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Even though large parts of a municipal administration's work are aligned with social sustainability, this dimension has been somewhat more challenging and there seems to be a vast diversity in how it is approached. Academic literature on the systematic organization of this work is sparse. The aim of this study was to understand how Swedish municipalities organize their work with social sustainability and to find best practices. A survey among 21 municipalities and follow-up interviews with three of them were conducted. The study revealed that the organization of social sustainability work varies considerably among municipalities and that no simple patterns relating to size or existing organizational structures can be detected. Each municipality seems to be finding its own way and is more or less successful in strategically working with this area. Best practice focused on creating additional structures for collaboration across departments, with external actors, and across sectors to at least partly overcome the silo approach engrained in a municipal structure. It was also connected to the active involvement of leaders, clear mandates, and that a common vision for social sustainability was communicated. These lessons can be transferred to other municipalities and help them move towards social sustainability in a strategic way., open access

Since the economic crisis in 2008, the world has seen a partly negative shift in social progress, highlighting that current economic models and practices do not guarantee long-lasting societal and human wellbeing. Economic models and business practices are deeply intertwined; thus, businesses play a major role in the advancement of social sustainability, and academic research can offer support in navigating the complexity of this issue. However, social sustainability tends to be under-researched. This article summarizes the discussion in general business management, product development, and supply-chain management, and from this suggest a research agenda to help in guiding systematic change in business organizations towards social sustainability. The article identifies ten main challenges and offers five recommendations to move the field forward, namely, a more explicit engagement with and discussion of social systems-science based ideas, and a more explicit determination as a field to converge on key pieces leading towards a clearer definition of the concept. Lastly, it recommends that research needs to focus on how to overcome fragmented organizational structures, how to achieve true integration into existing processes and tools, and how to support organizations to become more dynamic in working with these issues. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland., open access

Companies responsible for product development (PD) and manufacturing play an important role in supporting society in achieving sustainability, and yet they do not always include full sustainability considerations in PD decisions. The social dimension of sustainability has been largely neglected in the PD field and there is very little empirical evidence of social sustainability implementation in general. The aim of this paper is to investigate how social sustainability is currently included in PD organizations and what their motivations are to do so. Results from a comparative case study approach with three organizations include rich descriptions across four dimensions: The scope of the work and their view of interdependencies with other social systems, their definition of social sustainability and the issues they work with, what guides strategic decisions, and how this internal work is structured. The results reveal that the three product development organizations are heterogenous in their approaches to social sustainability and that the more advanced approach shows a better understanding of the complexity of social sustainability and a broader perspective of its interdependencies, which goes hand-in-hand with a way of organizing that overcomes traditional hierarchies and allows for more collaborative and strategic work in this area. This systems perspective also drives what issues are included in an organization’s work; scope and definition of social sustainability become more encompassing and aligned. Finally, our study shows that social sustainability impacts connected to products’ lifecycles, when addressed, are done so by functions outside design activities, as opposed to product developers. A greater understanding of how companies currently approach social sustainability and what challenges they might face in integrating it in organizational and design related practices has been called for; our paper contributes to this but acknowledges that more work is need

Though many engineering schools are integrating sustainability in the curriculum, most are still struggling, especially with social sustainability. The aim with this study was to test a process created to help students work systematically with these issues. Results show that students in the study did indeed benefit from structured process support as their general knowledge level of social sustainability issues as well as their understanding of how to integrate them in a product assessment was very low. Reflections from teaching staff on how to further develop such a process are also shared., open access

This study aims to examine the use of reflective pedagogies in sustainability leadership education by investigating two specific pedagogical tools-the Portfolio and Pod-employed by the Master's in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability (MSLS) program at Blekinge Institute of Technology in Karlskrona, Sweden. The study analyzed data gathered from student surveys, teacher interviews, and staff reflections to determine the benefits and challenges faced by students and staff in implementing and engaging with these pedagogical tools. Benefits include the provision of distinct structures to guide student reflection towards individual skill development and the use of collective reflection to encourage generative dialogue between students and staff. This holds benefits for collaboration, self-awareness, understanding of multiple perspectives, and creating self-directed graduates. Staff and students also, however, suggest a number of challenges. These include the 'constrictive' nature of guided reflection and the emotional and mental load faced by staff in hosting and holding students through often challenging personal reflective processes. For the potential of reflective pedagogies to be truly realized for Education for Sustainable Development in higher education institutions need to develop an understanding of the impacts that reflective pedagogies have on students and teachers and create institutional structures to support them. © 2020 by the authors., open access

A common criticism of the sustainability field is that definitions are vague and that the vast amount of different tools, methods and concepts leads to confusion. In response to this challenge, for the past 25 years a group of scientists has explored the possibility to develop an overarching and unifying framework that would allow for a structured overview of other concepts, methods and tools and therefore allow for concrete, strategic planning for sustainability. Over this 25-year period the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) has been tested in learning loops between scientists and practitioners and has continuously been developed. The aim of this research is to contribute specifically to the social sustainability definition of this framework, which has been found lacking both in theory and practice. The research first establishes exactly in which ways the social dimension is underdeveloped, both from a theoretical and from a practitioner’s perspective. In addition, the research explores the general field of social sustainability in order to understand the larger field, but also to gather inspiration and understand similar approaches. This exploration leads to the conclusion that also the larger field of social sustainability is also under-developed and underscores the importance of this research. Based on this conclusion, a new approach to social sustainability within the FSSD is created based on a systems approach to the social system. Various aspects of the social system are identified to be essential for sustainability, namely trust, common meaning, diversity, capacity for learning and capacity for self-organization. Then, overriding mechanisms by which these aspects of the social system can be degraded are identified. Based on the understanding of the essential aspects of the social system and the identified overriding mechanisms of degradation of these, a hypothesis for a definition of social sustainability by basic principles is presented

Detta är en översiktlig beskrivning av ett nytt forskningsmässigt angreppssätt för att göra begreppet Social Hållbarhet mer operationellt. Det är en bearbetad text från en föreläsning om ett doktorandprojekt (Missimer 2013; Missimer, Robèrt, Broman och Oldmark 2013) som Karl-Henrik Robèrt höll i samband med en konferens om Medkänsla och social hållbarhet på KI hösten 2012. Hållbar utveckling = att aktivt designa "icke-hållbarhet" ut ur de sociala och ekologiska systemen, och se till att icke-hållbarhet behålls utanför systemet.

Various sets of skills for dealing with sustainability and the complexity of the modern world have been put forward by different actors in the field of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). In connection with these skills, pedagogical methods such as lifelong learning, social learning, problem-based learning, dialogue education, and empowerment for ESD have been discussed. This paper looks at how these theories and methods can be put into practice by examining a real-world example of a sustainability master’s program at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) in Sweden. In 2004, BTH launched the international transdisciplinary master’s program Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability, which aims to develop leaders who will be able to address the ever-increasing sustainability challenge. The program combines a robust scientific framework for planning and decision making toward sustainability, with the leadership skills needed to energize large-scale societal change. In 2009, the Engineering Education for Sustainable Development (EESD) observatory awarded BTH the ranking of No. 1 in Sweden and third in Europe for demonstrating success in EESD. This paper describes the specific pedagogical approaches and design elements that were implemented to train and develop the skills and expertise surrounding leadership for sustainable development. It further presents and analyzes survey data taken from program alumni reflecting on the success of the program. The results of the survey clearly show that while there is room for improvement, overall the program design is extremely successful in equipping its graduates with the skills necessary to address the sustainability challenge. Finally, the authors offer reflections on the lessons learned after six years of continual improvements., Sustainability: The Journal of Record, Vol. 5, No. 3, June 2012: 172-181 http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/SUS.2012.9961 Open Access Journal - Romeo Blue publisher

Today"s society is faced with a multitude of compounding and inter-related socio-ecological challenges. In order to adequately navigate this 'sustainability challenge" and to capture the innovation opportunities that come with it, we need professionals from all sectors of society who can help plan, act, and lead strategically towards sustainability. Sustainability handbook first outlines a structured approach to planning within this complex challenge, which is known as the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development. It provides the readers with fundamental social and ecological knowledge from which a scientifically-derived definition of sustainability has been established. From there, the book shares examples of how this Framework can be applied in a variety of situations, sectors, and scales and points to the self-benefit for companies, municipalities and other organizations of working strategically for sustainability. The readers are left with a solid understanding of how to define sustainability, how to plan and act towards it, and how to select from the vast array of sustainability-related concepts, methods and tools in the field today. Sustainability handbook combines the academic and practical experience from a collection of authors. The content has been used, tested and refined over many iterations, and now serves as a primary resource for academic courses and programmes around the world. Any student or practitioner looking for more clarity on how to strategically plan and act towards sustainability in a structured, scientific, and collaborative manner will find value inside. Because of the generic nature of the Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, it can be useful for any discipline, from engineering, to product-service innovation, to business management, to urban and regional planning, and beyond., 14 authors. Not mentioned: Hördur Haraldsson, Jamie MacDonald, George Basil, Lena Johansson

Product development companies can play a key role in society’s transition toward sustainability. However, previous research points to the lack of such a systemic and strategic perspective in dealing with sustainability aspects in product development and the neglect of the social sustainability. This paper builds on a prior empirical paper and together with insights from Sustainable Product Development and Corporate Sustainability literature propose a typology of social sustainability approaches in product development organizations. The typology presented is a result of an iterative five-step process: defining purpose, reviewing literature, defining relevant dimensions and attributes, reviewing empirical cases and finally creating the typology and its types. The resulting typology presents three types – the insular, the connected and the systemic - across four dimensions: System boundaries, how success is defined, what guides strategic decisions, and how the work is structured within the organization. Each dimension is further broken down into three to four attributes. The typology suggested serves as an analytical tool by bringing clarity to important elements that differentiate social sustainability approaches. These differences, taken together, determine when an approach adopted by a product development organization has the potential to strategically contribute to social sustainability and when it cannot. In terms of product design and development activities, the differences in the system boundaries and success dimensions of our three proposed types also determine the constraints that product developers work with when pursuing social sustainability goals. In this sense, the typology is promising also in terms of its practical application as it should be helpful in framing discussions and providing direction for product development organizations who wish to truly progress in their sustainability journey.

Product development companies can play a key role in society’s transition toward sustainability. However, previous research points to the lack of such a systemic and strategic perspective in dealing with sustainability aspects in product development and the neglect of the social sustainability. This paper builds on a prior empirical paper and together with insights from Sustainable Product Development and Corporate Sustainability literature propose a typology of social sustainability approaches in product development organizations. The typology presented is a result of an iterative five-step process: defining purpose, reviewing literature, defining relevant dimensions and attributes, reviewing empirical cases and finally creating the typology and its types. The resulting typology presents three types – the insular, the connected and the systemic - across four dimensions: System boundaries, how success is defined, what guides strategic decisions, and how the work is structured within the organization. Each dimension is further broken down into three to four attributes. The typology suggested serves as an analytical tool by bringing clarity to important elements that differentiate social sustainability approaches. These differences, taken together, determine when an approach adopted by a product development organization has the potential to strategically contribute to social sustainability and when it cannot. In terms of product design and development activities, the differences in the system boundaries and success dimensions of our three proposed types also determine the constraints that product developers work with when pursuing social sustainability goals. In this sense, the typology is promising also in terms of its practical application as it should be helpful in framing discussions and providing direction for product development organizations who wish to truly progress in their sustainability journey.

Product development companies can play a key role in society’s transition toward sustainability. However, previous research points to the lack of such a systemic and strategic perspective in dealing with sustainability aspects in product development and the neglect of the social sustainability. This paper builds on a prior empirical paper and together with insights from Sustainable Product Development and Corporate Sustainability literature propose a typology of social sustainability approaches in product development organizations. The typology presented is a result of an iterative five-step process: defining purpose, reviewing literature, defining relevant dimensions and attributes, reviewing empirical cases and finally creating the typology and its types. The resulting typology presents three types – the insular, the connected and the systemic - across four dimensions: System boundaries, how success is defined, what guides strategic decisions, and how the work is structured within the organization. Each dimension is further broken down into three to four attributes. The typology suggested serves as an analytical tool by bringing clarity to important elements that differentiate social sustainability approaches. These differences, taken together, determine when an approach adopted by a product development organization has the potential to strategically contribute to social sustainability and when it cannot. In terms of product design and development activities, the differences in the system boundaries and success dimensions of our three proposed types also determine the constraints that product developers work with when pursuing social sustainability goals. In this sense, the typology is promising also in terms of its practical application as it should be helpful in framing discussions and providing direction for product development organizations who wish to truly progress in their sustainability journey.

Product development companies can play a key role in society’s transition toward sustainability. However, previous research points to the lack of such a systemic and strategic perspective in dealing with sustainability aspects in product development and the neglect of the social sustainability. This paper builds on a prior empirical paper and together with insights from Sustainable Product Development and Corporate Sustainability literature propose a typology of social sustainability approaches in product development organizations. The typology presented is a result of an iterative five-step process: defining purpose, reviewing literature, defining relevant dimensions and attributes, reviewing empirical cases and finally creating the typology and its types. The resulting typology presents three types – the insular, the connected and the systemic - across four dimensions: System boundaries, how success is defined, what guides strategic decisions, and how the work is structured within the organization. Each dimension is further broken down into three to four attributes. The typology suggested serves as an analytical tool by bringing clarity to important elements that differentiate social sustainability approaches. These differences, taken together, determine when an approach adopted by a product development organization has the potential to strategically contribute to social sustainability and when it cannot. In terms of product design and development activities, the differences in the system boundaries and success dimensions of our three proposed types also determine the constraints that product developers work with when pursuing social sustainability goals. In this sense, the typology is promising also in terms of its practical application as it should be helpful in framing discussions and providing direction for product development organizations who wish to truly progress in their sustainability journey.

Product development companies can play a key role in society’s transition toward sustainability. However, previous research points to the lack of such a systemic and strategic perspective in dealing with sustainability aspects in product development and the neglect of the social sustainability. This paper builds on a prior empirical paper and together with insights from Sustainable Product Development and Corporate Sustainability literature propose a typology of social sustainability approaches in product development organizations. The typology presented is a result of an iterative five-step process: defining purpose, reviewing literature, defining relevant dimensions and attributes, reviewing empirical cases and finally creating the typology and its types. The resulting typology presents three types – the insular, the connected and the systemic - across four dimensions: System boundaries, how success is defined, what guides strategic decisions, and how the work is structured within the organization. Each dimension is further broken down into three to four attributes. The typology suggested serves as an analytical tool by bringing clarity to important elements that differentiate social sustainability approaches. These differences, taken together, determine when an approach adopted by a product development organization has the potential to strategically contribute to social sustainability and when it cannot. In terms of product design and development activities, the differences in the system boundaries and success dimensions of our three proposed types also determine the constraints that product developers work with when pursuing social sustainability goals. In this sense, the typology is promising also in terms of its practical application as it should be helpful in framing discussions and providing direction for product development organizations who wish to truly progress in their sustainability journey.