As the project is coming to an end, it is time to reflect on the goals set, the work achieved, and the lessons learned. The goal of the project was to compare the most important sustainability disclosure to facilitate the work for international companies and to have a better understanding and overview regarding different requirements. Additionally, mid-project, the client asked us to include a mapping of which stock exchanges require which sustainability disclosures. While the client first wanted all G20 stock exchanges, by having strictly planned our timeline, argued for the G7. Because of the respect between the client and us, they understood and trusted our decision and did not try to further push their way.
The lessons learned regarding our project are quite straightforward. The clients’ responsiveness motivates the team and ensures that we meet our deadlines. Furthermore, setting a strict execution plan helps immensely to ensure the team members feel the responsibility to work on their respective parts. Lastly, it remains obvious that every team member works differently, which sometimes has led to frustration between team members. I believe that if everyone had come to the first team management workshop, we would not have had the issues we had throughout the project.
Lastly, I’d like to reflect on the role and current state of sustainability disclosures in general. It is quite striking to me how many different sustainability frameworks exist, all trying to ensure the same goal. While the distinction between them due to different criteria is valid, there seems to be the need for a unified approach to push stronger for better and unified sustainability reporting. The work that we did as a team might help the short-term understanding of sustainability disclosures. However, given the quick progress in the sector, it is only a matter of time until our work is not valuable anymore. Instead, sustainability frameworks should unify and work together under one umbrella, ensuring that within one framework all needs of stakeholders, investors, industries, geography etc. are met.