How do the concepts of social and environmental sustainability differ from that of financial sustainability, the accountant’s idea of “going concern”? How, if at all, might these differences be reconciled? What are the major obstacles to reconciling the differing views?

Business Accountability and Responsibility

Social and environmental sustainability v. financial sustainability

1) How do the concepts of social and environmental sustainability differ from that of financial sustainability, the accountant’s idea of “going concern”?

2) What implications do these differences have for the ways in which a) businesses operate and b) the ways in which they report on their activities?

3) How, if at all, might these differences be reconciled? What are the major obstacles to reconciling the differing views?

4) What might the implications for the future of business (operational and reporting) be of reconciling these differing views? What might the implications be of not doing so?