ABSTRACT
Sustainable work systems: basic point of departure Chapter 1 presented the principal objectives, motives, and theory-based framing of this book. Here we will briefly restate our definition of sustainable work systems before analyzing and summarizing the lessons we draw from the cases in the book. In Chapter 1, we defined work as an intentional value-creating process, characterized by situation-specific goals, rules, resources, and contextual conditions. We argued that sustainability at work entails concurrent development in the economic, ecological, human, and social resources engaged in work processes. At the most basic level, a sustainable work system is one that is able to function in its environment and achieve economic or operational goals. However, on top of that, the functional capacity of a sustainable work system builds on and promotes the development of the human, social, ecological, and economic resources engaged in its operations.
