Amazon Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review to be helpful:
A Guide to the Implementation of Sustainability Principles, January 31, 2008
By Felipe Perez
Making Sustainability work does a significant contribution for practitioners on how to put sustainability principles and ideas into practice. We have seen in the past other important contributions about sustainability. The difference regarding this new book is in putting these ideas in a very explicit way; emphasizing on the challenges of integrating sustainability into the business strategy and in the decision-making that encompasses the implementation of successful strategies at the firm level.
The book goes further giving valuable guidelines in practical methodologies on how to measure social and environmental risks and impacts and in the implementation of systems inside the firms for permanently monitoring such impacts. This has been a weakness in some of the literature we have seen in the past. Making Sustainability Work addresses the necessary evaluation of the impacts of sustainability initiatives on the financial performance to correctly assess the convenience of implementing them in terms of the benefits to both, the firm and the stakeholders. Finally, we have in a very amenable reading style, an important guide for practitioners on how to put sustainability principles into practice.
8 of 9 people found the following review to be helpful:
oil companies and "sustainable" ?, January 28, 2008
By W Boudville
Epstein's book is definitely well meaning. Directed mostly towards the field of corporate social responsibility. Attentive readers may also recall a recent Economist magazine that had its central pages devoted to this theme.
The book has numerous quotes from CEOs of large, prominent organisations, espousing how they pursue sustainable goals. Some of these include Shell and BP. Sure, the commitment is laudable. But these oil companies have been facing a shrinking in their proven oil reserves for years. If you regard sustainability in the context of this industry as maintaining or increasing reserves, then the situation is growing parlous, no matter what nice words the bosses say. Granted, the oil companies are spending billions of dollars each year in exploration and extraction. However, a cynic can question the inclusion of these companies in the book's survey.
2 of 2 people found the following review to be helpful:
Important to read for both the Manager and the Management Academic, February 11, 2008
By W. Smith
Whereas others have argued for why corporations must attend to social issues, Epstein helps us understand how. Epstein provides in-depth, thoughtful analysis that integrates the relevant research in the field about how to more effectively manage corporate social responsibility. He grounds this analysis in extensive examples of companies actively grappling with these issues. In doing so, he provides a manual for both academics and practitioners to understand what we know today about how to manage corporate social responsibility , and provides a set of questions for the issues that we must grapple with tomorrow. This book is a must read for anyone who cares about the success of companies and who cares about the future of our communities and our planet.
2 of 2 people found the following review to be helpful:
Well grounded analysis and advice, January 30, 2008
By Jean Francois Manzoni
Epstein's book aims at filling an important void: After years of arguing that sustainability is essential, there are now very few senior leaders and organizations that deny the need to "do something". What these leaders and organizations now need is solidly grounded help and guidance to "make it happen", i.e., to re-shape the behavior of hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of managers and employees so they become better able to generate financial performance in a more sustainable way.
Epstein reviews the major levers that top management can use to make employees more willing and better able to do so: the organization's structure, processes, information flows, the performance measurement, evaluation and rewards systems, the behavior of senior leaders, are all reviewed and discussed. The book builds on Epstein's years of research in this area. It contains scores of examples and is written in a very readable style. It's a great book for leaders who are now convinced their organization needs to do better, and want to "make it happen".
1 of 1 people found the following review to be helpful:
An Outstanding Contribution, May 23, 2008
By Dr. Mark L. Frigo
The challenges and opportunities facing companies today in the area of sustainability are more complex and have greater potential impact than ever before. Making Sustainability Work fulfills an unmet need for senior executives, board members, and managers seeking better ways to manage these challenges and opportunities. In this book, Epstein provides direction and guidance to help corporate leaders integrate sustainability into their daily decisions and to better understand and manage corporate social responsibilities and corporate performance. Making Sustainability Work is an outstanding contribution to the field. This book will be an invaluable resource for senior executives, boards, and managers searching for the best ways to integrate sustainability into their decision making.
--Mark L. Frigo, Ph.D., CMA, CPA, Director of the Center for Strategy, Execution, and Valuation, Kellstadt Grauate School of Business at DePaul University
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