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About half (48%) of those surveyed admit their current efforts are not working, while 51% say their efforts do focus on adding value to society.
Across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, 48% of C-suite leaders surveyed admit that current business transformations are not working. Yet, only 51% effectively operate regeneratively.
What exactly does it mean to be a 'regenerative business'?
Explored in a recent larger survey titled Regenerate: For a future that works for everyone, published by Kearney, business regeneration is a transformation equation in two parts: the creation of lasting value through the reimagination of strategic and operating fundamentals, alongside the vision of "a future that works for everyone" through active commitment to society and the natural world.
Embedding new digital models and advanced analytics, while making supply chains and people models sustainable for business and society is now mission critical. To fulfill such commitments, businesses will require a long-term approach of becoming truly 'regenerative', which involves looking beyond resilience and proactively asking where value can be added back into society and the wider world.
Instead of optimising for efficiency, the next generation of businesses will regenerate for speed, it was highlighted; and this would involve using external data alongside analytical and advanced AI.
Per the survey of 800 C-suite business leaders from across the globe (including 159 in the APAC region), 99% of regional business leaders thought that becoming a regenerative business was important. In fact, 51% of APAC leaders reported that their companies were already operating regeneratively effectively. While this is higher than the global average (44%), the survey suggests that there is still room for improvement, and more guidance is needed on this new business paradigm.
Similarly, 43% of APAC businesses reported effectively implementing a regenerative culture and 46% said they were already operating a regenerative supply chain very effectively.
Interestingly, attitudes across the C-suite differ — more than half (55%) of APAC CEOs said that their business is very effective at operating regeneratively, with 41% saying there is still a lot of progress yet to be made. On the other hand, COOs in the region are slightly less optimistic, with only 48% saying that they are currently very effective at operating regeneratively, and another 48% saying there is still progress yet to be made.
The research also shows that most C-suites in APAC are adopting leadership styles that support regenerative businesses. They focus on action and empowering others to create their own positivity and change. 49% of CEOs said they are currently operating with regenerative leadership very effectively.
Arjun Sethi, Partner and APAC Regional Chair, Kearney, commented: "Our research shows that APAC businesses are on the right path toward regenerative models and that they are operating regeneratively in a more effective manner than global respondents. While this is positive, it is equally important that our leaders do not lose sight of the end goal while on this journey. Becoming regenerative is not just about restructuring and ironing out the pain points. It's important that any plan sets the pace for long-term success and really adds value back into the world in which you operate.
"Businesses must build on their strengths and identify new opportunities for growth and impact in the future. Resilience was the watchword of the past few years, now it's going to be 'regenerative'."
Global highlights:
- 90% executives believe in the responsibility of business to create “a future that works for everyone.”
- 60% of executives say their business needs to do more to operate a regenerative supply chain
- 58% of C-suites say that developing more regenerative business models is an opportunity for their business
- 58% of C-suites strongly agree that action-orientated leadership is a hallmark of a regenerative business
- 60% of C-suites strongly agree that a regenerative culture builds confidence and commitment in its employees
- Over 50% of C-suites see taking a more regenerative approach to sustainability as an opportunity for their business
Lead image / Shutterstock
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