To determine the key messages for SRI investors, companies should cross-reference between their strategic planning function, investor relations team and the CSR/sustainability department as follows:

Issue scoping

Fundamental factors
  • (External): Which five external factors are most important to understanding the company’s markets and strategic positioning?
  • (Internal): Which five internal performance factors give most insight into the company’s long-term business prospects?
Current drivers
  • (External): Which five market / external indicators are ‘mainstream’ financial analysts currently watching most closely?
  • (Internal): Which five internal performance metrics are ‘mainstream financial’ analysts focussed on currently?
Sustainability factors
  • (External): What external social or environmental factors have and will have most impact on the company?
  • (Internal): What are the company’s five priority areas for sustainability management?

Overlap

  • How (if at all) do the sustainability factors identified above overlap with the fundamentals and current drivers?
  • How is the company’s sustainability programme being directed to reduce business risk and capture commercial opportunity?
  • What key metrics exemplify this?