The barriers to the implementation of the ISO 14001 environmental management system at Wits Business School, South Africa.

Ryan, Ishana

The barriers to the implementation of the ISO 14001 environmental management system at Wits Business School, South Africa.

Date

2016

Authors

Ryan, Ishana

Abstract

Environmental sustainability promotes the sustainable use of natural capital. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have multiple operations and activities that have a negative impact on the environment. Like corporations, HEIs must develop environmental sustainability practices to protect the environment. This can be achieved with the adoption of an environmental management system (EMS). Due the complexity of environmental issues, the adoption of an EMS can be blocked by a number of different barriers (EMS barriers) which can adversely affect the successful implementation and use of the system (Kirkland & Thompson, 1999). This study investigated thirteen barriers to an EMS to ascertain which would be most prominent at the Wits Business School (WBS) in South Africa. Variation in the type of EMS barriers perceived across different stakeholders and age groups was also explored. These two investigations used a quantitative analysis on data obtained from surveys (paper and web based) conducted on six WBS stakeholders: administration, academic and cleaning staff, full time and part time students, and executive education delegates. The final proposition was explored through the use interviews with members of the WBS management team to ascertain the type of strategies that WBS could employ to overcome the prominent EMS barriers. The strategies suggested by the interviewees to overcome the prominent EMS barriers were compared to those suggested by literature using a qualitative content analysis. The study revealed that the following EMS barriers were not prominent at WBS: no market pressure to improve environmental performance, lack of awareness, lack of interest and resistance due to complexity. Whilst the following four barriers were prominent to an EMS at WBS: lack of skills, knowledge and expertise; isolation of the EMS from other areas of the organisation, deficiency in understanding EMS benefits and culture of the organisation. The findings from investigating the second proposition provided evidence to support variation in the type of prominent EMS barriers perceived across different iii stakeholders but showed less support for variation across age groups. On comparison of the strategies proposed by interviewees to overcome the prominent EMS barriers at WBS, majority of the measures were congruent with literature. However, interviewees did suggest some strategies to overcome specific EMS barriers which literature proposed for different EMS barriers. The need for environmental sustainability and sustainable practices on a whole is on an increase. HEIs, with particular reference to this study, need to adopt and practice environmental management. The complexity of an EMS can create barriers which hinder its success. It is therefore, worthwhile for any organisation adopting an EMS to consider which barriers to an EMS are most prominent amongst all stakeholders. Consider this will enable the organisation to employ appropriate and proactive strategies to alleviate the barriers so that the implementation and maintenance of the EMS can successful.

Description

MBA

Keywords

University of the Witwatersrand. Graduate School of Business Administration. Environmental management -- Standards. Industrial management -- Environmental aspects.