Unsustainable development initiatives often involve a small group of people to make strategic decisions and then cascade that communication upwards or downwards with the usual communication breakdowns. Sustainable development initiatives include larger numbers of internal and external stakeholders in strategy sessions, across all levels and silos. This spectrum of involvement in co-creation increases buy-in, reduce miscommunication, and reduces the cycle-time required for the innovation process (Laszlo & Cooperrider, 2010).
In other words, when a small group makes decisions for a big group, it doesn’t stick very well. If you want sustainable change, you need participation. A direct comparison of percentages is a useful way to think about it. If 1% of an organization (the top… obviously) makes a sweeping decision, you might see 1% enthusiasm and commitment from everyone else affected. If you involved 50% of an organization in a change, you will see a commensurate increase.
