Sustainability and the need for change: organisational change and transformational vision

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an introduction to the special issue on the theme of sustainability and the need for change. Design/methodology/approach – The paper gives an overview of sustainability and its managerial and policy dilemmas for organizations. It also outlines the topics covered in the papers in the special issue. Findings – The question that the papers seek to answer is: how can organisations deal with the sustainability challenge? The papers cover the key sustainability dilemmas: how to balance short term priorities with long term vision, organisational change with stability, strategic goals with day to day implementation, domestic with international responsibilities; how to manage the corporate brand, image and reputation; how to influence policies nationally and internationally, and foster relations, all in the realm of effecting the change in attitude and behaviour that sustainability demands. Originality/value – The paper introduces an eclectic collection of papers that are intended to inform, challenge and stimulate continuing debate.