The programming committee for the 77th Annual SAM International Business Conference is pleased to announce the acceptance of the presentation Sustainability Leadership: Challenges and a Path Forward, authored by Jack McCann and Thomas Kohntopp of Purdue University and Walden University.
Presentation Abstract: Environmental sustainability is a topic of increasing concern around the globe. Primary issues being discussed revolve around detrimental changes taking place in the environment. These for the most part are attributed to human generated pollution, though other views consider change to be more natural than manmade. Regardless, actions taken by governments and companies have made strides to map paths for corrective action. The severity of environmental conditions and the degree to which improvement is warranted will require sustainability leadership. This presentation addresses the concept of sustainability leadership. It looks at concerns with the physical environment and related problems that appear to be increasing around the world. A focus on what government leaders are doing collectively to acknowledge sustainability issues and concerns is considered. Formal discussions taking place among government leaders to establish sustainability commitments, goals, and proposed actions to address environmental concerns are reviewed. Along with these topics, challenges with government aspirations are presented. Alternate, more moderate perspectives on the serious nature of sustainability are mentioned as a counter point. Sustainability perspectives from the scientific community are highlighted. Perspectives from business and industry are presented along with the goals and commitments to act that would mitigate environmental problems caused by operations and production. The challenges that companies face while striving to implement sustainability plans are also presented. Different aspects of leadership that could contribute to achieving sustainability are discussed. Personal characteristic and professional attributes that should help leaders toward their effort to reach sustainability are reviewed. Sustainability leadership is important to more than a few countries or a single continent. It is not something that is restricted to one hemisphere or the other. In this light, an international perspective on sustainability leadership is offered to illustrate important connections across the planet.
Join us online to see this great paper and many more March 31 – April 2, 2022. For registration information visit www.samnational.org/conference.