With the world facing many environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, and resource depletion, companies acknowledge the need to prioritize sustainability in their operations. 

According to a survey conducted by the United Nations Global Compact and Accenture, almost 98% of CEOs recognize the importance of sustainability and see it as a core part of their role. Moreover, a report by the Global Reporting Initiative found that 73% of the world’s largest companies are now reporting on their sustainability performance. Additionally, over 25% of businesses reported cost savings as a result of their sustainability investments.

Not only is it a moral imperative but it is also increasingly becoming a business essential as consumers, investors, and governments demand more sustainable practices from businesses. The Global Sustainable Investment Alliance reports that sustainable investments reached $35.3 trillion globally in 2020, up 15% from 2018. Furthermore, a survey revealed that over one-third (34%) of the population is willing to pay a 25% premium on average for sustainable products or services.

But there is still much progress to be made. Monitoring performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) can provide insights into environmental performance and aid in monitoring waste reduction and management.

One example is The KPI Institute’s KPI of the Month: % Waste reused, recycled, and recovered. This KPI helps businesses identify the proportion of reused, recycled, or recovered from the total waste generated during the reporting period. Its purpose is “to provide an indication of the performance management efficacy and commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability actions.”

This KPI of the Month endorses the Zero Waste Hierarchy framework, which aims to promote sustainable choices, minimize waste, and conserve resources. The framework is divided into seven parts: redesign, reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, residuals and unacceptable. 

To know more about how to use the % Waste reused, recycled, and recovered indicator, download the free poster through The KPI Insitute Marketplace. 

The KPI of the Month Infographic features a KPI by providing its definition and presenting the challenges of using the KPI in terms of calculation, Balance Scorecard focus, data profile, targets, and recommendations for implementation. It is a valuable resource for practitioners, academics, and consultants working in performance management.

This piece was first published in the latest edition of Performance Magazine. Andrea Minelli is the head of Professional Services SEA and a trainer and Performance Management Consultant at The KPI Institute. Andrea shared his views on the question “What Are the Success Factors of a Corporate Performance Management Implementation Process?”

A performance management system (PMS) implementation is not an easy feat regardless of the maturity of their implementation SOPs and the capability of those individuals guiding the implementation exercise. The success rate of a PMS implementation is highly dependent on the degree of buy-in of the members of the organization regardless of whether the member is involved in the implementation per se of the framework or if they will be appraised using the mentioned system. 

Such buy-in or organizational support towards the framework can be secured via continuous and transparent knowledge-sharing sessions. We explain to all members the motivation of the implementation and the desired outcomes. We train all allocated members in raising their knowledge and awareness towards the technicality of the framework (the specificity of these training should be customized as per the audience). 

For instance, the implementation team, which is generally members of the departments of Strategy Execution, Performance Management, Quality Assurance, or Organizational Excellence, will have a more in-depth technical preparation with respect to a non-PMS-implementation member. 

Such knowledge-sharing sessions aim at upskilling those members involved in applying standardized practices related to Strategic Planning and Execution, selection of Performance Measurement indicators, such as KPIs, at different organizational layers, and above all, proper cascading/alignment practices for Strategic and Performance Management matters. 

Last but not least, it is relevant to remember that the implementation of all the mentioned practices requires not only informed, skilled, and capable individuals from specific departments of the organization, but a proper dedicated governance framework that will foster and assist both the implementation team and all the members of the organization. Crucial support is required by Top Management and BoDs members pre-during and after the PMS framework is in place. 

There is no one-size-fits solution as organizational readiness, both technical and human-wise, play a big role in the PMS success. A governance-led standardized implementation approach will provide the foundations of success though.

Andrea Minelli facilitates the Certified Performance Management Professional Live Online Course of The KPI Institute. Stay tuned to The KPI Institute’s LinkedIn official page for the upcoming schedule and learn more about the Certification in Performance Management here.