Broadening the Frame around Sustainability with Holistic Language: Mandela and Invictus

Abstract

We argue for the need for a new language for business – one that is capable of changing the current business decision-making frame of wins and losses to a frame of community and social learning. This paper outlines a classroom exercise about Nelson Mandela’s leadership, involving movies, case studies and poetry, and shows how the more holistic approach helps shift student views of the triple bottom line. Since neuroscience literature has shown that poetry can help enhance learning, students carefully study “Invictus,” a poem written by Victorian-era poet Henley and revered by Mandela. As students dig deeper into the case study through classroom discussion, they begin to see Mandela’s leadership through a new frame, and in doing so broaden their own views. This more holistic approach to studying leadership may allow decision makers to adjust both their goals and the focus of their analysis to go beyond monetary outcomes to include socially and environmentally sustainable outcomes.

Appendix

• A) Before you begin this two-part exercise, please take a minute to enter below an ID Code that will be easy to remember, have meaning for you and only you, and ensure your anonymity. Since you will complete Part 1 of this survey today and Part 2 in approximately 2 weeks, it is important that you remember this number accurately in order to link your responses in the two parts WITHOUT losing your anonymity.

  We suggest that you enter the following combination – the initials of your first and last name followed by the last four digits of your primary phone. For example, Marcus Aurelius with a cell phone ending in 9797 would write MA9797. You will be provided with the same prompt and reminder at the start of Part 2 to help you recall your ID Code.

• B) Please read the scenario below and answer the questions by placing yourself in the role to which you have been assigned.

You are a senior consultant and are the primary advisor for the CEO of a top U. S. based manufacturer that has many businesses around the world. You have been asked to help the firm determine what metrics are most important for the firm to measure continued success. These are the metrics that will allow employees everywhere to track how successful they are and ensure that their firm remains as one of the top performing corporations worldwide. On a scale from 1 to 7, where 1 = completely unimportant and 7 = very important, rate the list of metrics provided below. Please keep the meanings of the numbers on the rating scale in mind as you make your decision.

• 1- Completely unimportant

• 2- Unimportant

• 3- Somewhat unimportant

• 4- Neither unimportant nor important

• 5- Somewhat important

• 6- Important

• 7- Very important

1.	Revenue growth over the past 3 years
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
2.	Overall profitability for the past 3 years
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
3.	% of businesses analyzed for risk of corruption
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
4.	% of suppliers that have goals in place to reduce green-house gas emissions
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
5.	% of waste generated that is hazardous
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
6.	% of water used throughout the company that is recycled or otherwise reused
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
7.	% of material sent to a landfill
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8.	Number of voluntary product recalls to ensure customer safety
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
9.	% of total employees paid above minimum wage
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
10.	% of energy consumed by the company that comes from renewable sources or is green
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
11.	Total operating costs including wages and benefits
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
12.	% of suppliers who have a history of labor violations
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
13.	Dividends paid annually to shareholders
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
14.	% of employees reporting that they are proud to work for company
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
15.	Company’s stock price (rising or declining)
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

• C) Keeping in mind your role as Senior Consultant, please choose 4 out of the 15 metrics listed above as being the 4 top measures of a firm’s success. These are the 4 you will tell the CEO are an absolute must-have. You don’t have to write in the full metric – just provide its item number from the list above.

Top Choice =

2nd Choice =

3rd Choice =

4th Choice =