd. can invest in sustainable business opportunities in developing countries to support supplier base, this will further increase the reach of the company in supplier network. The firms also adopt sustainability practices into its business operations to increase efficiency and decrease wasteful practices. All the core elements are interconnected with share values being a central theme of sustainability. The supply chain management system of the company became its core strength. The sustainable competitive advantage of the organization can be denoted as its customer focused supply chain management. The approach adopted by the corporations can also be regarded as a backward mechanism (Sabri, & Shaikh, 2009). The customer's desires are studied to develop a solution for supply chain management and it was declared as a central focus of activities.

The organizations use sophisticated techniques to identify improvement areas regarding its supply chain management. It helps them identify critical success factors to gain competitive advantage after identifying and evaluating competitors. The corporation is regarded as a major turnaround adopting LAVC principles including being customers centric enabled through implementation of process innovation, technology, and strategy innovation (Sabri et al., 2009). The innovative customer centric supply chain has become their competitive advantage after implementing the changes.

Waste, pollution, recycling management:

The company is operating in construction industry, which has operations in various activities including landfill, recycling and sustainability practices. ANW Construction Ltd. waste management operations have to engage in providing the services of landfill, recycling and waste collection from the residential and commercial sectors. Another, major firm operation that can be focused is on providing dumpster, recycling and management of household and commercial waste. The recycling of waste emanated in the industrial sector in U.S., such as oil collection, compliance and Vac Services is also an important factors. The awards for instance, Sustainability Circle of Excellence Awards was held to acknowledge the efforts displayed by the companies in the implementation of environment friendly practices (Mandip, 2012). These practices include reuse of materials, purchase of recycled/recyclable and using recycle of solid waste instead of landfill. ANW Construction Ltd. can also establish presence in the online arena by using the social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube to promote its sustainable operations.

The services offered by ANW Construction Ltd. can increase up to waste collection, landfill operations, waste to energy conversion, recycling and sustenance of green energy in the residential and commercial sectors primarily in the market. The strategic partnership with other companies in waste, pollution reduction, and recycling management can further helped the company. It can enable it to grow beyond its primary market to U.S. And Canadian regions. It can mainly provide its services to the customers located in U.S. And Canada through sustainable operations of waste management. The recycling plants maintain steady flow of the conversion of disposed solid waste into recycled content that can be utilized within industries and households.

The promotional activities of ANW Construction Ltd. can be viewed as consisting of establishing linkages with the customer base and encouraging the industries to participate in the adoption of environment friendly practices. The sales and marketing personnel at the ANW Construction Ltd. should focus on analysis of the target market and communication with the potential customers who are likely to purchase the recycled content generated in the solid waste management facilities. In addition to this the use of awards are an incentive which promotes the integration of the principles of green energy in industrial segment. This promotional tactic facilitates the businesses to avail the waste management services of sustainable organizations.

The ANW Construction Ltd. can also operate several environmental programs to fulfill its environmental responsibility recycling stream including paper, cardboard, types one/two plastics, and aluminum. This program is not only helpful in offering the organization a competitive advantage regarding their sustainable operations but at the same time it enables them to reuse materials at fewer costs. The company can earn profits from the program allowing it to re-cycle waste produced through its own operations. The company can also develop a strategy for differentiation based on the internet, and automates services. E-services have increased value for client to provide them a reliable and speedy service. The sustainable operations can provide value to customers of ANW Construction Ltd. (Chang, 2010).

Sustainability performance indicators:

From the perspective of Porter's generic strategies it can be stated that the companies should focus on differentiation strategies. The business level strategy of constructions companies are recommended to base on the distinctive segmentation of target market. It can allow the ANW Construction Ltd. In retaining a loyal customer base. The strategic outcomes by the company should also emphasize the need to enhance the degree of loyalty among the clientele. The residential and industrial customers are regarded as two distinctive segments having different needs among construction-based companies. The business should strive to fulfill the needs of both these groups accordingly.

Miles and Snow (2007) have offered an alternative view to understand the business level strategy adopted by an organization. In case of construction the business level strategy which is aligned with the framework of Miles et al. (2007) Prospector Strategy. The business should only focuses on strategic expansion in local and international market through acquisition and joint collaboration. It indicates that the requirement to fulfill the needs of the various market segments with due diligence. To further elaborate the implementation of prospector strategy for sustainability in ANW Construction Ltd., it can be seen that that the business has adopted new green technologies, engaged in waste to energy projects and invested in using natural gas for its vehicles as an alternative fuel source. These activities reflect the focus on innovation, adoption to change and introduction of new ideas in the market.

Social sustainability:

The implementation of sustainable operations in an organization requires business processes management as a technique. It is widely used through developed organizations to establish a control and efficacy level above industry standards to meet the differentiation and sustainable competitive advantage. The advantage of implementing the processes approach is clearly denoted as the saving, cost reduction, and less usage of the resources required producing the same results in other operations techniques (Laguna, & Marklund, 2013). The need to deploy additional resources for sustainable systems is mitigated if the ANW Construction Ltd. is already following the business processes approach within their operations.

The social issues in sustainability are considered that the factors related to the system regarding the human resources, technical, and social factors of the organizational environment. The approach towards Socio-technical system design (STSD) is designed for the quality of the recruitment and developmental policies of the organization. The requirement of integrating the organizational resources and their applicability within the sustainable systems are dependent of the quality of human resources available for deployment (Herrmann, Hoffmann, Kunau, & Loser, 2004). The goals of a system should be perused in external environments. The technical and social subsets of a system are dependent on the internal system environments. The system goals can be achieved through various means using various design means devised during the development stages. The performance optimization of the system is achieved through the application of joint technical and social subsystems in ANW Construction Ltd.

Long-term sustainability vision:

ANW Construction Ltd. objectives can be achieved by successful segmentation of customers and sustainable operations. Effective Interaction and valued customer experience will provide a basis for customer satisfaction. Customer data analysis can create value for the organization in saving cost of marketing activities through sustainable operations. Sustainability in operations and vision are customized on the basis of information architecture according to the requirements of the business. The value created by the sustainability vision facilitates customer retention, customer satisfaction, and loyalty. A retained customer allows the business to generate increased sales over a longer period. It is worth investing the sustainability initiative and utilizing the offerings of information systems to build a sustainable competitive advantage (Gamble, Thompson, & Peteraf, 2013).