Facoltà: Economia Aziendale e Management - Classe LM-77
Collocazione: 21659
Autore: Piccolo Corrado
Data: 24/10/2023
Titolo: Change for a sustainable future: Impacts of Sustainability on Corporate Change Management
Relatore: Minelli Eliana Alessandra
Autorizzazione per la consultazione: SI
Le tesi si possono consultare unicamente in sede
This thesis aims to examine the influence of sustainability on corporate change management. The integration of the Twin Transition, specifically sustainability criteria, and the implementation of organizational changes are identified as pivotal for future success. To comprehensively understand the impact of sustainability-induced organizational change, this paper begins with a review of literature on Change Management and Twin Transition. The literature offered insights into both internal and external sources of change. However, it fell short in effectively defining the specific drivers of change. Addressing this gap, two research questions were formulated for in-depth exploration. • Could sustainability be considered as an initiating force in promoting an organizational change? • Does sustainability foster growth in SMEs? in case, how does it influence the development of a SME? The establishment of a theoretical framework that took into consideration the two most pertinent models for the investigation, namely the Triple Helix model for studying change management, and the Twin Transition model for analysing the sustainability component, allowed us to identify in the corporate culture the key variable to be analysed. To understand the aspects of this variable, a semi-structured interview was conducted with three companies operating in different sectors, selected using a purposive sampling criterion. The interview outcomes allowed us to answer the questions. Regarding the first question, we can state that sustainability can be regarded as an initiating force for several reasons. In today's market, a focus on sustainability is fundamental for companies. This not only attracts consumers and investors but also boosts competitiveness. European and Italian regulations are pushing for sustainability compliance, which helps avoid penalties and reputational harm. Additionally, investing in sustainable research and development drives product and process innovation, giving to the company a market advantage. Regarding the second question, we can assume, indeed, that sustainability can promote growth in SMEs and has a significant impact on their development. Embracing sustainability, as demonstrated by Lariotex Spa, opens up new market opportunities and offers a competitive edge, it influences customer choice and can lead to operational cost savings, especially for SMEs, as instead shown by Frascold Spa's resource and energy optimization. Additionally, the interview of Pink Frogs Srl highlights how a commitment to sustainability enhances reputation, building trust with customers and the community. In conclusion, the analysis of corporate culture as a qualitative variable, also pointed out that organizational changes stemming from the Twin Transition require a preparation of the corporate culture to facilitate the change process within the company. Companies, in order to avoid resistance to change and promote a swift adoption of sustainability practices, must prepare the corporate ecosystem through targeted training courses and/or the identification of dedicated roles and/or the creation of cross-functional teams focused on sustainability.
