Facilitating sustainability control in SMEs through the implementation of an environmental management system

Management System ◽

Local Level ◽

Iso 14001 ◽

Individual Values ◽

Characteristic Type ◽

Values And Beliefs ◽

Iso 14001 Certification ◽

Managerial Employees

AbstractThis paper explores the characteristic type and use of sustainability control in small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) through the implementation of an environmental management system, formally certified to ISO 14001. Through a qualitative study of 18 SMEs and seven auditors operating in Northern Europe, the paper draws on the theoretical framework of sustainability control as an analytical tool to explore the interplay between the formal design of control instruments and the operational use of these in practice for the studied SMEs. The study finds that both the formalised control instrument design and operational use of these controls by employees are characteristically formal and procedure based for ISO 14001 certification. Nevertheless, environmental management in daily tasks is also achieved by engaging non-managerial employees through their passionate interests and intrinsic motivations. In extension to previous sustainability control research, the findings emphasise that local level operator knowledge is not only the product of formalised control system design, and that external factors are also important for guiding employee behaviour in situ. This proposes that daily working tasks are achieved through a combination of organisational and extra-organisational individual values and beliefs about sustainability. Particularly, engaging non-managerial employees in SMEs through a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic rewards appears valuable for sustainable futures. Therefore, in addition to compliance-driven controls, SME owner-managers should ensure supportive structures where employees are given the autonomy to be creative and innovative.

Costs, Benefits, and Motivations for ISO 14001 Adoption in China and Around

Chinese Public Administration Review ◽

10.22140/cpar.v1i3/4.108 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 1 (3/4) ◽

pp. 239

Author(s):

Susan Summers Raines ◽

Tan Rong ◽

Xu Fei

Keyword(s):

Management System ◽

National Level ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Iso 14001 ◽

Third Party ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Voluntary Standards ◽

Iso 14001 Certification

In an attempt to overcome barriers to trade posed by numerous and often contradictory national-level enveironmental requirements, the International Orgnaization for Standardization (ISO) has created a voluntry set of uniform environmental management system guidelines for firms, formally known as ISO 14001. Firms may decide to implement an ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) and become third-party certified in order to improve their environmental management and to increase their marketability. This study examines the relative costs, benefits, and motivations for ISO 14001 certification for China compared to other economically developing and developed countries. These comparisons allow us to better understand the ways in which the unique economic and political conditions within China affect the incentives for Chinese firms to join in voluntary self-regulatory measures. Survey results indicate that ISO 14001 certified firms in China and experiencing benefits equal to or greater than their peers in other countries. Benefits to environmental management appear to be significant and they generally outweigh the costs of implementation and certification. However, as with most voluntary standards, the potential for abuse remains. Therefore regulators and policy makers are advised not to grant regulatroy relief or reduced inspections except on a case-by-case basis.

AN INDIAN EXPERIENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management ◽

10.1142/s021987701000201x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 07 (04) ◽

pp. 423-445 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

V. K. KHANNA

Keyword(s):

Case Studies ◽

Management System ◽

Cleaner Production ◽

Iso 14001 ◽

Export Market ◽

Future Research ◽

Iso 14001 Certification ◽

Indian Industries

The last two decades have seen a remarkable increase in both interest and reactions to the concept of preserving the environment. This can be attributed to the increasing statutory and regulatory requirements of government and the pressure from consumers and the life-threatening of global ecosystem deterioration. Therefore, organizations are constantly under pressure to develop and implement Environmental Management System (EMS). While some sincere efforts have been made by the Indian organizations to implement EMS and their performance have been very good, still countrywide efforts are not adequate. This paper presents the adoption of EMS in Indian organizations, extent of EMS elements used and the status of implementation of cleaner production activities by the industries. This paper also presents the benefits accrued by the Indian industries based on 56 industries feedback who are either ISO 14001 certified companies or in the advance stage of ISO 14001 implementation. This has been supplemented by some case studies of the leading Indian organizations. Most of the Indian organizations feel that EMS has a positive effect in their performance. It is observed that Indian organizations are more inclined towards getting ISO 14001 certification rather than taking full advantage of EMS However, it is evident from the statistical analysis that overall adoption of cleaner production activities are at the low level. The majority of the organizations seem to be implementing EMS out of pressure from competition, customer, government, domestic and export market. The paper concludes that though environmental awareness is on the increase in India, and commitment as well as compliance levels are far higher than before, India still lags behind in the implementation and has to go a long way. The investigation and research findings are still exploratory. Future research can focus on the organizations that are at the initial stage of EMS implementation and comparison can be drawn. Future research can focus on sector wise performance. Broadly based and larger sample size would provide better picture of EMS implementation status in Indian organizations. Analysis is based on questionnaire based feedback. The study has been able to identify the extent of the usage of key EMS elements, implementation of cleaner production activities and drivers for the implementation of EMS. The findings have been supported by the select Indian case studies.

The Purpose of ISO 14001 Certification: Independent Assurance or Improved Environmental Management System?

Issues in Social and Environmental Accounting ◽

10.22164/isea.v6i2.68 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 157

Author(s):

Janet Morrill ◽

Sylvie Berthelot

Keyword(s):

Management System ◽

Iso 14001 ◽

Third Party ◽

Management Systems ◽

Environmental Management Systems ◽

Relative Importance ◽

Iso 14001 Certification

This study provides evidence of the value of third party certification of environmental management systems. We examine the relative importance of improving an environmental management system as a result of certification, versus being able to communicate the quality of that system credibly to outsiders through third party certification. We use survey data where one half of the respondents had indicated that they had an environmental management (EMS) in place before seeking ISO 14001 certification, while the other half of respondents did not. Our analyses comparing the two groups find that the group already having an EMS report similar motivations for ISO 14001 certification and perceive to have received similar levels of benefits as firms having no pre-certification EMS. We conclude that even for organizations that already have an EMS, the ability to communicate credibly the quality of that system is a compelling reason to obtain ISO certification.