Sustainable Value

Speaks with resounding clarity to the living challenges, the real dilemmas, and haunting questions of CEOs everywhere.

Laszlo intends this book not for the sustainability professional but rather the not-yet-tuned-in executive. It's basically three books in one. It starts with a fictional account of an executive's transition to understanding sustainability. Next it provides a set of high-profit case studies (DuPont, Wal-Mart, Lafarge and NatureWorks/Cargill). Last, the book basically summarizes Laszlo's previous work on creating value. He identifies 8 disciplines: 1 Understand the current value position 2 Anticipate future expectations 3 Set sustainable value goals 4 Design value creation initiatives 5 Develop the business case 6 Capture the value 7 Validate results and capture learning 8 Build sustainable value and organizational capacity As usual, Laszlo does a wonderful job of explaining sustainability from a hard-nosed business perspective. I really like how he frames sustainability as providing value for shareholders without destroying value for other stakeholders. This could be a good first book to introduce an executive to sustainability. Make sure he or she doesn't skip the two Forewords from Unilever and Wal-Mart as these are powerful statements. This book will resonate more with large multi-nationals than SMEs.

CHRIS LASZLO is Visiting Professor at the Case Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland, where he is also Associate Director for Corporate Strategy and Design at the Center for Business as Agent of World Benefit.