For an issue as large as sustainability, everybody has a different vantage point and a different opinion. Ford's Systems Thinking Program Management Office (STPMO), where I work, uses a systems-thinking approach to bridge disparate views around the Company on issues like quality, the recent downsizing efforts and sustainability. In systems thinking, we look at long-term issues in a holistic way to find where and what we could do to impact long-term change while minimizing the unintended consequences in the short term.
Though it's a difficult time for our business, I think that sustainability is a strategic and cumulative approach to be focused on now that offers great opportunity for our business. Further, the sooner you commit, and the longer you commit for, the bigger the gains for our business, society and the environment.
In the realm of sustainability, the STPMO has been involved in facilitating the formation of a community of practice called the Sustainability Learning Community. This community is a group of employees from different organizations committed to meeting at least twice a year, as the larger group, to discuss issues of sustainability affecting Ford and to share best practices. Additionally, to enhance learning and promote the sharing of ideas, the STPMO also assists in arranging open sessions (e.g., audio conferences on sustainability held roughly bi-monthly) on a more frequent basis. We are helping to foster idea sharing through dialogue that leads to the development of new ideas and improvements in our products and our Company.
What I like about the sustainability dialogue is that there is an opportunity to make real changes and improvements to both society and the environment, while offering genuine advantages to business. We can see the triple-bottom-line of economics, society and environment in action.
In terms of sustainability, there are some amazing things happening at Ford. I never thought I'd work for a big company. I thought corporations were the bane of society. But when I worked as in intern here, I found a lot of exciting things going on, from the green roof at the Rouge assembly plant to a simple and effective program for shipping parts in plastic containers that are then reused to make vehicle parts. I could see areas where I could make a difference and I want to be a part of that.
Looking forward, I intend to focus on clarifying issues, identifying problems and using sustainability as an opportunity for our Company. I am committed to where we are going, and anchoring my work in the theory of sustainability. Ultimately, I think Ford can gain a competitive advantage by leveraging sustainability the way it has been – and by doing so even more in the future. 
Eric Wingfield
Systems Analyst, Systems Thinking Program Management Office
Ford Motor Company, Information Technology (IT)
