MEGAPROJECT: BETTER TOGETHER
FOCUS AREA: THE ADAPTABLE AND INNOVATIVE LABOUR MARKET
CHALLENGE: THE SUSTAINABLE ORGANISATION
CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION:
The rapid technological development, which is also an integrated part of the sustainability agenda, necessitates a more dynamic, adaptable and innovative labour market at all levels. The development of new technology refers also to 'Industry 4.0’, which, among other things, is about smart and adaptable production and the development of new digital business models. However, the technological development and industry 4.0 are also associated with two different narratives about sustainability. In the first narrative, sustainability is understood as a ‘trend in time’, the 'new black' or as a 'brand' that sells and is a strategic driver for growth in a global market. Another and more radical narrative puts action in relation to climate change into the heart of the company. Common material practices and technologies within energy and material consumption, product development, import, export etc. are subjected to this sustainability narrative. First of all, this implies changes in what is required of the workforce in terms of knowledge, skills and competences. Secondly, it also requires changes in how the workforce should be managed and organised in order to create sufficient innovation and responsibility at the workplace and in the world as such.
The two narratives cover a tension field with a number of built-in and opposite attraction values. One narrative stays within the traditional discourse of globalisation and growth within a global market economy while the second narrative is about the emergence of a new type of business and is driven by a strong political mission of sustainability. Circular economics, symbiosis, knowledge, skills, technology and ethics play different roles in this field of tension. Central to this area of tension is 1) the workforce who must realize sustainability as an organizational practice with their knowledge, skills and competencies and 2) the management who must create the framework for the realization of the sustainable work. Therefore, the challenge involves issues related to:
- The attractive and sustainable work
- The attraction values of companies in terms of attracting and retaining qualified labour
- The narrative and identity of the organisation
- Product development, production processes and product life cycles
- Digitalisation
- Organisational forms and management
The overall purpose of this challenge is to nuance the understanding of sustainability as an organizational practice and learn about the changes and the innovation the organizations are facing in realizing the 17 sustainable development goals and thus becoming a sustainable organization and workplace. The primary SDG addressed in this challenge is SDG number 8 "Decent Jobs and Economic Growth", but there are clear overlaps with SDG number 9, "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure" and 12, "Responsible Consumption and Production".
This challenge collaborates with Port of Aalborg. This means that students interested in entering into the collaboration, will have access to data and information from Port of Aalborg.
IMPACTED SDGS:
PROPOSED PROJECT PROBLEMS:
- How does sustainability challenge value-orientations in the Organization?
- How does sustainability affect the corporate identity and story?
- How does sustainability impact workplace environment?
- How does sustainability impact the use of digitalization and technology in Organizations?
- What kinds of organizations appear and which disappear?
- What kind of organizational learning processes do sustainability invoke?
CHALLENGE PROPOSER:
Kenneth Mølbjerg Jørgensen
Business and Management
kmj@business.aau.dk
CO-PROPOSERS
Anete Mikkala Camille Strand
Communication and Psychology
astrand@hum.aau.dk
Jesper Hemdrup Kristensen
Materials and Production
jk@business.aau.dk
Kristian Kongshøj
Politics and Society
kongshoj@dps.aau.dk