Title: Business strategies for managing legislative requirements: a case study of legislative sustainability requirements for biofuels in the EU

Authors: Heli Kasurinen; Sanni Väisänen; Ville Uusitalo; Risto Soukka

Addresses: Lappeenranta University of Technology, LUT School of Energy Systems, Unit of Sustainability Science, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Lappeenranta University of Technology, LUT School of Energy Systems, Unit of Sustainability Science, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Lappeenranta University of Technology, LUT School of Energy Systems, Unit of Sustainability Science, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland ' Lappeenranta University of Technology, LUT School of Energy Systems, Unit of Sustainability Science, P.O. Box 20, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland

Abstract: Businesses employ different strategies to manage legislative requirements; however, there is little science-based understanding of the strategies that are in use. This study introduces a general legislation maturity model for businesses that includes company profiles, strategies and activity levels in relation to legislative requirements. Four strategies, namely defensive, adaptive, proactive and lead, are described through a case study of legislative sustainability requirements for biofuels in the EU that are organised according to their urgency and validity to biofuel producers, and the associated activity levels. This model will help managers to identify the strategies they employ, more systematically select strategies, understand the spatial and temporal scales and more efficiently allocate legislation management resources. The legislation maturity profiles, strategies, activities and urgency-validity framework are applicable in other industries.

Keywords: biofuels; business; sustainability; EU; legislation; Renewable Energy Directive; defensive strategy; adaptive strategy; proactive strategy; lead strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMP.2018.088385

International Journal of Management Practice, 2018 Vol.11 No.1, pp.69 - 92

Received: 31 May 2016
Accepted: 01 Jun 2017
Published online: 05 Dec 2017 *

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