TRANSFORM: Mapping business models of SMEs for sustainable and resilient communities
This is a regional research initiative to map sustainable and disaster risk reduction practices of SMEs in Mexico and Colombia the project is part of a global network of researchers committed to transforming business models for deeply sustainable, resilient communities.
Description
It is clear that incremental approaches are insufficient to rapidly transform our cities into deeply sustainable and resilient spaces. We need a targeted, evidence-based approach to engage and support small businesses as they develop transformative business models. Our work seeks to inform how transdisciplinary research can help SMEs accelerate towards transformative change, and align to the municipal, provincial, and federal efforts to transition to a resilient, inclusive, and competitive low-carbon economy.
We are exploring the highest impact pathways to sustainable transformation in SMEs. TRANSFORM includes a constellation of private and public sector partners, including municipal governments, leading sustainable small businesses, and business networks.
We are comprised of a networked series of Hubs, coordinated and directed by the leading team at Waterloo, Canada. The Hubs undertake the core research, learning and knowledge mobilization activities which provide the mechanisms for ongoing collaboration with partner organizations, including forging new partnerships and replicating our work.
Our work also contributes to the discussion surrounding the issue of adaptation in the global south. Increasingly, countries in the global south are facing numerous uncertainties and complexities (political, social, economic and environmental) which are amplified by extreme weather in a changing climate. This means we need more insight into how we manage and accelerate transitions in the world’s most vulnerable regions, and particularly, how SMEs may be part of this conversation and process.
So far, we have received lots of feedback, support and enthusiasm for this global project. Thus, we have been building partnerships and piecing together the database that will create pathways to sustainable futures for communities and SMEs alike. As TRANSFORM grows, we look forward to the opportunity to teach, share and contribute to a vibrant community of researchers and practitioners in our field.
Did the Sendai Framework change or contribute to changes in your activities/organization? If so, how?
The Sendai Framework identifies the building of knowledge including the the private sector, through sharing experiences, lessons learned, good practices and training and education on disaster risk reduction, including the use of existing training and education mechanisms and peer learning. Our project strives to provide evidence-based knowledge and support to small firms, supporting this and other aspects of the Sendai Framework. In our TRANSFORM Latin America partnership with the ARISE networks in Mexico and Colombia, our research is looking at nature-based solutions, sustainability, and disaster risk reduction practices of SMEs.
What led you to make this commitment/initiative?
What was your position before making this Voluntary Commitment / prior to the Sendai Framework?
The Sendai Framework supports the integration of disaster risk management, including business continuity, into business models and practices through disaster-risk-informed investments, especially in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises; engage in awareness-raising and training for their employees and customers; engage in and support research and innovation, as well as technological development for disaster risk management; share and disseminate knowledge, practices and non sensitive data; and actively participate in the development of normative frameworks and technical standards that incorporate disaster risk management.
At Transform, we are working with organizations across the world, in many sectors - manufacturing, consulting, service industry, not-for-profits, government partner, and others. They help us understand the real-world experience of transformational sustainability, and what it means to be a small business engaged in sustainable practices.
Deliverables and Progress report
Deliverables
Deliverables are the end-products of the initiative/commitment, which can include issuance of publications or knowledge products, outcomes of workshops, training programs, videos, links, photographs, etc.
In the link below, you may access:
- Peer-reviewed Publications
- Other Publications/Works
This will be a report based on a synthesis of 20 SME case studies in Mexico and Colombia. We will provide an overview of pathways and sequences of implementation of sustainability and disaster risk reduction practices by SMEs in these countries. These cases will also feed into the umbrella global project database of approximately 100 in-depth case studies of sustainability and resilience-oriented business models. This includes pathway maps demonstrating the sequences of implementation and the ecosystem of actors associated with specific sustainability-oriented practices. We also will have several published reports, including a regional for Latin America synthesizing lessons and evidence from our work.
In the link below, you can subscribe and stay in the loop about our latest work to disseminate various research activities and initiatives to advocate for SMEs resilience, among others.
We are exploring the highest impact pathways to sustainable transformation in SMEs.
Our work includes:
- Pathway Mapping & Database
- Interactive Capacity Building
- Experiment with Business Models
- Toolkit
- Policy Ecosystems
In the link below, you may access:
- Peer-reviewed Publications
- Other Publications/Works
TRANSFORM understands the importance of involving youth in conversations around climate change and sustainable transformations, and is committed to providing a platform to amplify the voices of passionate youth climate leaders. The TRANSFORM Youth Corner acts as an engaging and informative space for youth to access sustainability resources, to express their experiences and opinions, and to display their work in the environment field.
Porgress report
We have now mapped 20 business models to develop a series of pathway maps that show the sequence of how sustainability and disaster risk reduction practices are implemented by businesses. The case studies will be uploaded to a database that will help trainers, academics and practitioners plan business model innovations for resilience building and sustainability.
Further, we trained 10 Ph.D. professionals from Mexico and Colombia in the methodology. They engaged and worked with the private sector companies.
Based on the results of the case studies, Dr. Jose DiBella led a training for the UNDRR Americas Office training 20 companies from the Central America and Caribbean region. This led to the development of a new rapid guide for business model innovation and risk mapping guide to be published by UNDRR and ARISE networks.
20 cases of SMEs and implementation sequences of business practices for sustainability and disaster resilience.
10 PhD and professionals trained on the methodology in Mexico and Colombia
1 upcoming publication with UNDRR Americas and the Caribbean "Rapid guide for mapping risks and business model innovations"
Launch of the second summer school "Capacity Building through Experimentation: Multi-Actor teams of business ecosystems for sustainability and disaster resilience"
Organizations and focal points
Implementing Organization(s)
- TRANSFORM
- Arizona State University
- Copenhagen Business School
- Leuphana University Lüneburg
- Lund University
- Monash University
- Swinburne University of Technology
- University of Waterloo
Focal points
Partners
