Why is sustainability a strategy and not a competitive prior

Why is sustainability a strategy and not a competitive priority? Explain your reasoning.

Solution

Competitive priorities refer to the strategic actions which a firm takes on certain performance measures and operational capabilities within a value chain. There are five competitive priorities which includes time, cost, quality, flexibility and innovation. Whereas, strategy is a plan which includes an organization’s main goals, policies and actions to achieve the broader vision.

There are various dimensions of sustainability, these dimensions are environmental, social and economic sustainability. Each dimension required to have a longer focus rather than a single criterion, which happens in a competitive priority and hence, sustainability is a strategy and not a competitive priority.