1 Flashcards
What is the overall aim of the study on sustainable product design?
To identify common preconditions and challenges for sustainability integration in product innovation.
What is the perceived importance of capabilities for sustainability integration according to the study?
Decisive for future company success.
What are the main areas of focus in decision making regarding sustainability?
- Material selection
- Energy efficiency
What percentage of respondents reported using formal decision support tools?
Only half of the respondents.
Identify three challenges faced by companies in sustainability integration.
- Short-term economic thinking
- Lack of sustainability criteria
- Vague management commitment
According to the study, what is necessary for building capabilities for sustainability integration?
Understanding companies’ current state.
True or False: The study found that sustainability integration is highly prioritized today.
False.
Fill in the blank: Sustainable product development means integrating and implementing a strategic sustainability perspective into the _______ of the product innovation process.
early phases
What method was used to conduct the study?
A web-questionnaire.
What was the primary focus of the questionnaire distributed to employees?
To identify common preconditions and capabilities for sustainability integration in product development.
Who were the respondents of the questionnaire?
Employees with roles in product development.
What is a key finding regarding the driving forces behind sustainability decisions?
Competitiveness in the long run is perceived as a necessity for long-term survival.
Which company reported image and reputation as the most dominant driving force for sustainability?
Company C.
What gap was identified between perceived prioritization of sustainability on strategic and operational levels?
Strategic ambitions are not always followed up by practical action.
What were the response rates from the companies surveyed?
- Company A: 73%
- Company B: 38%
- Company C: 46%
- Company D: 78%
What are the three dimensions of sustainability that companies should consider?
- Environmental
- Social
- Economic
What type of sampling method was used in the study?
Purposeful sampling.
What is the purpose of the seven recommendations proposed in the study?
To support further integration and implementation of a full socio-ecological sustainability perspective into product development.
What is the significance of early stages in the product development process?
Most of a product’s social and ecological impacts are determined by decisions taken during these early phases.
According to the literature review, what is lacking in understanding companies’ integration of environmental sustainability into product development?
Little knowledge on why and how companies integrate it.
What type of analysis was performed on the questionnaire results?
Within-case analysis followed by cross-case pattern searching.
What was a key method used for data analysis in the study?
Conventional content analysis.
What is the main driver behind sustainability work at companies?
Competitiveness reasons
Environmental concern and ethical reasons are mentioned but are not the main drivers.
What evolutionary shift in driving forces has been observed in sustainability efforts?
- From ecological to economic
- From cost-oriented to value-oriented
- From within-organizational to beyond-organizational social boundaries
This shift has been noted in studies by Høgevold et al. (2014, 2015).
What percentage of respondents are not aware of any formal decision support tools?
40%
This percentage rises to about 50% for those who do not use any formal decision support tools.
What are the most commonly known decision support tools?
- Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
- Material restriction lists
- Risk assessment
- Environmental impact assessment
Risk assessment, ISO 14001, and checklists for material restriction and HSE are the most used tools.
True or False: LCA is commonly used in daily work at case companies.
False
Despite being well-known, LCA is very rarely used in daily operations.
What is a commonly perceived barrier to sustainability integration?
Short-term economic thinking
Costs and the unclear relationship between sustainability and profitability are also significant barriers.
What is one of the most urgent questions regarding sustainability in companies?
How to balance long-term and short-term profitability
This involves addressing the costs and risks associated with sustainability in the short run.
What is lacking in the current approach to sustainability criteria?
No attractive approach to identify and decide on the most sustainable solution
There is also no formalized way to handle trade-offs in sustainability.
What percentage of respondents suggested that better decision support tools are needed?
Between 40% and 60%
Respondents emphasized the need for tools that provide comprehensive environmental impact overviews.
What is a significant factor for successful sustainability integration according to respondents?
Higher top management commitment
This includes well-communicated directives and goals for sustainability.
What do many respondents perceive sustainability issues as?
An additional workload
Many still see it as a separate goal rather than integrated into business.
What is the effect of sustainability training on employees at Company D?
Higher importance placed on sustainability integration capability
There is also increased knowledge and use of formal decision support tools.
What are the seven key steps for companies to improve sustainability capabilities?
- Better decision support tools
- Higher management commitment
- Integration of sustainability into all activities
- Training and education
- Clear guidelines for sustainability prioritization
- Development of sustainability criteria
- Continuous improvement and assessment
These steps can be worked on in parallel.
What is a major conclusion from the study regarding sustainability integration?
Increased capability for sustainability integration is perceived as decisive for future success
Environmental and social issues are not currently prioritized.
What is often a focus area in sustainability efforts at companies?
Material selection and energy efficiency
A full socio-ecological perspective is often missing.
What is the relationship between sustainability training and employees’ attitudes?
Sustainability training has significant positive effects on attitudes and tool usage
This aligns with findings by Bansal and Roth (2000).
