With increasing discussion among business leaders about the role business should play in tackling everything from climate change to unemployment and inequality, do businesses need to rethink their core purpose?
At the heart of any business response to the big issues we face is the need to recognise their complexity and the critical value of taking a systems based approach as a result.
Yet there is very little practical advice on how businesses can actually begin to implement this level of strategic rethinking. This workshop will seek to address that, asking what skills and resources are needed, and what the barriers to implementing such strategies are in practice.
These questions and more will be addressed at this free event on 16 March 2015 from 9.00 – 12.45 at the Guardian’s London offices with the support of PwC.
The session is aimed at those leading the strategic thinking within companies, such as heads of strategy or sustainability, as well as those heading up critical functions to drive the business response, from finance and marketing to R&D innovation, supply chain and procurement.
Please fill in the form below to register your interest in attending. Places aren’t confirmed until you hear from us.
Programme
09.00 Registration
09.30 Introduction: how businesses are re-evaluating their core purpose and strategy, and using systems thinking approaches
Jo Confino, executive editor, the Guardian
Jon Williams, partner, PwC
09.45 Table discussions exploring real time dilemmas will explicitly tackle the “how” questions
1) External engagement
2) The approaches being adopted in reshaping strategy and transforming businesses, outlining the resources and skills needed
3) Collaboration and learnings
10.45 Table groups will join to share findings and decide on the top five action points with specific examples
11.15 Group feedback
11.45 Short break for refreshments
12.00 Panel debate: what is the appropriate level of ambition for change in businesses and how can better collaboration make this happen?
Estelle Brachlianoff, director, UK and Northern Europe Zone, Veolia Environment
Stuart Lendrum, head of sustainable & ethical sourcing, Sainsbury’s
Professor Stephen Martin, honorary professor, University of Worcester and visiting professor in Learning for Sustainability, University of the West of England
Geoff Lane, partner, PwC
Further speakers to be announced
12.45 Close of event
Applications for this seminar are now closed.
The systems thinking series is funded by PwC. All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled advertisement feature. Find out more here.
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