Abstract

Danone's "One Person, One Voice, One Share" (OPOVOS) program illustrates the company's innovative approach to employee engagement to achieve sustainability goals. This case study explores how Danone, a global food and beverage company, leveraged its employee base to drive its "One Planet One Health" vision, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By implementing OPOVOS across its business and production facilities, Danone aimed to ensure that employees played an active role in the company's sustainability agenda. The OPOVOS program had two key components: "One Person, One Voice," focusing on employee input through stages of inform, listen, implement, and walk the talk; and "One Person, One Share," which encouraged employees to adopt an ownership mindset through share-based participation. This approach fostered a sense of co-ownership and empowered employees to influence the company's sustainability roadmaps. The case study also highlights significant impacts of the program, such as the opening of a new research and innovation center in Shanghai, China, and the acceleration of Danone's B-Corp certification process. The primary audience for this case study includes MBA students and Executive MBA participants interested in management topics such as sustainability, corporate governance, and employee engagement. By examining Danone's journey, students will gain insights into the critical role of employee engagement in fostering innovation and achieving strategic business objectives with a focus on sustainability. Professors can use this case to discuss corporate social responsibility (CSR), change management, and leadership in the context of achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Learn about legal frameworks like 'Entreprise à Mission' and B-Corp certification, and how these support a company's sustainability objectives.
• Understand the impact of engaging employees in a company's sustainability goals and how this drives innovation and corporate culture
• Explore how corporations can align their sustainability initiatives with broader frameworks like the UN SDGs, creating shared value for stakeholders
• Examine how an employment engagement program can support the long-term sustainability strategy of a company and create a sense of ownership among employees
• Analyze the link between employee-driven ideas and significant outcomes, such as innovation in research and development, and how these contribute to global impact.

Keywords

Employee engagement; Employee empowerment; HRM practices; Employee attitude; Employee feedback; Sustainability; Socially responsible business; UN Sustainable Development Goals; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Corporate Culture; B-Corp Certification; Corporate Purpose; Business Objectives