Vision and strategy
The ambition to ultimately defeat diabetes is at the core of the company’s vision. It is a business proposition and the main driver for Novo Nordisk’s contribution to sustainable development.
Good health is a driver of economic growth and a prerequisite for achieving greater social equity. Serving unmet medical needs also motivates the aspiration to offer products and
services in areas that make a difference. This vision sets Novo Nordisk’s objectives in
context and inspires employees in their work. It is a beacon that keeps everyone’s focus on creating long-term shareholder value and leveraging the company’s unique qualities to gain competitive advantage.
Novo Nordisk believes in the value that is created by people who are engaged in what they do. Offering an inspiring place to work attracts and retains talented people and is a key factor for long-term success in an increasingly competitive business environment.
Novo Nordisk’s values are consistent with principles of good governance. Putting values
into action is as manifest in employees’ everyday business dealings as in formal global standards and management practices.
See more on Novo Nordisk Way of Management here.
Learning curve
Ongoing stakeholder engagement and trendspotting help identify new issues which are or could become material to Novo Nordisk. The Novo Nordisk learning curve is a tool that aligns the process of defining materiality with integration into business practices. Emerging issues that are identified as relevant and potentially material are included at the bottom of the learning curve.
Following a review of its implications for Novo Nordisk’s long-term business, a strategy is framed for those issues that are deemed material and subsequently data, indicators and targets are identified. Once management of the issue has been embedded in the organisation, so that it is fully integrated into business processes, the strategy will be revisited as appropriate. Moreover, issues that are included on the learning curve are monitored as part of the integrated risk management process.
Setting long-term targets
Sustainability is a moving target. Understanding the dynamics of society and the business environment that can enhance or impede corporate growth helps identify risks and opportunities for the company as a commercial business and as a corporate citizen. Such insights are gained via trendspotting, scenario analyses and forecasting in a 10-year perspective as part of the Strategic Planning Process.
This translates into medium- and short-term priorities and targets for the company’s financial and non-financial performance. Novo Nordisk has adopted the Balanced Scorecard as the company-wide management tool for measuring progress. As part of the remuneration package, individuals are rewarded for performance that meets or exceeds the financial and non-financial targets in the Balanced Scorecard, which comprise corporate, unit-specific and individual targets. Progress is tracked against targets in the annual accounts. Financial performance is guided by a set of four long-term targets focusing on growth, profitability, financial return and cash generation. Non-financial performance is guided by measures for the company’s impacts on the Triple Bottom Line. These include socio-economic impacts such as job creation, the ability to manage environmental impacts and optimise resource efficiency, and social impacts related to employees, patients and communities.
A focused strategy
To secure long-term success, Novo Nordisk will continue to grow its business in ways that are both responsible and sustainable. The company seeks to make a positive economic, environmental and social impact through its operations, global management standards, community engagements, partnerships and knowledge exchanges.
See the business strategy, focusing on leveraging the company’s core competencies in its therapy areas.
