Change agent sensemaking for sustainability in a multinational subsidiary

Purpose – This paper seeks to improve the understanding of implementation processes that achieve corporate sustainability by providing explanatory knowledge about the role of change agents from a sensemaking perspective. The paper also aims to focus on the sustainability efforts of change agents in a multinational carpet tile manufacturer. Design/methodology/approach – The theoretical perspective of the paper is based on the concepts of sensemaking and emergent change. The paper examines sustainability sensemaking in the Dutch subsidiary of the US‐based carpet tile manufacturer Interface over a period of ten years (2000‐2010). Findings – The findings show that embedding sustainability by change agents is typically an emergent change process that consists of small steps and is not predictable. Research limitations/implications – This paper focuses on the emergent, unpredictable aspects of change. More research is needed on processes of adapting the general concept of sustainability to local organisational contexts. Originality/value – The paper examines sustainability sensemaking by change agents in one organisation.