In an interview with Fran Karlovic from the Green Hub Office at the University of Twente, I talk about how I became interested in sustainability, why I work with companies, what to consider if you want to initiate sustainability efforts as an employee within your own organization, and what a dead tuna has to do with organizational change processes.
Continue reading “Changing organizations from within – My interview on the Green Hub Podcast”Leadership for Sustainability – Speech at the FHWien, 25.10.2023
On 25 October 2023, I gave a guest lecture at the FHWien in Vienna on the role of Leadership for Sustainability. Here is a summarized and polished version of that speech.
Continue reading “Leadership for Sustainability – Speech at the FHWien, 25.10.2023”Social Intrapreneurship: How to initiate sustainable business ideas as an employee
Social intrapreneurs are employees who develop business ideas and advocate for issues such as diversity, environmental protection, or social justice within their own organizations. Since they often hold lower hierarchical positions, they must find ways to initiate change from the bottom up. Here are some key strategies to make that happen.
Continue reading “Social Intrapreneurship: How to initiate sustainable business ideas as an employee”How employees can use mission statements and other papers to advocate for sustainable change
Mission statements, corporate visions, and similar documents are widely used in companies to signal commitments to responsibility, sustainability, or social justice—often without leading to real change. However, these documents can still be valuable tools for employees who want to drive transformation within their organization.
Continue reading “How employees can use mission statements and other papers to advocate for sustainable change”Issue Selling: How to convince decision-makers to initiate change toward sustainability
For organizational change to succeed, top management needs to be on board. When change initiatives come from employees rather than leadership, these ideas often need to be “sold” to decision-makers—especially when they involve social issues like environmental protection or fair working conditions. This article introduces four strategies for Issue Selling—the art of persuading managers to support social causes.
Continue reading “Issue Selling: How to convince decision-makers to initiate change toward sustainability”When routines make managers ‘blind’ for ethical issues
Managers are often accused of deliberately acting unethically, accepting environmental damage or exploitative practices solely to maximize profits. However, in many cases, they may be unaware of the ethical consequences of their actions in daily business operations—they act with “ethical blindness.” This tendency is particularly strong when organizational routines come into play.
Continue reading “When routines make managers ‘blind’ for ethical issues”New values emerge through action: Even forced behavioral changes can alter worldviews
Not only can new ways of thinking lead to new behaviors, but changes often occur the other way around: new behavior enables new experiences; these new experiences reshape our mental models and values, which in turn make new behaviors “thinkable.” At first glance, this may sound like a theoretical subtlety, but it is highly relevant in practice when considering how change can be initiated—especially in the field of sustainability.
Continue reading “New values emerge through action: Even forced behavioral changes can alter worldviews”Pioneers, followers, or blockers? Responses to change depend on the “field forces” at play
One of the most critical success factors for change is whether people can be motivated to support it. Lewin’s field theory helps explain under what circumstances individuals initiate, support, or resist change.
Continue reading “Pioneers, followers, or blockers? Responses to change depend on the “field forces” at play”Sustainable change: Optimizing existing structures can hinder deeper transformations
Sustainability measures often focus on optimizing existing structures (e.g., reducing CO₂ emissions, minimizing waste). However, such optimizations can reinforce the status quo, potentially obstructing genuinely sustainable developments..
Continue reading “Sustainable change: Optimizing existing structures can hinder deeper transformations”Nachhaltiger Wandel braucht neue wirtschaftliche Ökosysteme
Derzeit findet in vielen gesellschaftlichen Bereichen ein Umdenken in Richtung mehr Nachhaltigkeit statt. Von internationalen Organisationen werden ambitionierte Ziele gesetzt (z.B. SDGs der UN Agenda 2030) und Visionen entwickelt, wie diese Ziele erreicht werden können (z.B. WBCSD Vision 2050). Viele Maßnahmen zielen darauf ab, dass einzelne Menschen ihr Verhalten ändern (z.B. nachhaltiger konsumieren) oder dass Unternehmen nachhaltiger werden (z.B. weniger CO2 ausstoßen). Aber auch wenn das Bewusstsein in der breiten Bevölkerung steigt, dass es neue Formen des Wirtschaftens braucht, viele Menschen bewusster konsumieren und immer mehr einzelne Unternehmen sozial verantwortlicher und nachhaltiger agieren, erscheint das Erreichen der ambitionierten (und notwendigen) Veränderungsziele oft wie eine schier unlösbare Mammut-Aufgabe. Wo soll die Veränderung ansetzen?
Continue reading “Nachhaltiger Wandel braucht neue wirtschaftliche Ökosysteme”
Dr. Barbara Kump 