The (un)sustainable uncertainty of resources

Teresa Candeias

The theme of resource management assumes particular relevance in contemporary society. At a time marked by geopolitical tensions and the fragmentation of supply chains, resource management becomes inevitable. Every day we are confronted with news that report its scarcity. Thus, it is urgent to manage them efficiently and sustainably, which allows, on the one hand, to satisfy current needs and, on the other, not to compromise the ability of future generations to satisfy their needs. The guarantee of efficiency stems from the optimization of the use of resources resulting from the minimization of waste and the maximization of productivity. Sustainability, on the other hand, is achieved through its preservation and responsible and equitable use.

In this sense, it is crucial that countries develop policies that encourage investment and innovation. In addition, the sharing of resources imposes a strengthening of international cooperation capable of promoting solidarity between countries in their use.

In the case of organizations, the management of tangible or intangible resources is crucial to ensure their competitiveness. The resource-based view stresses the relevance of an organization's internal resources in obtaining competitive advantages and its performance, obviously not neglecting the external environment. To this end, it is necessary to recognize, develop and protect the organization's valuable and unique resources and capabilities that constitute a primary source of sustainable competitive advantage.

In this sense, its strategic management must be designed based on the objectives of the organization, therefore lacking strategic planning and a permanent evaluation of the performance obtained. Analysis of the quality, availability and distribution of resources makes it possible to identify those that appear to be critical, estimate demand and promote measures capable of ensuring their preservation and efficient and sustainable use. In the case of performance monitoring, it is essential for the implementation of continuous improvement processes and constitutes a foundation for assertive decision-making.

In this way, the effective and efficient management of resources plays a fundamental role in economic, environmental and social sustainability. The topic has been on the media agenda, but the most important thing is to ensure that it is on the agenda of countries, organizations and individuals and constitutes a real priority.

Teresa Candeias
Director of the Degree in Management at Universidade Lusófona - Centro Universitário Porto