The role of sustainability perceptions of employees in corporate sustainability
- Authors: Cronjé, René
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Corporations -- Environmental aspects , Corporate governance -- Environmental aspects , Sustainability , Climatic changes Environmental economics -- South Africa Sustainability -- Economic aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/64918 , vital:73959
- Description: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between employees' perception of environmental sustainability and pro-environmental behaviour within the corporate business environment of South Africa and its influence on a company’s corporate sustainability efforts. The study will follow a case study approach involving the employees of a corporate state-owned company in the logistics industry of the Nelson Mandela Bay area. In doing so the study attempts to better understand why enterprises, in their attempts to promote corporate sustainability, face challenges in aligning their variety of sustainability strategies, policies, and initiatives with employees' willingness to implement these measures or engage in pro-environmental behaviour in the workplace. To delve deeper into this issue the study also explores potential reasons for differences in perceptions by examining potential correlations between perceptions of environmental sustainability and pro-environmental behaviour, considering demographic factors such as gender, age, education, and work experience. The collective findings of the study underscore a positive relationship between employees’ environmental perception and their engagement in pro-environmental behaviour. This suggests that individuals who express a higher degree of concern for environmental issues are more likely to adopt and engage in environmentally-friendly behaviours. However, a notable disconnect was identified between awareness and action, highlighting variability in the extent to which perception translates into active pro-environmental behaviour. While environmental perception serves as a strong motivator, there is evident room for improvement in translating these concerns into concrete actions within the corporate setting. These insights emphasise the importance of addressing both attitudes and behaviours in the context of environmental sustainability. Thus, to enhance corporate sustainability efforts, it is imperative for companies to bridge the gap between environmental perception and action among their employees. The demographic variables (gender, age, education, and work experience) showed no significant influence on environmental perception or pro-environmental behaviour in this study, however these empirical findings challenge common findings in the existent literature, thus emphasising the need for a more nuanced understanding of the subject, within specific contexts. Recommendations for future studies include: larger sample sizes for robust findings; exploration of the influence of academic disciplines; consideration of household income and cultural differences; and broadening the study to multiple departments in order to gather more , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business School, 2024
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024-04
An alternative model for the financial sustainability of social services sector NGOs in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Kagande, Albert Tafadzwa
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Non-governmental organizations -- South Africa , Accounting -- Social aspects , Sustainability
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65644 , vital:74217
- Description: The work of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) is traditionally deemed “unprofitable”, yet they provide valuable services to communities. With an exponentially growing NGO sector of more than 270 000 NGOs, of which 40% are social service sector NGOs, and an increased demand for NGO services, a decrease in government and donor funding has heightened the debate on the need for financial sustainability of NGOs in South Africa. NGOs are important development actors, and their financial sustainability is crucial as it ensures that the sector continues to be relevant and effective in ensuring that social needs are met. Using a mixed methods sequential explanatory research design, the study focused on the social services sector NGOs in the Eastern Cape with the aim of understanding their financial challenges and strategies being employed to address such and, in the process, develop an alternative model for the financial sustainability of these NGOs. A conceptual framework was developed from six theories which were used to explore the concept of financial sustainability drawing insights from the internal and external environment of the participating NGOs. These theories were used together to emphasise that no one theory could single-handedly and holistically explain the concept of the financial sustainability of social service sector NGOs. The use of multiple theories also came from the realisation that NGOs in South Africa, in general, are struggling to survive owing to a myriad of factors which include increased competition for resources and reduced funding from their traditional source. Furthermore, donor dependency, staff and organisational capacity, management practices and values, and the interplay of an NGO with its stakeholders and environment all have a bearing on financial sustainability. Being the poorest province in South Africa heightens the need for social services in the Eastern Cape. From the study, it was established that 48% of social services sector NGOs depended on government funding while only 16% had the capacity to generate their own income. However, depending on government funding was not sustainable and this was crippling the social services sector. The study also established that “young” NGOs struggled to secure funding when compared to their “mature” counterparts. In addition, staff capacity and the values of an organisation affected income generation and how funds were sourced. Lack of capacity to fundraise and/or implement commercial activities had affected the financial sustainability of the social sector NGOs. The interplay of an NGO and its stakeholders and environment also had a bearing on the financial sustainability of the sector. The study provides a multipronged approach and perspective to financial sustainability. The proposed financial sustainability model challenges social services sector NGOs to consciously reflect on their internal and external environments as well a come up with strategies that positively affect their financial sustainability. From the study, the strategies that were being implemented to realise financially sustainability included, retaining current donors, reaching out to new donors, innovative fundraising approaches, redesigning programme activities to include cost-recovery components, collaborating with other NGOs as well as commercial ventures. This study concludes that social services sector NGOs need all these approaches in addition to improving staff capacity and adopting a culture that enhances organisational performance. There is need to build a system where NGOs are adequately supported to do their work without worrying about income and where well-designed financial sustainability components help NGOs, funders, government and communities identify where change is needed. , Thesis (DPhil) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Economics, Development and Tourism, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
Eco-leadership determinants necessary for effective sustainability implementation
- Authors: May,Jodé
- Date: 2023-12
- Subjects: Retail trade -- Management , Leadership -- South Africa , Sustainability
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/65683 , vital:74228
- Description: Sustainability is regarded globally as one of the key focus areas for organisations and requires also considering environmental and social performance in addition to economic performance. Eco-leadership is required to ensure operations impact society and the environment in a positive manner, in particular in the retail sector as customers have become conscious of their purchases being produced sustainably. The main objective of this study was thus to explore eco-leadership determinants necessary for sustainability implementation in retail organisations. The research was aimed at expanding knowledge about how retailers can implement or improve their sustainability status by following an eco-leadership approach. A literature review was conducted on what leadership in organisations entailed and how it can be described in terms of leaders’ characteristics, work practices and decisions. In addition a review on, leader qualities and leadership styles in general and of change leaders such as eco-leaders, sustainability strategies from both an environmental and socially responsible view in general and of the retail sector, was provided. The study followed a qualitative research approach using purposive sampling to identify the 11 participants from across the provinces in South Africa and retail product categories comprising of two hard-line retailers, five soft goods and consumables retailers, three FMCG retailers and one art retailer. A semi-structured interview guide was utilised to gather primary data using face-to-face, telephonic and email interviews. Content and constant comparative analysis was used to analyse the data. It appears that retailers ascribe eco-leadership in relation to resource management-, being people centred and practising sustainability leadership. All retailers seem to demonstrate their commitment to eco-leadership and serve society. Their sustainability status is publicised via digital and print media or visually displayed in-store. They practise eco-leadership as it is beneficial for their reputation or to ensure business continuity. Retailers use innovation and incorporate eco-leadership into their business models and have further plans to improve their sustainability. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, School of Management Sciences, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-12
Toward universal sustainability: strategies and guidelines
- Authors: Robertson, Struan Ross
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Sustainability , Sustainable development , Economic development , Social planning
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MEcon
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/71591 , vital:29922
- Description: This research considers the notion of universal sustainability, which involves the three well-known pillars of sustainable development, namely, economic development, social development, and environmental sustainability. Critical to achieving this unity of purpose in the aligning of economic and social aspirations with the limits of the natural environment is the enhancing of human capability and the development of political institutions capable of representing the interests of all people by leveraging resources responsibly. Universal sustainability differs from the concept of sustainable development in that the emphasis is cast not on merely achieving economic development despite the challenges presented by social and environmental concerns, but on seeking to understand what a better society might look like that integrates outcomes in-line with these three factors. Universal sustainability is about re-thinking the purpose of material progress to realign this with the need for social cohesion and to reposition human values and expectations safely within ecological boundaries. In other words, strategies and guidelines that promote the realisation of universal sustainability would recommend a society that values economic and technological progress with equal measure to social development and environmental sustainability, as well as all the other factors that promote human wellbeing. Consequently, this research also considers the inter-linkages that are found between economic development (i.e. technological advancement) and social (i.e. normative progress) and societal (i.e. long-term institutional differentiation) development with respect to labour markets, the formation of skills, the scope of welfare regimes and hence, the trajectory of the social reproduction of society. The prospects of environmental sustainability, like that of societal development, are found to be influenced by the values that a society holds and the ability of economic and social factors to adapt in response to the environmental challenges that face societies in socially workable ways. This research concerns the great quest for meaning and purpose that humans have undertaken throughout history, and asks how human wellbeing – in its best, most expansive sense, can be improved and how societies can advance and prosper going forward while keeping the avenue of individual self-actualisation open as a possibility in the everyday lives of citizens? In achieving this end, this research looks at what economic development strategies suggest as tenable against these aspirations. Furthermore, this research looks at the experience of advanced democratic societies to better conceive of how material progress, social cohesion via education and welfare, and environmental sustainability can be attained. The selection of these countries ensures understanding for the kind of political arrangements that safeguard human wellbeing and give voice to freedom, material opportunities, and civic responsibilities. Critical to both these assessments is defining the mechanics that underlie the processes that achieve material and moral progress in human societies. The main goal of this research is to recommend strategies and guidelines for developing countries like South Africa that wish to develop and thrive. Therefore, this research presents an assessment framework for understanding both universal sustainability and how to achieve it. This research concludes that mindfulness about the natural environment and the services it supplies, as well as mindfulness about what drives economic development and what supports the conditions for human flourishing, are necessary for universal sustainability strategies and guidelines to work. Indeed, the ideologies that societies subscribe to and the values they hold are important 84 to creating the right conditions for economic tools to work to advance economic development, material improvement, socio-environmental justice, and ultimately for achieving universal sustainability. But central to both economic and environmental futures is an understanding that at the heart of the matter is a concern for apprehending what drives human behaviour and aspiration, and what creates social cohesion.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019