The sustainability of an organisation, particularly in times of economic turmoil, is often seen as directly related to its ability to innovate and implement change. But how organisations perceive and react to failure – their failure orientation – is also integral to ongoing viability. According to Australian School of Business associate professor Gavin Schwarz, firms that recognise failure as a stabilising force and as a legitimate aspect of organisational survival will find this perspective can have a positive influence on the overall behaviour of their organisations and, with it, future prospects.