Merging Paradigms: A framework for meeting the goals of sustainable development and corporate sustainability for cruise industry firms

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Conceptualising global strategic sustainability and corporate transformational change

Purpose ��� The purpose of this paper is to present the concept of global ���strategic sustainability���, represented by a conceptual framework, the ���spheres of strategic sustainability���. The paper examines routes, solutions and a vision for corporate strategic sustainability in the macro context of the global physical environment and the planet. This builds on previous research identifying key drivers and strategies for corporate sustainability. Design/methodology/approach ��� The paper is conceptual in nature and underpinned by Gaia theory, ecosystems theory and the laws of thermodynamics. These three offer specific foci for sustainability research including holism, integration and synthesis: without which, sustainability research would be difficult to achieve. Findings ��� The paper identifies two major domains ��� ���corporate��� and ���consumer��� strategic sustainability. It examines the corporate domain in which routes are identified through responses to existing globalisation, corporate strategy and corporate culture. Research limitations/implications ��� The paper provides insight and preliminary conceptual development towards a full theoretical model of corporate and consumer strategic sustainability. The framework will guide future conceptual and empirical investigations and broaden and deepen our understanding of how firm's can construct strategic business models that incorporate sustainability. Originality/value ��� The paper offers a conceptual framework that develops the concept of ���corporate strategic sustainability��� and provides positive, practical solutions to incorporating sustainability into business models. It also challenges the current dominant socio-economic paradigm and sets the scene for a more positive eco-paradigm that serves the present and future needs of the planet, environment, businesses and human society.

Sustainability in infrastructure investment : building the business case

Many infrastructure agencies adopt sustainability objectives at a corporate level and incorporate sustainability targets and indicators as part of corporate reporting processes. These objectives are expected to translate to all stages of the project delivery process, including project selection. For infrastructure capital works projects and programs, a robust project management approach involves the development of a business case to guide investment decision making. A key tool in the assessment of project options and selection of a delivery strategy is Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA). Infrastructure providers are required to undertake cost benefit analysis to support project selection through regulatory approval and budgetary processes. This tool has emerged through the prism of economic analysis rather than sustainability. A literature review reveals the limitations of CBA alone to effectively evaluate economic, environmental and social externalities or impacts that apply over a long time frame, and that are ultimately irreversible. Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) has been introduced as a means to incorporate a wider array of factors into decision making such as sustainability. This, however, presents new challenges with issues around how to transparently represent wider community values in the selection of a preferred solution. Are these tools effective in assessing the wider sustainability costs and benefits taking into account that these are public works with long life spans and significant impacts across institutional boundaries? The research indicates a need to develop clear guidelines for investment decision making in order to better align with corporate sustainability objectives. Findings from the literature review indicate that a more sustainable approach to investment decision-making framework should include: the incorporation of sustainability goals from corporate planning documents; problem definition and option generation using best practice investment management guidelines; improved guidelines for Business Case development using a combination of both Cost Benefit Analysis and Multi-Criteria Analysis; and an integrated public participation process.

What the Papers Say: Trends in Sustainability

This paper presents an overview of the results of a longitudinal analysis of the coverage of sustainability-related concepts in 115 leading national newspapers worldwide between January 1990 and July 2008, covering approximately 20,500,000 articles in 340,000 newspaper issues in 39 countries. On a global level, sustainable development and corporate social responsibility seem to have reached the mainstream public arena, whereas the coverage of corporate citizenship and corporate sustainability remains marginal. The increase in sustainability related media coverage since 1990 largely seems to be of an incremental nature, rather than clearly associated with specific events. Only very few truly global events can be identified that triggered a substantial amount of media coverage globally. Furthermore, marked regional and national differences in the coverage of sustainability related concepts can be identified.

Organizational determinants of substantive sustainability reporting practices: the role of company-level fit

As sustainability reporting (SR) practices have being increasingly adopted by corporations over the last twenty years, most of the existing literature on SR has stressed the role of external determinants (such as institutional and stakeholder pressures) in explaining this uptake. However, given that recent evidence points to a broader range of motives and uses (both external and internal) of SR, we contend that its role within company-level activities deserves greater academic attention. In order to address this research gap, this paper seeks to provide a more detailed examination of the organizational characteristics acting as drivers and/or barriers of SR integration within corporate sustainability practices at the company-level. More specifically, we suggest that substantive SR implementation can be predicted by assessing the level of fit between the organization and the SR framework being adopted. Building on this hypothesis, our theoretical model defines three forms of fit (technical, cultural and political) and identifies organizational characteristics associated to each of these fits. Finally, implications for academic research, businesses and policy-makers are derived.

Fenntarthat��s��g a hazai v��llalati gyakorlatban ��� A ���Versenyben a vil��ggal��� kutat��si program 2009. ��vi k��rd����ves felm��r��s eredm��nyeinek vizsg��lata (Sustainability in the practice of Hungarian firms)

A fenntarthat��s��g k��rd��sk��re napjainkban egyre ink��bb a figyelem k��z��ppontj��ba ker��l. Egyes szerz��k egyenesen a k��vetkez��, a min��s��gi ��s az inform��ci��s forradalomhoz hasonl�� megatrendnek tartj��k a fenntarthat��s��got (Lubin ��� Esty, 2010). A tanulm��ny c��lja megvizsg��lni, mennyiben ��rv��nyes��l ez a megatrend Magyarorsz��gon: mennyiben kezelik strat��giai, versenyk��pess��gi k��rd��sk��nt a magyar v��llalatok a k��rnyezetv��delmet ��s a fenntarthat��s��got? A szerz�� tanulm��ny��ban bemutatja a fenntarthat�� fejl��d��s v��llalati vonatkoz��sait, majd megvizsg��lja, mennyiben jelennek meg a hazai v��llalatok strat��gi��j��ban ��s gyakorlat��ban a fenntarthat��s��g aspektusai. Az elemz��shez a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem Versenyk��pess��g Kutat�� K��zpontj��ban 2009-ben lebonyol��tott k��rd����ves felm��r��s adatait haszn��lta fel. _______ Sustainability has been receiving an ever increasing attention in recent years. Some authors even cite sustainability as the next megatrend after quality and IT revolutions (Lubin���Esty, 2010). This paper aims to examine to what extent this megatrend prevails in Hungary: do Hungarian companies treat environmental protection and sustainability as a strategic element of competitiveness? The paper studies the concept of corporate sustainability, then examines the presence of the three aspects of sustainability in the strategy and practice of Hungarian firms. The analysis is based on the results of a survey on competitiveness carried out by the Competitiveness Research Centre of Corvinus University of Budapest in 2009.

Sustainable infrastructure operations : a review of assessment schemes and decision support

Infrastructure forms a vital component in supporting today���s way of life and has a significant role or impact on economic, environmental and social outcomes of the region around it. The design, construction and operation of such assets are a multi-billion dollar industry in Australia alone. Another issue that will play a major role in our way life is that of climate change and the greater concept of sustainability. With limited resources and a changing natural world it is necessary for infrastructure to be developed and maintained in a manner that is sustainable. In order to achieve infrastructure sustainability in operations it is necessary for there to be: a sustainability assessment scheme that provides a scientifically sound and realistic approach to measuring an assets level of sustainability; and, systems and tools to support the making of decisions that result in sustainable outcomes by providing feedback in a timely manner. Having these in place will then help drive the consideration of sustainability during the decision making process for infrastructure operations and maintenance. In this paper we provide two main contributions; a comparison and review of sustainability assessment schemes for infrastructure and their suitability for use in the operations phase; and, a review of decision support systems/tools in the area of infrastructure sustainability in operations. For this paper, sustainability covers not just the environment, but also finance/economic and societal/community aspects as well. This is often referred to as the Triple Bottom Line and forms one of the three dimensions of corporate sustainability [Stapledon, 2004].

Alignment and differences between the Australian Water Accounting Standard and the Water Accounting Framework for the Minerals Industry

In 2012, the Bureau of Meteorology under the banner of the Water Accounting Standards Board released the Australian Water Accounting Standard 1 (AWAS 1). This standard has been in development since 2007 with key milestones being the release of the Preliminary Australian Water Accounting Standard in 2009, and the exposure draft of the Australian Water Accounting Standard in 2010. Throughout this period, the Minerals Council of Australia���s Water Accounting Framework has developed concurrently with the Australian standards and the standards have informed elements of the framework. However, the framework is not identical to the standard as the objectives between the two are different. The objective of the Water Accounting Framework is to create consistency in water reporting of the minerals industry and to assist companies reporting to corporate sustainability initiatives. The objective of AWAS 1 is to provide information to water management bodies to facilitate decisions about the allocation of water resources. Companies are to report on an annual basis, not only physical flows of water but contractual requirements to supply and obtain water, regardless of whether the transaction has been fulfilled in the reporting period. In contrast, the Water Accounting Framework only reports on flows that have physically happened. The paper will provide summary information on aspects of AWAS 1 that are most relevant to the minerals industry, show the alignment and differences between AWAS 1 and the Water Accounting Framework and explain how to obtain the information for the AWAS 1 reporting statements.

Exploring the role of lean thinking in sustainable business practice

A large and growing body of literature has explored corporate environmental sustainability initiatives and their impacts locally, regionally and internationally. While the initiatives provide examples of environmental stewardship and cleaner production, a large proportion of the organisations considered in this literature have ���sustainable practice���, ���environmental stewardship��� or similar goals as add-ons to their core business strategy. Furthermore, there is limited evidence of organizations embracing and internalising sustainability principles throughout their activities, products or services. Many challenges and barriers impede outcomes as whole system design or holistic approach to address environmental issues, with some evidence to suggest that targeted initiatives could be useful in making progress. ���Lean management��� and other lean thinking strategies are often put forward as part of such targeted approaches. Within this context, the authors have drawn on current literature to undertake a review of lean thinking practices and how these influence sustainable business practice, considering the balance of environmental and economic aspects of triple bottom line in sustainability. The review methodology comprised firstly identifying theoretical constructs to be studied, developing criteria for categorising the literature, evaluating the findings within each category and considering the implications of the findings for areas for future research. The evaluation revealed two main areas of consideration: - a) lean manufacturing tools and environmental performance, and; - b) integrated lean and green models and approaches. However the review highlighted the ad hoc use of lean thinking within corporate sustainability initiatives, and established a knowledge gap in the form of a system for being able to consider different categories of environmental impacts in different industries and choose best lean tools or models for a particular problem in a way to ensure holistic exploration. The findings included a specific typology of lean tools for different environmental impacts, drawing from multiple case studies. Within this research context, this paper presents the findings of the review; namely the emerging consensus on the relationships between lean thinking and sustainable business practice. The paper begins with an overview of the current literature regarding lean thinking and its documented role in sustainable business practice. The paper then includes an analysis of lean and green paradigms in different industries; and describes the typology of lean tools used to reduce specific environmental impacts and, integrated lean and green models and approaches. The paper intends to encourage industrial practitioners to consider the merits and potential risks with using specific lean tools to reduce context-specific environmental impacts. It also aims to highlight the potential for further investigation with regard to comparing different industries and conceptualising a generalizable system for ensuring lean thinking initiatives build towards sustainable business practice.

Emprendimiento y cultura para la perdurabilidad empresarial

Este documento es un trabajo de grado que aborda temas de emprendimiento en su concepto y proceso, la cultura desde un punto de vista antropol��gico, indagando sobre conceptos te��ricos, luego analizando el estado actual de la actividad empresarial en Colombia, para proponer dos soluciones a la problem��tica de la perdurabilidad empresarial. Para ello es necesario entender el concepto de emprendimiento, c��mo es su proceso, y c��mo se relaciona la antropolog��a cultural con ��stos y el entorno de negocios. No se pretende plantear un modelo de investigaci��n, se quiere proponer un tema que sirva de base para una futura indagaci��n m��s profunda que posiblemente aportar�� el descubrimiento de nuevas oportunidades de creaci��n de empresas innovadoras y perdurables.

Vida y muerte empresarial. Estudios emp��ricos de perdurabilidad. subproyecto: empresas saludables - caso Pan pa ya

Las empresas son creadas por personas para las personas, y son estas quienes se encargan de crear, hacer surgir, modificar y gestionar cada uno de los conceptos de empresa, para as�� lograr modificar caminos y lograr ser perdurables. Son fundamentales las personas que componen la organizaci��n, aclarando que existen muchos factores internos - externos que influyen de diversas maneras en la organizaci��n. Flexibilidad y capacidad de respuesta son elementos claves, estos se reflejan con m��s importancia cuando de dise��ar estrategia se trata. Es claro que en todos los sectores de la econom��a mundial las empresas unen esfuerzos para crear nuevos modelos de respuesta para as�� hacerle frente a cualquier circunstancia que se pueda presentar. Tener una sencilla pero muy completa idea, SER LA CADENA MAS GRANDE DE PANADER��AS��, que con el tiempo alcanzo una perfecci��n optima, logrando ser perdurable, en un sector que claramente est�� saturado por la falta de innovaci��n y ventajas competitivas. Ventajas que PAN PA YA, supo aprovechar, sali��ndose del esquema tradicional y buscando nuevas estrategias de venta, nuevos productos teniendo como escudo protector la calidad de sus productos, y la innovaci��n como su principal arma. El ��xito de PAN PA YA, en gran medida se dio gracias a la creaci��n de la necesidad de un producto de calidad; innovaci��n, capacitaci��n de personal, desarrollo de nuevos y exquisitos productos, ingredientes sencillos para una receta que cualquiera puede tener y que les permiti�� lograr en muy poco tiempo consolidar una exitosa empresa.