Sanergy Case Study: Sanitation crisis in Kenya

Introduction:

Sanergy is a social enterprise that provides affordable and sustainable sanitation services to
informal settlements in Kenya. The company was founded in 2011 by four students from
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Sanergy's flagship product is the Fresh Life
Toilet, a dry, container-based toilet that is emptied and serviced on a regular basis. Sanergy
also collects and converts the waste from its toilets into organic fertilizer, which is then sold
to farmers. Sanergy's business model is designed to be both affordable and sustainable. The
company charges a small fee to use its toilets, and it also generates revenue from the sale of
fertilizer. This allows Sanergy to operate without relying on government subsidies or donor
funding.

Sanergy has a significant impact on the sanitation crisis in Kenya. As of November 2023, the
company has over 6,000 Fresh Life Toilets in operation in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Eldoret,
serving over 250,000 people with safe sanitation. Sanergy also collects and treats over 7,500
tonnes of waste per year.

Identifying Problems :

Problems in Managing Global Teams:

Sanergy has a number of global offices, including in the United States, Kenya, and India. The
company's management team is also geographically dispersed. This presents a number of
challenges in managing global teams, including:

Cultural differences: Sanergy has found that it is important to be aware of and to respect
the cultural differences of team members. This is especially important when it comes to
issues such as work-life balance, communication styles, and decision-making.

Logistics: Sanergy has found that it can be challenging to coordinate the logistics of
managing a global team, such as travel, visa arrangements, and equipment procurement.

Collaboration: It can also be difficult to collaborate on projects with team members who are
located in different parts of the world. Sanergy has found that it is helpful to use project
management tools and to establish clear roles and responsibilities for team members.

Language barriers: Sanergy has found that it is important to have team members who are
fluent in multiple languages in order to communicate effectively with stakeholders and to
provide services to customers in different parts of the world.
Practice’s to Manage Global Teams :

Sanergy's experience in managing global teams can be valuable to other companies that are
facing similar challenges. By following the best practices identified by Sanergy, companies
can improve communication, collaboration, and trust within their global teams.

In addition to the above, Sanergy has also found the following to be helpful in managing
global teams:

Use technology to your advantage: There are a number of tools and technologies available
that can help to improve communication, collaboration, and productivity for global teams.
Sanergy uses a variety of tools, including video conferencing, instant messaging, project
management software, and shared documents.

Create a culture of inclusion and respect: It is important to create a culture where team
members from all backgrounds feel valued and respected. This can be done by promoting
diversity and inclusion within the team, and by creating a safe space for team members to
share their ideas and feedback.

Invest in training and development: It is important to invest in training and development

for all team members, regardless of their location. This helps team members to develop the
skills and knowledge they need to be successful in their roles.

Encourage travel between offices: This will help your team members to build relationships
and trust.

Create a more inclusive and supportive work environment: This will help to ensure that all
of your team members feel comfortable and valued.

Build trust: Sanergy recommends taking steps to build trust between team members. This
can be done by being open and honest with team members, by delivering on commitments,
and by providing regular feedback.

By following these recommendations, Sanergy has been able to manage its global teams
effectively and achieve its mission of providing affordable and sustainable sanitation
services to informal settlements in Kenya and other developing countries.