Sustainable Business Strategy

Sustainable Business Strategy Response Report

 SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS STRATEGY

Business Case for Change

Business Case for Change

1.0 Course Introduction
1.0.2 Welcome to Sustainable Business Strategy

M1_Shared_Introduce Yourself

Question

First, get to know everyone in your cohort better by sharing a little about yourself. Why are you taking this
course? What are you hoping to learn?

Your Response

It was in my field of interest and also think that it is a very useful course.

Submitted February 03, 2022 at 06:55 AM ET

M1_Team_Keeps You Up at 4am

Question

Take a moment to reflect and answer the following questions with your team: What problems keep you up
at 4 AM? Is there anything you are currently doing, or wish you could do to help solve these problems?

(Note: these answers will only be shared with your team members)

Your Response

Being able to participate with full focus in activities and finding solutions to intriguing problems

Submitted February 03, 2022 at 06:57 AM ET

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Business Case for Change

1.1 Lipton Tea

1.1.1 Lipton & Their Commitment to Sustainable Tea

How Did Unilever Train and Certify Half a Million Farmers?

Question

It’s clear how this sustainable tea initiative would benefit Unilever and Lipton. What are the potential
benefits or downsides for smallholder farmers?

Your Response

Small farmholders will be able to view these changes in big businesses and will be able to take inspiration
to be a part of the change for sustainable development.

Submitted February 03, 2022 at 07:03 AM ET

1.1.2 What's the Business Model?

M1_Shared_Lipton Business Model Suggestion

Question

What should Lipton do to offset these additional costs?

Your Response

They can work on promoting the production, distribution, commercialization, and use of sustainable
commodities.

Submitted February 03, 2022 at 07:11 AM ET

M1_Shared_What Persuades You To Buy Sustainable?

Question

Would this ad persuade you to buy Lipton’s tea over other brands? Why or why not?

Do you think these kinds of ads change people’s willingness to buy sustainable products? Do they make
you more likely to buy something that’s sustainably branded?

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Your Response

The very least these ads can do is to make people question themselves and their surroundings, i.e. the
current scenario similar to how the brand shows individuals from different religions getting to bond over
tea, so it makes them think and at least at some extent want to try it themselves.

Submitted February 03, 2022 at 07:16 AM ET

Translating "Brand Love" to Profits

Question

Why was Unilever so reluctant to raise prices? What were the risks inherent in doing so?

Your Response

Considering that Unilever had the intention to do well and make an impact on sustainable development, it
will also be required for the very same sustainable commodity to be accessed by a large population and
also in a way to spread the word about its campaign to raise awareness about its sustainable product.
Hence, by increasing the price of its product it would be indirectly cutting itself off from a significant part of
consumers so it will be considered a big risk.

Submitted February 03, 2022 at 07:21 AM ET

1.2 Business Models

1.2.1 Walmart

M1_Shared_Walmart Response to Criticism

Question

If you were Doug, receiving this criticism, how would you respond? What would you do?

Your Response

In this case I would honestly respond with the current solutions which were being applied back then, even
if the solutions hampered with other valuable assets it will lead to the team targeting the problem and
brainstorming to find the solution.

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Business Case for Change

Submitted February 03, 2022 at 08:04 AM ET

1.2.2 Greening Walmart - The Business Case

M1_Shared_Walmart Business Case for Sustainability

Question

Walmart’s goals would clearly require a significant investment of time and money. What were its leaders
trying to do? What was the underlying business case for their actions?

Your Response

To do the right thing.

Submitted February 03, 2022 at 08:10 AM ET

1.2.3 The Current Energy System

M1_Numeric_Electric Bill WTP

Question

The average monthly retail electricity bill in Massachusetts is $94. If that were the amount you were paying
each month, how much more (in dollars) would you be willing to pay to ensure that you were buying
“green” or fossil fuel free energy? (Enter the additional amount you would be willing to pay.)

Answer

120

Results
Bin Minimum Bin Maximum Bin Total

None 10 168

10 20 75

20 40 60

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Business Case for Change

Bin Minimum Bin Maximum Bin Total

40 60 34

60 80 5

80 100 61

100 None 36

1.2.4 Transatomic: Bringing Nuclear Power to the Forefront

M1_Shared_Transatomic Business Model

Question

It’s clear that a viable nuclear energy business could be highly profitable. How should we think about its
case in terms of the “business model” diagrams we have been developing? What is its business model?

Your Response

The business model we are looking at is having an increase in production as well as the sustainable
quality it wants to achieve without burning half of the world's natural resources.
Seeing that we are using renewable sources of energy we are able to reduce the effect it has on nature
and as well we are able to get to our production and product quality goals.

Submitted February 07, 2022 at 07:22 AM ET

1.3 Jumping the S Curve and Dealing with Uncertainty

1.3.1 Business Lifecycles

An Industry Disrupted

Question

Why do you think it’s so hard for well-established firms to grasp that the world is changing? What gets in
the way of doing new things? 

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Your Response

The well established businesses are so well set in their previously molded business models that the
sudden realization of the changing world does not strike them at the beginning, as well as all of a sudden
putting efforts to make changes in their previous business to fulfill sustainable goals is not an easy
process, it needs experience in the required field as well as investors and the thought to do good.

Submitted February 07, 2022 at 07:39 AM ET

1.3.2 Sources of Uncertainty

M1_Shared_CLP Scenario Analysis

Question

Why do you think CLP might have made this decision? What major uncertainties might it have been
hedging against?

Your Response

CLP might have realized that the needs of the world are changing and to fulfill the needs of the world it will
have to make changes in the way it gets it's work done. The future uncertainty of fossil fuels like coal being
available and the fact that to make changes to accommodate the making of sustainable product will take
years of experience and a lot of time to be built and get stabalised, hence they are also look at the future
uncertainty of time and opportunity.

Submitted February 07, 2022 at 07:48 AM ET

1.3.3 Investing in Uncertainty

M1_Shared_Uncertainties of Unilever Sustainability Commitment

Question

What were the major uncertainties that Paul was betting against when he made this commitment? (Another
way of thinking about this question is to ask yourself: What would have to change in the world for Paul’s
strategy to be a smash hit success?)

Your Response

The world would've required consumers who are more interested in sustainable product, the fossil fuels
being nearly depleted, global warming rising at an uncontrollable stage and the dire need for renewable
sources of energy to take the front seat.

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Submitted February 07, 2022 at 07:58 AM ET

Revisiting Lipton Tea

Question

Given the scenario analysis above, why might it be the case that Lipton Tea’s commitment to sustainability
proved to be successful in the long run?

Your Response

I believe it is the proper marketing and production strategies that Unilever applies, marketing strategy will
help it to spread the word of sustainability and also inspire other businesses and stockholders to invest in
the 'DO GOOD' approach and make a good brand impression and strengthen the brand loyalty among it's
growing consumers.
Good production strategies will help it with its 'GOP GREEN' motive as well as reduce the toll of it on the
company's finances and provide an open window for more possibilities.

Submitted February 07, 2022 at 08:11 AM ET

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Driving Change at Scale

Driving Change at Scale

2.1 Infectious Change
2.1.1 Purpose

M2_Elevator Pitch

Question

You have just concluded your final interview for a leading decision-making role. This is your dream job, as
you would be working to help the company transition to more sustainable business practices. You and your
interviewer have stepped into the elevator. You have 30 seconds to the ground floor. This is your final
opportunity to make a lasting impression. Unleash your elevator pitch:

How will purpose help you to succeed in the role and how will company-wide purpose enable the
organization to succeed in its efforts?

Your Response

The purpose to do well and the act to help the generation move towards the good of sustainable
development is the need of the hour and I firmly believe that by working together through this company we
will be able to help others arise their standards of living and pave the way for a better future.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 05:59 PM ET

2.1.2 How Far Can Single Firms Acting Alone Take Us?

M2_Reflection_Shared_Indiv Firms Impact

Question

Individual firms acting alone can have an enormous impact on their customers, employees, and
communities. But can they have an impact beyond their own particular worlds? If so, how?

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Your Response

This can be done by tapping into other branches or sections of the product or the consumer population.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 06:20 PM ET

2.1.4 Making Concentrated Detergent a Reality

M2_What Should Walmart Do

Question

What should Walmart do?

Answer

Marketing and Promotions: Put some marketing muscle behind all® Small & Mighty® (e.g. place the
product at the end of the aisle, encourage Unilever to come up with some exciting in-store promotions)

Results
Marketing and Promotions: Put some marketing muscle behind all® Small & Mighty® (e.g. place the
product at the end of the aisle, encourage Unilever to come up with some exciting in-store promotions): 54
%
Few Markets: Let Unilever put all® Small & Mighty® on the shelf in a few markets to see how consumers
respond to it: 38 %
Entire Industry Switch: Find a way to persuade all the detergent makers to launch concentrated detergent
products, building an entirely new category: 13 %
Unilever Brands Switch: Persuade Unilever to switch all its laundry detergent to the compact format: 10 %

M2_Team_What Should Walmart Do

Question

Why should Walmart go this route?

Your Response

I believe the only way the consumer can know the benefits of the product irrespective of the size if by either
using it or by getting attracted or rather inspired by what they see through publicity and ads of that product.
Hence working on the publicity and marketing aspects will surely help the company not only with the

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popularity of the particular product but as well as keeping the consumers eagerly searching for more such
products by the company.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 06:38 PM ET

M2_Shared_Why Walmart Agent of Change

Question

The laundry detergent industry had had the technology to move to a concentrated formula for a while. Why
was it Walmart that finally enabled the industry to switch?

Your Response

Many times we have the option to do better but it needs more then the feasible option presenting itself to
us, we also need to have the will to 'do better' to move to sustainable products to educate the businesses,
workers as well the consumers the good in sustainable products. Walmart had the vision as well as the
drive to make the difference, it acknowledged the fact that it has to bring the word forward rather than wait
for someone else do it and hence it was finally Walmart that enabled the industry to switch.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 06:47 PM ET

2.2 Public Goods Problems

2.2.1 Let's Play a Game! The Aquifer Simulation

M2_Shared_Why Did You Empty Aquifer

Question

Why did the aquifer run dry? Could it have been prevented?

Your Response

Yes it could've been predicted.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 07:24 PM ET

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2.2.2 Solving Public Goods Problems

M2_Shared_Who is Responsible for Public Goods Problems

Question

Whose responsibility is it to address public goods problems, or to focus on “us” and “later”?

Your Response

To be honest it is everyone's responsibility, but in order to bring more awareness and handle the work to
solve these larger questions big businesses will be a great catalyst.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 07:32 PM ET

2.2.4 The Prisoner's Dilemma

The Dilemma

Question

Why do people trust each other in these kinds of situations? In reality, what allows fishers (and prisoners!)
to cooperate?

Your Response

I believe it's human nature at times in certain turn of events to believe people, whether we know them or
not.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 07:42 PM ET

M2_Shared_Personal Example of Cooperation

Question

What’s an example from your own life where a group you’ve been part of (e.g. your family, a sports team, a
team of co-workers) has been able to solve a common problem by persuading everyone to work together?
Briefly describe the situation and then reflect on why it was successful.

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Your Response

Have been in such situation and we were all able to calmly discuss and brainstorm a solution as the main
goal for all of us was to finish the project.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 07:45 PM ET

2.3 Cooperation in the Real Economy

2.3.2 The Business Case for Sustainable Palm Oil

Unilever's Ambitious Palm Oil Commitment

Question

You are the CEO of one of Unilever’s major competitors. What would persuade you to commit to using
sustainable palm oil?

Your Response

The very same driving force and the vision to 'do good' that we have been apply to our sustainable
products.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 07:49 PM ET

2.3.3 Cooperating with External Stakeholders - in the Supply Chain and Beyond

M2_Shared_Why Cooperation with All Stakeholders

Question

What problems would the members of the Consumer Goods Forum have encountered if they had
attempted to move the palm oil industry towards sustainability without this group’s involvement? List one
or two potential problems.

Your Response

Without the group's involvement, the CGF would've faced lack of unity as well as the strength that comes
along with it to attempt to move the palm oil industry towards sustainable palm oil. As well as all the
individuals in the group would've have had some experience or resources to share which would make the
entire shifting process much more easier.

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Submitted February 13, 2022 at 07:57 PM ET

2.3.5 Why Might Purpose Help with Cooperation?

M2_Shared_Importance of Purpose in Cooperation

Question

In your opinion, how important is purpose in forging cooperation?

Answer

Reflection Question

Why did you choose that value on the scale? How might cooperation help or hurt?

Reflection Response

It will help us to work on the path of sustainable development.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 08:15 PM ET

Results
Bin Minimum Bin Maximum Bin Total

None 1 2

1 2 4

2 3 8

3 4 6

4 5 20

5 6 21

6 7 22

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Bin Minimum Bin Maximum Bin Total

7 8 25

8 9 19

9 None 18

2.4 Expanding on Purpose

2.4.2 KAF Continued: The Business Model

M2_Shared_KAF’s Mission B Model

Question

How does KAF translate its mission into a profitable business model? How would you guess that KAF
leverages its strong culture?

Your Response

By establishing a work culture.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 08:24 PM ET

2.4.4 What Does The Research Say?

M2_Shared_Purpose helping response to Lipton or Katrina

Question

Thinking back to some of the examples we’ve seen in the course so far, how would you say that purpose
helps firms respond to the challenge of sustainability? 

If it's helpful, consider framing your answer around either the Lipton or the Walmart cases that we’ve
already seen.

• How did purpose help Lipton embrace sustainable tea?

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• How did purpose shape Walmart’s actions after Hurricane Katrina? 

Your Response

Purpose helped Lipton work on its production, do better research, reduce the use of fossil fuel and carbon
emissions as well as provide a better work-life balance for it's workers and better products for it's
consumers.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 08:44 PM ET

2.4.5 Is it Legal to Adopt a Purpose?

M2_Shared_Returns vs. Purpose

Question

As we’ve seen, a shared purpose can have enormously powerful effects. But why, then, does talk of
purpose make many managers nervous?

Should it be legal for firms to sacrifice economic returns for purpose? 

Answer

Yes

Reflection Question

Why does being genuinely purpose driven require firms to sacrifice economic returns from time to time?

Reflection Response

If they are able able to prove the possible outcomes for their purpose then they have the option of
sacrificing economic reforms, it is required to sacrifice now for the greater good of tommorow.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 08:49 PM ET

Results
Yes: 87 %
No: 48 %

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2.4.7 How Far Will This Take Us?

Module 2 Reflection

Question

How far will cooperation take us? If a reasonable percentage of the world’s largest companies joined
forces to support sustainable practices, would we solve all the world’s problems? Or is there something
missing?

Your Response

The will to collaborate to work on the purpose itself is the first stepping stone towards our goals and
cooperation helps us with just that.

Submitted February 13, 2022 at 09:02 PM ET

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