CISL’s Business Transformation Framework Preliminary Diagnostic

19 October 2023 – This report introduces a diagnostic tool that sets out 12 enablers presented onto four organisational typologies, distinguished by different levels of alignment to sustainability and purpose, against which businesses can self-assess.

Download the Preliminary Diagnostic and the Executive Briefing

About

We are at a turning point in history where the role of business in society is being increasingly challenged. The business as usual (BAU) logic within which businesses operate has dominated the economy for decades now. And despite some tweaks to its core assumptions, it has been proven that BAU holds back the realisation of long-term wellbeing of all people and planet.

But how can businesses deliver on the rising expectations to meet globally agreed goals on climate, nature, and society if they do not know how their present performance compares to organisational forms geared towards delivering true sustainability?

This report and the accompanying Executive Briefing present the Business Transformation Framework (BTF) that we developed with support from the Business Transformation Group members. This practical tool sets out 12 enablers presented onto four organisational typologies, distinguished by different levels of alignment to sustainability and purpose, against which businesses can self-assess.

The objective of the Business Transformation Framework is to enable businesses in a wide range of sectors to:

  • assess their current fit against four different business typologies, in terms of their alignment to sustainability and purpose 
  • identify gaps between their current position and where they aspire to be over the short, medium and longer term
  • inform and inspire their transformation journey, including through engaging key stakeholders.

The framework is currently being tested with the Business Transformation Group members. Following these results, we intend to publish the full diagnostic next year. If you would like to share your feedback on the framework, please send your comments to bianca.drotleff@cisl.cam.ac.uk.

Citing these reports

University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). (2023). CISL’s Business Transformation Framework: Executive Briefing. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). (2023). CISL’s Business Transformation Framework: Preliminary Diagnostic. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Business Transformation Framework webinar

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In this webinar, CISL brought together members of the Business Transformation Group, a collaborative group of forward-looking, leading international companies, to share insights on the piloting process of the framework and how this is supporting their transformation journey. The panel discussion was moderated by CISL’s Director of Business Strategy, Ben Kellard, one of the main authors of the tool.