Barriers to environmental sustainability practices of multinational mining companies in Ghana: an institutional complexity perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prince Amoah ◽  
Gabriel Eweje
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Institutional Complexity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Empirical Results ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Sustainability Practices ◽  
Multinational Mining Companies

Purpose This paper aims to examine the barriers to the environmental sustainability practices of large-scale mining companies throughout a mine lifecycle, analysed in the context of the plural and competing logics and tensions in the broader institutional environment. Design/methodology/approach The paper used a qualitative methodology based on multiple cases involving multinational mining companies, regulators and other major stakeholder groups, as it offers an opportunity for analytical generalisations where the empirical results are compared to previously established theories. Findings The empirical results indicate that the environmental sustainability barriers are embedded within gaps in Ghana’s natural resources governance framework. The gaps arise out of contradictory interests and values, which hinder the direction and practices of large-scale mining companies. Research limitations/implications The findings may only apply to the context of this study and is inadequate as the basis for assessing the effectiveness or otherwise of specific initiatives of large-scale mining firms in Ghana. Practical implications This paper has implications on how large-scale mining companies and their stakeholders define their values and goals, and engage in a dynamic process to accommodate the multiple and competing logics by implementing effective structures at the organisational and institutional levels. Originality/value This paper contributes to the sustainability and institutional complexity perspective by showing that plural logics are often contradictory, but may also be complementary in situations of complicit commonality, hindering sustainable outcomes. The authors argue that this is one of the few studies that have examined the barriers to environmental sustainability explicated in the context of institutional complexity.

scholarly journals Exploring the intersections: researchers and communication professionals' perspectives on the organizational role of science communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaisu Koivumäki ◽  
Clare Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Science Communication ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Influences ◽  
Research Organizations ◽  
Funding Policies ◽  
Negative Impacts

PurposeThis paper reports on research exploring the intersections between researchers and communication professionals' perspectives on the objectives, funders and organizational influences on their science communication practices.Design/methodology/approachExamining one context, the inter-organizational BCDC Energy Research project based at five different research organizations in Finland, this paper presents data from semi-structured interviews with 17 researchers and 15 communication professionals.FindingsThe results suggest that performance-based funding policies that drive the proliferation of large-scale research projects can create challenges. In particular, a challenge arises in generating a shared sense of identity and purpose amongst researchers and communication professionals. This may have unintended negative impacts on the quality and cohesiveness of the science communication which occurs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was exploratory in nature and focuses on one organizational and institutional environment. Further research with a wider number of projects, as well as funders, would be conducive to a greater understanding of the issues involved.Practical implicationsOn a practical level, this research suggests that the creation of clearer communications awareness and guidance may be helpful in some large-scale projects, particularly involving broad numbers of organizations, individual researchers and funders.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies examining the perspectives of both researchers and communication professionals working over one project, drawing together a range of different institutional and disciplinary perspectives. The results highlight the importance of the influences of funding on science communication aims, assumptions, cultures and structures. The article articulates the need for further research in this area.

Understanding students' future intention to engage in sustainability accounting: the case of Malaysia and the Philippines

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Eugenio ◽  
Pedro Carreira ◽  
Nina Miettinen ◽  
Isabel Maria Estima Costa Lourenço
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Subjective Norm ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Behavioural Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Behavioural Control ◽  
Sustainability Practices ◽  
Sustainability Accounting

PurposeThe study investigates whether the level of sustainability concerns of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia and the Philippines is positively associated with accounting students' intentions to engage in sustainability accounting through its effect on students' attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control regarding environmental sustainability practices.Design/methodology/approachThis empirical study relies on a structural equation model computed using data collected through a questionnaire and data collected from the HEIs websites.FindingsThe findings show that the willingness to engage in sustainability accounting is determined by students' subjective norm and perceived behavioural control, but it is not determined by attitude regarding environmental sustainability practices. The authors also found that the greater the concern with sustainability of the HEI in which a student is enrolled, the greater his/her attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control towards environmental sustainability, and, indirectly, the greater his/her intention to engage in sustainability accounting.Originality/valueThese findings add to the literature on higher education and sustainability accounting by high-lighting the importance of the HEIs sector in promoting sustainability policies and practices, in acting as role models regarding sustainability issues, and in preparing students for building a sustainable society.

Citizen-centric model of governmental entrepreneurship

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avanish Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Rural Women ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Service Management ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Social Needs ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Social Legitimacy ◽  
Social Value Creation

PurposeThe paper aims to examine a citizen-centric model of governmental entrepreneurship that transforms public service management for the empowerment of marginalized women.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts a qualitative methodology to analyze the distinctive model of a rural livelihoods program in India. A fieldwork was conducted in four villages, a total of 250 women were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and eight focus-group discussions were conducted. The data were analyzed using constant comparative analysis and discourse analysis. Finally, the findings were shared with women in the study area.FindingsThe analysis suggests that the adoption of distinct management for social welfare program results in social legitimacy and social value creation. JEEViKA illustrates that citizen-centric social entrepreneurship model is an outcome of internal and external governance mechanisms, strategy that thrusts on skills and capacity as investment, tools local women (community resource persons) as instruments and targets spatial saturation as an intervention creates political and economic participation, and that marketability promotes power over economic resources that enable freedom from servitude.Research limitations/implicationsThe model provides a direction to overcome multiple barriers to addressing poverty and marginalization.Practical implicationsPoor and government can leverage through the collaborative capacity to meet ever-evolving social needs by developing a state-society partnership in citizen-centric governmental entrepreneurship.Social implicationsThe policies to overcome large-scale marginalization can adopt citizen-centric model to create social legitimacy that furthers social value among the poor and marginalized rural women.Originality/valueThis study provides a model that illustrates government ability to transform marginalized poor as co-producers of development benefits.

scholarly journals Do corporate sustainability practices enhance organizational economic performance?

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2/3) ◽  
pp. 184-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matjaž Maletic ◽  
Damjan Maletic ◽  
Jens Dahlgaard ◽  
Su Mi Dahlgaard-Park ◽  
Boštjan Gomišcek
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Development ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Market Performance ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediated Effects ◽  
Sustainability Practices

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to clarify the relation between sustainability practices and financial and market performance, and also, the role of non-financial performance outputs in this relation. Corporate sustainability is a growing area of importance for organizational development. Managing sustainability practices successfully is an imperative in achieving competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach – Using empirical data based on a large-scale survey among organizations in five countries (i.e. Germany, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain), this paper utilized mediation analysis to estimate and test the mediated effects in a multiple mediator model. As such, the sizes of indirect effects of sustainability practices on financial and market performance through potential mediators were estimated. Findings – The results showed that innovation performance exerts a mediation effect in the relation between sustainability practices and financial and market performance. The main conclusion is that a greater engagement in sustainability practices leads to an increased innovation performance, which in turn leads to financial and market performance. Originality/value – This paper is one of the first attempts to empirically validate sustainability exploitation and sustainability exploration practices. Besides, the analysis of the direct and indirect effects of sustainability exploration and sustainability exploitation practices on financial and market performance has not been yet addressed to a great extent.

Beyond corporate social responsibility. Towards a model for managing sustainable mining operations. Qualitative research based upon best practices

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 605-621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Ventura ◽  
Cesar Sandro Saenz
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Best Practices ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Mining Operations ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose – The aim of the study is to propose a model for conducting socially responsible operations in the mining industry, thriving to reach and sustain world-class standards in regard to profitability and environmental sustainability. The model uses a framework built upon a set of best practices in social responsibility by some of the largest mining companies in Peru. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology adopted emphasizes the scrutiny of best practices among 92 initiatives undertaken by 10 companies – 5 large and 5 mid-sized companies as measured by the ratio “amount of investment” – which contributed most to prevent social conflict escalation. Data set received input from in-depth interviews to managers in charge of social affairs as well as from interviews to social constituents – beneficiaries and local authorities. Content analysis supported data processing and analysis of results. Findings – Main findings comprise the following: distinct schemes for managing social responsibility in dependence upon impact evaluation indicators were found, which help to organize three models for conducting mining operations: traditional mining, up-to-date mining, and sustainability-oriented mining; evidence of distinct pathways undergone by large- and mid-sized companies in their quest to up-scale their corporate social responsibility profile. Originality/value – Overall results from this study suggest the feasibility to modeling the social responsibility of mining companies in accordance to three dimensions – social, economic, and environmental – that draw from the analysis of best practices undertaken by large- and mid-sized companies.

Lean manufacturing practices in Indian manufacturing SMEs and their effect on sustainability performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 772-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajan M.P. ◽  
Shalij P.R. ◽  
Ramesh A. ◽  
Biju Augustine P.
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Lean Manufacturing ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustainability Performance

Purpose The relevance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in contributing to the economy and social development is increasingly felt in the current business environment. Focusing on sustainable development, SMEs have also implemented many acting strategies of large-scale enterprises such as lean and green practices. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the linkage between lean manufacturing practices (LMPs) in SMEs and their sustainability performances. Further, this study explores the relationship between the triple bottom line sustainability performances. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on a survey conducted and data collected from 252 manufacturing SMEs in India. The hypothesized relationships are then analyzed with structural equation modeling. Findings The outcome of the analysis shows that LMPs are positively associated with various sustainability performances categorized as economic, environmental, and social performances. Further, this study shows that environmental sustainability is correlated with economic and social sustainability performances. Research limitations/implications The study conducted was limited to a particular state in India. Moreover, the study uses the data from a cross-sectional survey from single respondents. Practical implications The findings of the study become an added advantage for the managers to convince their various stakeholders for implementing LMPs in SMEs. Originality/value The research findings provide theoretical and practical insights to derive the importance of LMPs in maximizing sustainability performances. It gives an enhanced perspective of the importance of LMPs on the sustainability performance of SMEs.

The impact of the institutional environment on green consumption in India

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naman Sreen ◽  
Rambalak Yadav ◽  
Sushant Kumar ◽  
Mark Gleim
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Survey Methodology ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Institutional Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Consumption ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to develop an institutional framework to examine the role of governmental and social pressures on green product purchase intentions. Because of the increased focus on environmental issues in emerging markets, an examination of the institutional environment in India can provide unique insights into the drivers of green consumption. Design/methodology/approach A large-scale data collection is conducted via an online survey to test the validity of the theorized model. A survey methodology is used to collect responses from a sample of 400 consumers in India and analyzed via Smart PLS 3.0. Findings The findings suggest moral norms, injunctive and descriptive, have varying influences on consumers. Further, governmental influence, at least in India, may not have a positive impact one would expect. The results indicate the institutional framework developed in this research has a good predictive ability in green marketing settings and offers insights for businesses and policymakers to enhance consumers’ motivations to purchase green products. Originality/value From a theoretical perspective, this research is the first to examine the institutional environment on green consumption in India and provides unique insights into the influences of green consumption. The results suggest the institutional environment in India presents unique opportunities for practitioners and policymakers.

Students’ perceptions of HEI regarding environmental sustainability – a comparative analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabete Correia ◽  
Fátima Conde ◽  
Rosa Nunes ◽  
Clara Viseu
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Stakeholder Participation ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Major Stakeholder ◽  
Spearman Correlation Test ◽  
Sustainability Practices ◽  
Sustainability Initiatives ◽  
Portuguese Higher Education

Purpose This paper aims to compare the environmental sustainability practices at the campus operations between two Portuguese higher education institutions (HEIs) at different stages of the implementation of an Eco-School Programme. It also seeks to analyse the involvement of the students in the process of implementing these practices in their institutions. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire survey was carried out in two HEIs (a green and a non-green institution). Data were collected from a total of 832 students. Techniques of descriptive statistics and inferential statistical techniques such as the Mann-Whitney test, χ2 and Spearman correlation test, were applied. Findings The results obtained show that, from the students’ perspective, and in both institutions, there is still much to be done on the path towards sustainability, particularly in transport and landscaping. Significant differences were found only between some environmental sustainability practices at the campus level. However, students from the green institution are more participative in sustainability activities. Practical implications This study provides a picture of two HEIs’ sustainability behaviour from the students’ standpoint, which can be important for decision-makers in HEIs, in as much that students are one of the HEIs’ major stakeholder groups; furthermore, it enables them to better guide their efforts towards sustainability. Originality/value This paper focusses on the students’ perspective and their role in the sustainability initiatives undertaken by HEIs. It can be useful for future research that attempts to analyse the importance of HEIs’ stakeholder participation in sustainability.

scholarly journals Investigating performance indicators disclosure in sustainability reports of large mining companies in Ghana

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 643-660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement Lamboi Arthur ◽  
Junjie Wu ◽  
Milton Yago ◽  
Jinhua Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Global Reporting Initiative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mining Companies ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the degree, contents and trend development of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) performance indicators disclosed in sustainability reports of large mining companies in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Content analysis methods are used to analyse 50 sustainability reports of ten large-scale mining companies in Ghana, covering the period 2008-2012. Findings The study finds that there has been a widening and increasing trend in the disclosure of performance indicators in sustainability reports of the large mining companies in Ghana, in accordance with GRI guidelines. The findings suggest that good progress in the strategic sector has been made in the voluntary adoption of the GRI guidelines to increase transparency, credibility and comparability in sustainability reporting. The findings also indicate areas to be improved. Practical implications The Government of Ghana and the Ghana Chamber of Mines could learn from the findings about the current status of this matter in order for them to formulate policies and regulations which would encourage the mining sector in moving forward in the adoption of international reporting standards. Originality/value This paper initializes investigation into the degree, contents and trends of performance indicators in sustainability reports of large mining companies in Ghana using content analysis.

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