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What is your Entrepreneur Profile?

What is your entrepreneurial profile

 

4 THEMES - 14 QUESTIONS


« Sustainable development is development that meets the needs
of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs »[1].

The questionnaire covers 4 themes and 14 questions related to business management and sustainable development. Each question presents 4 answer choices (A,B,C,D).


For each question, choose the statement (A,B,C,D) that best corresponds to your situation.

After answering the 14 questions, your entrepreneurial profile will appear:

Conservative, Hesitant, Welcoming or Visionary


This survey is aimed at all businesses producing and selling products and services.

If you have questions or comments,
contact us at 819 233-3315. 

 

The SADC can support you in sustainable development through its PROAction program. Inquire!

« The success of businesses partly relies on the adoption of better eco-responsible business practices that enhance their overall performance »

The business and sustainable development

Sustainable development is based on a long-term vision that takes into account the inseparable nature of the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of human activities. 


Sustainable development is a way for businesses to expand their economic mission by integrating social and environmental values and practices. This broader vision of development is increasingly established as a necessary practice to ensure the viability of businesses, whether at the local or international level.

 

Environmental dimension 


• Use of renewable energies

• Waste elimination

• Preservation of biodiversity

Social
dimension

• Health and quality of life

• Access to knowledge

• Transfer of skills

• Protection of cultural heritage

• Respect for human rights

Economic dimension

• Efficiency

• Competitiveness

• Encouraging innovation

• Creation and maintenance of jobs 

Governance
and management

• Mission, vision, values

• Organization's strategy

• Business ethics

1 : GENERAL MANAGEMENT

  • I do not see the benefit for my business in committing to sustainable development.
  • In the company, I am already doing my part, mainly for the environment.
  • I would be interested in committing to a sustainable development approach in my company if I had the information and/or the means.
  • I have been engaged for some time in a sustainable development approach that I am updating and gradually improving.

2 : CHANGE

  • We are not experiencing any major changes (new equipment, new employees, new markets, etc.) at the moment.
  • We are currently experiencing a major change and it concerns us a lot.
  • We are considering making a major change soon.
  • We are constantly in a process of continuous improvement.

3 : INNOVATION

  • We have neither the time nor the means to question our activities.
  • Research and development are not relevant in our field of activity.
  • We would be interested to know how we could improve our ways of doing things and how our sector is evolving.
  • We stimulate innovation in our activities and allocate part of our profits to research and development.

4 : PLANNING

  • We make the company's strategic decisions based on our instinct and experience.
  • We plan strategic decisions in advance and write them down in an annual plan.
  • We could be more proactive by planning for the long term. This would allow us to seize more business opportunities.
  • We work with a plan that details short, medium, and long-term goals.

5 : PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

  • It is unthinkable to modify the composition or presentation of my range of products/services to reduce their negative impacts on the environment.
  • The negative impacts of my products/services are minimal or non-existent.
  • I would like to know how I could reduce the impact of my products/services and what I could change in my product/service offering.
  • We are conducting research and development to create a new range of eco-designed products.

6 : PURCHASING

  • Our purchases are primarily based on price and accessibility criteria.
  • We encourage local businesses when the price is competitive.
  • We would be interested in adopting a policy to reduce the negative impacts of our supplies, if it proves to be profitable.
  • We have a eco-responsible purchasing policy that we use and improve over time.

7 : INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY

  • Citizens agree with the company's activities as it creates jobs.
  • Our activities are not harmful and do not affect the quality of life of the nearest residents.
  • We could improve our relationships with the citizens of the municipality.
  • We maintain healthy relationships with the community

8 : HUMAN RESOURCES

  • I do not believe that improving working conditions and the work environment influences productivity.
  • The employees of the organization are governed by a committee (CCQ, union, etc.).
  • We could improve health and safety prevention at work. We could improve the employment conditions we offer.
  • We have developed a comprehensive health and safety program; we have reviewed our employment conditions and are currently working to increase motivation and engagement of work teams through new responsibilities and ongoing training.

9 : SUPPLIERS

  • We demand the lowest price from our suppliers.
  • Our relationships with our suppliers are not a priority; they do not have a direct impact on our performance.
  • If sustainable development could help us retain our suppliers, we would be interested to know how.
  • As part of our eco-responsible purchasing policy, we have established good relationships with our suppliers.

10 : PROFIT SHARING

  • The salaries of our employees are fixed.
  • We reinvest profits.
  • How can we involve employees in profit sharing?
  • We have a salary policy that integrates profit-sharing measures for employees.

11 : SALES

  • Our sales efforts are primarily based on price.
  • We have made efforts to ensure that our products/services have minimal environmental impacts, but we do not use this argument.
  • We would be interested in developing the market for consumers looking for regional and environmentally friendly products/services.
  • Our main selling argument is based on our low impact on the environment and society.

12 : COMPETITION

  • Our competitors are local and do not make visible efforts in sustainable development.
  • Competition is intensifying (globalization, new products, etc.), but we cannot change anything about it.
  • It would certainly be possible to take advantage of the profile of our competitors from abroad, but we are not working on that for now.
  • We work as much as possible in consultation with some of our competitors and avoid confrontations as much as possible.

13 : PRODUCTION

  • We do not wish to modify our production system.
  • We control the quality of our products.
  • We believe that our production process could be optimized. Perhaps we could review our raw materials and energy source?
  • We have participated in various government programs and remain alert to new possibilities.

14 : CUSTOMERS

  • My customers want to pay as little as possible, regardless of the quality or impacts of the products/services.
  • We address all customer complaints and consider their suggestions.
  • We are seeing increasing curiosity from our customers regarding the environmental impacts of our activities. How can we meet their expectations?
  • We try to meet the new requirements of customers by considering their requests in the renewal of our products/services.

YOU HAVE MOST OFTEN ANSWERED A: YOU ARE CONSERVATIVE

Sustainable development does not resonate with you as an opportunity, but rather as something abstract and unimportant. You do not understand why governments and consumers make such a fuss about it, and now your SADC is getting involved. The reason is simple, you have everything to gain by improving your practices now by drawing inspiration from sustainable development. The most interesting part is that you have plenty of options. Some measures are within your reach right now as they require little commitment, can be implemented in the short term, or offer an interesting return on investment. Thus, you will certainly be tempted by the avenues proposed by eco-efficiency or by ideas related to sales and purchasing. These practices may already be imperative in your market. Your sustainable development advisor from the SADC of Nicolet-Bécancour can provide you with more insights on this topic.

YOU HAVE MOST OFTEN ANSWERED B: YOU ARE HESITANT

You are not new to sustainable development. You have already undertaken some steps, mainly related to recycling and energy conservation. You believe it would not be relevant to advance further, given your market and sector. Consult your SADC sustainable development advisor for more information on the benefits of sustainable development for your organization. For example, you will certainly be interested in one-time government programs and organizations offering technical support and funding or in the SADC's sustainable development support service.

YOU HAVE MOST OFTEN ANSWERED C: YOU ARE WELCOMING

You are very open to sustainable development. You are curious and want to learn more. However, you have not yet taken action. Given your open-mindedness towards sustainable development, you will certainly be interested in establishing a policy to structure your approach and target your objectives from the start. Do not hesitate to consult your SADC sustainable development advisor. The support service could greatly satisfy you as it would allow you to go further in your actions.

YOU HAVE MOST OFTEN ANSWERED D: YOU ARE VISIONARY

You are already among the leaders of SMEs facing the challenges of sustainable development. You have diverse practices adapted to your activities. You wish to persevere by establishing new sustainable development initiatives and enhancing those already in place. Considering your interest and level of advancement, your SADC sustainable development advisor could inform you about new financial programs that could take you even further. They could also invite you to share your expertise in sustainable development with other SMEs in the area through mentoring, conferences, or other networking activities. Contact the SADC of Nicolet-Bécancour for more information on the support services offered (819 233-3315).


To continue your reflection and take action, you can also fill out the sustainable development diagnosis of your organization
by clicking on the following link: http://www.sadcnicoletbecancour.ca/6449grillediagnosticpourlesentreprisespdf



For information or support in sustainable development, 
contact Carolyne Aubin, sustainable development advisor, at 819 233-3315 ext. 25.

1 Sustainable Development Action Plan 2016-2020, Ministry of Economy, Science and Innovation.
2 World Commission on Environment and Development of the United Nations, Brundtland Report, 1987
3 GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF ACQUISITIONS OF QUEBEC. Internal policy on eco-responsible acquisitions.
4 Standard NF X 30-264 Environmental Management – Assistance in implementing an eco-design approach, 2013
5 www.economie.gouv.gc.ca

This document is inspired by the original version of the “Sustainable Development Self-Diagnosis” created by the SADC of Haut-Saguenay in December 2007 as well as that of the SADC of Laurentides from October 2008




glossary

RESPONSIBLE PURCHASING (ECO-RESPONSIBLE)

These are products and services whose negative effect on human health and the environment is lower, compared to competing products or services that meet the same needs. 3

ECO-DESIGN, ECO-DESIGNED PRODUCT

Systematic integration of environmental aspects from the design and development of products (goods and services, systems) with the aim of reducing negative environmental impacts throughout their life cycle while providing equivalent or superior service. 4

ECO-EFFICIENCY

Eco-efficiency is a management approach that focuses on innovation to improve the financial and environmental performance of the company. It aims to prevent pollution, reduce resource and energy consumption, and minimize waste at the source.5