BusinessFit SA has been focused on creating a business framework for organisations to use in assessing their organisational sustainability from an environmental, social and corporate governance aspect. In a nutshell, these guidelines allude to the development of communities and society as a whole whilst supporting the respectful use of raw materials and replenishment of the environment’s natural resources. Simultaneously, this framework follows governance guidelines on ethics and efficacy to improve businesses’ contribution to the creation of a sustainable economy.

Four Critical Pillars
Four critical pillars are brought to the fore, namely:
• Leadership, ethics, and value creation
• Functional area foundation and quality assurance and controls
• Defined outcome intentions and stakeholder measurements
• Organisational culture effectiveness and staffing engagement levels

Through all of this, the framework encourages identifying where entrepreneurs and business leaders excel whilst acknowledging where support and development are required. All of this highlights the significance of continuous mentorship.

An Indelible Mark
To support the quality and purpose of the BusinessFit SA governance and sustainability model, David White met and discussed the framework with Professor Mervyn King. As all will agree, meeting with South African business legend and elder, Professor Mervyn King, is sure to leave an indelible mark.

With an unparalleled background in law, business, leadership and integrated reporting, Professor King holds a global reputation for being a leading resource and authority in sustainability measures and corporate governance. David’s understanding of the impact of leadership and sustainability were forever changed from this meeting.

The question David posed to Professor King queried why South African business had not adopted a stated business framework of reporting that aligns with corporate governance principles, to meet organisational expectations as well as stakeholder intentions.

Professor King agreed that “A common framework supporting activities and strategies to drive businesses towards meeting pre-defined outcomes is important in improving success rates of organisations in the markets – no matter how young or mature the businesses are in the economy.” Addressing this thought further King explained that a critical consideration is certainly ethical and effective leadership from the governing body, and assurance that the organisation is free from influencers such as corruption, greed, and the like.

Professor King emphasised that some of the greatest minds on earth had been drawn together over the past decades to focus on models to support ESG initiatives, integrated reporting, and the development of manageable governance frameworks. “While many of these fine minds brought together for this purpose of improving business effective considerations had different backgrounds and perspectives on organisational success, each had a valuable contribution to make in defining supportive business frameworks to result in more businesses being successful in the market,” furthered Professor King.

As the conversation continued, King highlighted the importance of conscious corporate leadership as the collective mind of any Board.

Professor King also noted that: “One hopes that mankind does one day reach that point of evolution wherein a mature and caring fashion can share knowledge and kindness to others that seek to establish their value-creating pursuits in the economy for the betterment of communities, society, the environment, and the world at large.”

At this point, it was pointed out that the King Committee had recognised that the best frameworks ever conceptualised needed to start with the concept that the organisation was incapacitated, and its corporate leaders were the heart, mind, soul and conscience of the company.

Responsible Corporate Citizenship
Great value is given to organisations that meet legislative requirements to operate efficiently and to ensure value creation and process effectiveness. To support the aim of encouraging leaders and governing bodies to adopt ethical practices, the term ‘responsible corporate citizenship’ was created. This is the recognition by an organisation, no matter its incorporation, that it has legal, social, cultural and environmental responsibilities.

Being a responsible corporate citizen means being guided by moral and ethical standards in daily interactions with customers, stakeholders, and employees. It also means that one values, monitors and beneficially affects communities and societies at large. For example – constructively mining or harvesting, without absorbing more raw materials from the environment than can be replaced by nature herself within a reasonable period.

Lastly, the mantle of responsible corporate citizenship strengthens employee engagement and commitment, raises staffing energy levels, and enhances purpose and contribution from individuals and teams within the organisation.

Achieving Success
Professor King’s emphasis that ethical and effective leadership, and meeting responsible corporate citizenship expectations, were more critical than merely providing a governance framework to guide business leaders and governing bodies towards achieving success and prosperity.

That it is relatively easy for business leaders and organisational teams to follow processes to reach milestones and goals has become clearer. However, to Professor King’s point, when they are empowered to make collective decisions, they can, at times, become subjective, and choose outcomes that positively affect their prosperity and hierarchical endeavours.

Executives’ ultimate aim should be to recognise their true responsibility as leaders and as governing bodies to act in the long-term best interests of the health and sustainability of the organisation.

White reveals that he learnt from the great Professor King that, in particular, business outcomes are directly affected by the simple processes of thinking, considerations and actions adopted by business leaders.

Guiding Light
White concludes “Clearly maturity in the business leaders and governing bodies, who recognise their role in society as critical in creating engaging work environments that include community, environmental, social and governance considerations, is the guiding light needed to help improve our collective and economic challenges. This is the proud work BusinessFit SA, BusinessFit Academy, and BusinessFit International.”

BusinessFit has recognised that quality assurance standards, when implemented correctly within an enterprise, significantly increases the enterprise’s ability to achieve success. Successful enterprises create sustainable employment, and as such, quality assurance and a well-structured governance framework is essential in building thriving enterprises and support growing nations.