The most famous success stories, such as those featured in the influential book "Built to Last," may also face scrutiny over time. Declines occur when companies fail to adapt to industry shifts (Blockbuster), ignore technological changes (Kodak), or lose brand relevance as their core audience Job Function Email List ages and fails to appeal to younger consumers (as many apparel and consumer goods brands have Same fate) So, in this context, what exactly happened to Danone? Could sustainability be the problem? certainly. But maybe it's something more subtle.
In his book Intent and Purpose Profit, the Harvard professor analyzes Danone's performance when its CEO was ousted and finds that the company underperformed not only in financial performance but also in sustainability results: Intentions and plans were solid , but the results lag. Serafim concludes: is not because it focuses on impact, but because it fails to generate enough impact. Whether this conclusion is correct is the right debate to have, rather than simply attributing a company's problems to sustainability. Stop the blame game.