Business Sustainability and Key Performance Indicators

Zabihollah Rezaee¹, Heshmat (John) Rezaee² 
(1. Fogelman College of Business and Economics, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152-3120, USA;
2. Florida Power and Light Company, 700 Universe Blvd, Juno Beach, FL 33408, USA)

Abstract: Business sustainability has gained considerable attention in the aftermath of the 2007-2009 global financial crises. Business sustainability focuses on activities that generate long-term economic performance (ESP) of firm value maximization as well as voluntary activities that result in the achievement of environmental, social, and government (ESG) sustainability performance that concerns all stakeholders. More than 5000 companies worldwide are now reporting on some dimensions of their sustainability performance by disclosing both financial and non-financial key performance indicators (KPIs). This paper examines ESP and ESG dimensions of sustainability performance and presents KPIs for these sustainability dimensions.

Key words: sustainability performance; key performance indicators; sustainability reporting and assurance; corporate social responsibility

JEL codes: G32, M40