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Sowing Seeds for Sustainability in Work Systems

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Sustainability and Human Resource Management

Part of the book series: CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance ((CSEG))

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to suggest some ways in which the promotion of social and human sustainability at work may contribute positively to a work system’s ecological and economic sustainability. We also explore conceptual and practical ways to encourage the sustainability of social and human resources in contemporary working life. Throughout the chapter, we exemplify our arguments with case illustrations from the Skaraborg Hospital Group in Sweden. We discuss how the unwavering goals of protecting and regenerating various resources in work-system operations are critical hallmarks of a sustainable work system. We also outline some worldviews and ways of thinking that seem to underlie the operations of sustainable work systems. We then delineate the implications of the resource regeneration goals and sustainability-minded ways of thinking for work-system actors. Most importantly, we propose that sowing seeds for sustainability involves engaging co-workers with different knowledge and professional backgrounds in on-going learning dialogues concerning the actual development of the whole system.

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Acknowledgments

We dedicate this chapter to the late Professor Peter Docherty at the Centre for Healthcare Improvement (CHI) at the Chalmers University of Technology. Peter played a central role and has been a major inspirational force throughout the research projects and in outlining this chapter, sharing his wisdom, kindness and vast experience. We will strive to continue our work in the spirit of Peter to honor his memory. We would also like to thank Mattias Ståhl, ecological manager at the Skaraborg Hospital Group. Mattias conducted the Laughing Gas project and provided us with important data and insightful reflections from the project. This chapter is founded on research funded by Academy of Finland (Mari Kira).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland

    Mari Kira

  2. Centre for Healthcare Improvement, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Svante Lifvergren

Authors
  1. Mari Kira
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  2. Svante Lifvergren
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Correspondence to Mari Kira .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Louvain School of Management, Université Catholique de Louvain, Place des Doyens 1, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1348, Waals Brabant, Belgium

    Ina Ehnert

  2. , Cass Business School, University of Chester, Picts Lane 21, Princes Risborough, HP27 9DX, United Kingdom

    Wes Harry

  3. University of Kaiserslautern, Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße, Kaiserslautern, 67663, Germany

    Klaus J. Zink

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Kira, M., Lifvergren, S. (2014). Sowing Seeds for Sustainability in Work Systems. In: Ehnert, I., Harry, W., Zink, K. (eds) Sustainability and Human Resource Management. CSR, Sustainability, Ethics & Governance. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-37524-8_3

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