Sustainability as a strategy incorporated in decision making at supply chain management - case study of General Motors

Abstract

Sustainability as a strategy has been incorporated in decision-making process at General Motors - an automotive manufacturing company. It has helped General Motors to overcome financial crisis. In today's environment, incorporation of sustainability factors particularly in supply chain management is critically important when governments all over the world are working to arrest climate change and reduce emission levels. Therefore, sustainability incorporation at an organisational level is a way forward. Case study was undertaken via a questionnaire to collect and evaluate the decision criteria from the middle and top level executives of General Motors. The authors also attempted to examine sustainability reports of the General Motors formulated using GRI guidelines. Study concludes that getting sustainability incorporated into DNA of a company requires top management commitment and is associated with organisations where there is history of societal, community work and responsible business practices. It helped General Motors to write off debt and come out of bankruptcy.