IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/bstrat/v27y2018i8p1720-1732.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Determining factors that enable managers to implement an environmental management system for sustainable construction: A case study in Johannesburg

Author

Listed:
  • Olusola O. Ololade
  • Palesa P. Rametse

Abstract

In this study, the underlying factors that could promote the successful implementation of an environmental management system (EMS) to enhance sustainable construction were considered. The assumption was that the perceptions of top and senior managers affect the success of the implementation of an organisation's EMS. A quantitative, sample‐based approach was used to gather data through online questionnaires; semistructured interviews were also conducted. A targeted sample comprising 198 managers of one company was selected, and 69 responses were received—approximately 35% of the total population sampled. Out of seven top management employees, interviews were conducted with five executives (including the chief executive officer). Descriptive analysis, weighted mean average, and chi‐square test were used to analyse the data. The study revealed that factors that could influence attitudes and perceptions relating to environmental issues among managers in the construction industry are generation (age), level of education, and knowledge and awareness. In this study, older managers and those with higher levels of education were more receptive to promoting environmental issues in the organisation. Even though most of the participants indicated that environmental management was important for their organisation, it was not considered as a priority compared with other issues. However, an EMS was perceived as a formal way to enforce environmental management in their operation. We conclude, therefore, that it is pertinent to include environmental management in the curriculum for the education of construction professionals, so that it forms part of their training.

Suggested Citation

  • Olusola O. Ololade & Palesa P. Rametse, 2018. "Determining factors that enable managers to implement an environmental management system for sustainable construction: A case study in Johannesburg," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(8), pages 1720-1732, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:27:y:2018:i:8:p:1720-1732
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2237
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2237
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/bse.2237?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. G. M.P. Swann, 2009. "The Economics of Innovation," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13211.
    2. Aseem Prakash, 2002. "Green marketing, public policy and managerial strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(5), pages 285-297, September.
    3. Higgins, Karen L., 2014. "Economic Growth and Sustainability," Elsevier Monographs, Elsevier, edition 1, number 9780128022047.
    4. George Ofori & Clive Briffett & Gu Gang & Malik Ranasinghe, 2000. "Impact of ISO 14000 on construction enterprises in Singapore," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(8), pages 935-947.
    5. Barla, Philippe, 2007. "ISO 14001 certification and environmental performance in Quebec's pulp and paper industry," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 291-306, May.
    6. Stephen Tinsley, 2002. "EMS models for business strategy development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(6), pages 376-390, November.
    7. Sandra Rothenberg & James Maxwell & Dr Alfred Marcus, 1992. "Issues in the implementation of proactive environmental strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 1(4), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Olusola Oluwayemisi Ololade, 2018. "Understanding the nexus between energy and water: A basis for human survival in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(2), pages 194-209, March.
    9. Lisa‐Henri Kirkland & Dixon Thompson, 1999. "Challenges in designing, implementing and operating an environmental management system," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(2), pages 128-143, March.
    10. Glen Dowell & Stuart Hart & Bernard Yeung, 2000. "Do Corporate Global Environmental Standards Create or Destroy Market Value?," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(8), pages 1059-1074, August.
    11. Olivier Boiral, 2007. "Corporate Greening Through ISO 14001: A Rational Myth?," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(1), pages 127-146, February.
    12. Boons, Frank & Wagner, Marcus, 2009. "Assessing the relationship between economic and ecological performance: Distinguishing system levels and the role of innovation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(7), pages 1908-1914, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jaime Rivera, 2019. "An integral model for the implementation of environmental policy strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 909-920, July.
    2. Barbara Kump, 2021. "When do threats mobilize managers for organizational change toward sustainability? An environmental belief model," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2713-2726, July.
    3. Valentina Lagasio & Nicola Cucari & Carl Åberg, 2021. "How corporate social responsibility initiatives affect the choice of a bank: Empirical evidence of Italian context," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(4), pages 1348-1359, July.
    4. Rosemary Horry & Colin A. Booth & Abdul–Majeed Mahamadu & Patrick Manu & Panos Georgakis, 2022. "Environmental management systems in the architectural, engineering and construction sectors: a roadmap to aid the delivery of the sustainable development goals," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(9), pages 10585-10615, September.
    5. Nikunj Kumar Jain & Abinash Panda & Piyush Choudhary, 2020. "Institutional pressures and circular economy performance: The role of environmental management system and organizational flexibility in oil and gas sector," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3509-3525, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Patricia Sánchez-Medina & René Díaz-Pichardo & Angélica Bautista-Cruz & Arcelia Toledo-López, 2015. "Environmental Compliance and Economic and Environmental Performance: Evidence from Handicrafts Small Businesses in Mexico," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 381-393, February.
    2. Eduardo Duque‐Grisales & Javier Aguilera‐Caracuel & Jaime Guerrero‐Villegas & Encarnación García‐Sánchez, 2020. "Does green innovation affect the financial performance of Multilatinas? The moderating role of ISO 14001 and R&D investment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3286-3302, December.
    3. Myoungjin Oh & Jungwoo Shin & Pil‐Ju Park & Sunmee Kim, 2020. "Does eco‐innovation drive sales and technology investment? Focusing on eco‐label in Korea," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3174-3186, December.
    4. Giulio Cainelli & Massimiliano Mazzanti & Sandro Montresor, 2012. "Environmental Innovations, Local Networks and Internationalization," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(8), pages 697-734, November.
    5. Stefan Ambec & Paul Lanoie, 2007. "When and Why Does It Pay To Be Green?," CIRANO Working Papers 2007s-20, CIRANO.
    6. Kalim Shah & Jorge Rivera, 2008. "Export processing zones and corporate environmental performance in emerging economies: The case of the oil, gas, and chemical sectors of Trinidad and Tobago," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 41(2), pages 181-182, June.
    7. Christian Schwens & Marcus Wagner, 2019. "The role of firm-internal corporate environmental standards for organizational performance," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 89(7), pages 823-843, September.
    8. Stefan Ambec & Paul Lanoie, 2009. "Performance environnementale et économique de l'entreprise," Economie & Prévision, La Documentation Française, vol. 0(4), pages 71-94.
    9. Hammad Riaz & Abubakr Saeed & Muhammad Saad Baloch & Nasrullah & Zeeshan Ahmad Khan, 2019. "Valuation of Environmental Management Standard ISO 14001: Evidence from an Emerging Market," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Joaquín Cañón-de-Francia & Concepción Garcés-Ayerbe, 2009. "ISO 14001 Environmental Certification: A Sign Valued by the Market?," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 44(2), pages 245-262, October.
    11. Stephen Tinsley, 2002. "EMS models for business strategy development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(6), pages 376-390, November.
    12. Frondel, Manuel & Krätschell, Karoline & Zwick, Lina, 2018. "Environmental management systems: Does certification pay?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 14-24.
    13. Zhongju Liao & Jialin Cheng, 2020. "Can a firm's environmental innovation attract job seekers? Evidence from experiments," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 542-551, March.
    14. Janine Fleith Medeiros & Gabriel Vidor & José Luís Duarte Ribeiro, 2018. "Driving Factors for the Success of the Green Innovation Market: A Relationship System Proposal," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 327-341, January.
    15. Thierry Bréchet & Sylvette Ly, 2013. "The many traps of green technology promotion," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 15(1), pages 73-91, January.
    16. He, Wenlong & Liu, Chong & Lu, Jiangyong & Cao, Jing, 2015. "Impacts of ISO 14001 adoption on firm performance: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 43-56.
    17. Clougherty, Joseph A. & Grajek, Michal & Shy, Oz, 2016. "Taking ‘Some’ of the Mimicry Out of the Adoption Process: Quality-Management and Strategic Substitution," CEPR Discussion Papers 11661, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    18. Demirel, Pelin & Kesidou, Effie, 2011. "Stimulating different types of eco-innovation in the UK: Government policies and firm motivations," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(8), pages 1546-1557, June.
    19. Elisabeth Albertini, 2019. "The Contribution of Management Control Systems to Environmental Capabilities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(4), pages 1163-1180, November.
    20. Guoyou Qi & Saixing Zeng & Xiaodong Li & Chiming Tam, 2012. "Role of Internalization Process in Defining the Relationship between ISO 14001 Certification and Corporate Environmental Performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(3), pages 129-140, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:27:y:2018:i:8:p:1720-1732. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0836 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.