Sustainability in Business: Vision, Practice & Education

In 2010, the graduate business programs at Argosy University, Twin Cities campus, will hold a two-day conference devoted to sustainability. The conference will provide an opportunity for presentation and dialogue between businesses and educators to successfully develop leaders able to compete and manage the change brought about by this important global trend. The conference welcomes participants from academia, business, government, and nonprofit organizations.

There are over one thousand definitions of sustainability and sustainable development. They all cover the interconnection between the economy, society, and the natural environment, the imperative for equitable distribution of limited resources, and equal access to opportunities. In business, sustainability has long been associated with the ability of a firm to steadily increase revenues and earnings, indirectly linking it to the topic of corporate longevity. While this is still a goal, the modern firm cannot neglect its connections to and dependence on society and the environment, if it wants to be sustainable. Any sustainable effort must simultaneously meet the objectives of three equally important components: economic (meet economic goals for businesses, employees, and consumers), environmental (to protect, steward and restore the Earth and its resources, as well as human cultural diversity), and social (improve the human condition and spirit in communities and through social institutions and structures). Firms must lay out specific objectives in all three areas. Within these components, a firm’s sustainability initiatives can manifest as corporate social responsibility efforts, lean production, green products and services, advanced technologies or infrastructure. Green alone does not constitute sustainability. Unless business initiatives are consciously linked to all three components, firms are only viable, tolerable or charitable.

The conference theme is Sustainability in Business: Vision, Practice, and Education. The agenda will consist of a plenary speaker, four breakout sessions, and a closing speaker. Papers relating to four major topics are invited: business knowledge and skills, best practices, resources and information, and sustainability in a global world. Please indicate if your paper relates to vision, practice or education within your particular topic. Connection and relevance to the components of sustainability is a priority.