The results of this assessment can be used for more than disclosing and reporting on the organization's sustainability performance. They can also be used to guide if / where the organization plans to improve.
It is unlikely that an organization will undertake improvements on its scores all at once. Several
stakeholder-related factors usually are taken into consideration when determining which should be prioritized
for
action. If particular issues are important to key stakeholders, they are important to the organization and
should be
prioritized for action.
* Issues which the organization's senior management deem to be critical to achieving the organization's purpose
and
strategic plan / goals.
* Issues of particular interest to lender's / banker's because they affect the organization's risk profile and
eligibility for preferential treatment.
(e.g., sustainability-linked loans may give weight to climate change related issues.)
* Issues that important customers / buyers deem to be high-priority ESG issues, as emphasized in their
requirement
to disclose your organization's enterprise-level sustainability impacts, in their requests for proposals (RFPs).
(e.g. sustainable procurement requires suppliers to disclose their enterprise-level sustainability
performance)
* Issues that could significantly affect the organization's image / reputation / brand value, or already
have.
* Issues that are of most interest to investors, depending on the organization's industry sector.
(e.g., as indicated by the SASB Materiality Map, at the link below)
* Issues of most interest to governments, foundations, and raters / rankers.
Sustainability Accounting Standards Board(SASB)
Materiality
Map
There are hundreds of books, websites and advisors that can help with whatever the organization decides to improve. These are just the tip of the iceberg.
| Future-Fit Business Benchmark Action Guides for potential actions / projects on prioritized issues. | Future-Fit Business Benchmark Action Guides |
| Sustainability ROI Workbook for preparing CFO-friendly cost-benefit justifications of projects that would improve performance on prioritized issues. | Sustainability ROI Workbook |
| The Sustainability Champion's Guidebook and video for how to lead an organization toward a more sustainable business model, even you are not a senior manager. | Sustainability Champion's Guidebook |
| Master Slide Decks of hundreds of ready-to-use slides on all the above, for use internally and externally to explain, and help justify, what the organization needs to do, why, and how. | Sustainability Advantage Master Slide Decks |