Summary

Today′s organizations must face up to environmental concerns. Consumers are demanding environmentally safe products, investors are demanding environmentally responsible business practices and governmental regulation is targeting environmental protection. In light of these demands, how can managers make strategic decisions that are both economically viable and environmentally sensitive?

The Second Edition of this topical book presents current United States and global environmental issues, particularly as they relate to business activities and management practice. The authors provide an overview of the social, scientific and economic concepts related to making environmentally sensitive strategic decisions and offer a new decision-making framework - sustainable growth strategy. This edition contains updated information and examples, including additional information on: industrial metabolism; biophysical, socio-economic and moral sustainability; and stakeholder management. There are also two new chapters, one which deals with creating environmental management systems and the other which explores the underlying frameworks that guide individual and collective action.

Choice Review

The Steads (both affiliated with East Tennessee State University) create a masterful blend of social and physical science in a compelling argument for a new economic paradigm. They assert that traditional eonomics ignores norms and values when it assumes the possiblity of unending, unlimited economic growth. One major recurring theme is Earth as a fragile, living, and virtually closed system that is being ravaged by unprecendented population growth, profligate consumption of nonrenewable resources, and a growing inability to absorb waste materials. The authors warn that, despite objective evidence to the contrary, humankind, believing that "more is better," continues to overspend its natural capital at an alarming rate. A second major theme centers on a value-based economic paradigm that will engender "sustainability strategies" for business. This book is a clear, readable call to the superordinate goal of preserving humankind through taking notice of, and action on, the incremental detriments to Earth's ecology that stem from economic activity and achieving a global balance between energy input and waste output. Richly referenced and indexed. See also Donella H. Meadows, Beyond the Limits (CH, Oct'92). For libraries at all levels. S. Newport; Creighton University