Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: When business adopts sustainability, leaders, sustainability practitioners and employees experience tensions. Unless the root causes of such tensions are identified, understood and discussed, barriers that developed over time will significantly affect the rate of business transformation in building a sustainable future for both business and society at large. This thesis then aims to identify the root causes of tensions that arise in the process of sustainability adoption in business. The outcomes of the research highlight the process of organisational and systemic change required in business, and the need for organisational culture and values to align to the values of sustainability. The lack of adaptive leadership skills in business causes tension as a fundamental requirement of sustainability is transformation. Sustainability challenges the ethics of decisions made in business and thereby creates significant tension. Leaders and employees alike are faced with decisions that require careful consideration in order to ensure that the consequences of those decisions do not result in unintended consequences that impact negatively on society and the environment. Systemic complexity, where capitalism defines the rules within which businesses operate and are being measured, creates tension, as these rules often contradict the values of sustainability. Employees and leaders in business experience tension, as they have to face the dichotomy between values and profit imperatives. This results in an ethical dilemma for business. The current consumer culture, upon which retailers rely significantly for income, requires the extraction of raw materials and the use of energy, water, oil and chemicals for production purposes. This dependency is concerning, as price volatility as a result of the demand and supply fluctuations, affect the retailer price structures. If these resources were to be priced, based on the true cost to the environment, prices will increase, leaving retailers with no option but to increase sales prices. The scale and depth of change, as well as When business adopts sustainability, leaders, sustainability practitioners and employees experience tensions. Unless the root causes of such tensions are identified, understood and discussed, barriers that developed over time will significantly affect the rate of business transformation in building a sustainable future for both business and society at large. This thesis then aims to identify the root causes of tensions that arise in the process of sustainability adoption in business. The outcomes of the research highlight the process of organisational and systemic change required in business, and the need for organisational culture and values to align to the values of sustainability. The lack of adaptive leadership skills in business causes tension as a fundamental requirement of sustainability is transformation. Sustainability challenges the ethics of decisions made in business and thereby creates significant tension. Leaders and employees alike are faced with decisions that require careful consideration in order to ensure that the consequences of those decisions do not result in unintended consequences that impact negatively on society and the environment. Systemic complexity, where capitalism defines the rules within which businesses operate and are being measured, creates tension, as these rules often contradict the values of sustainability. Employees and leaders in business experience tension, as they have to face the dichotomy between values and profit imperatives. This results in an ethical dilemma for business. The current consumer culture, upon which retailers rely significantly for income, requires the extraction of raw materials and the use of energy, water, oil and chemicals for production purposes. This dependency is concerning, as price volatility as a result of the demand and supply fluctuations, affect the retailer price structures. If these resources were to be priced, based on the true cost to the environment, prices will increase, leaving retailers with no option but to increase sales prices. The scale and depth of change, as well asWhen business adopts sustainability, leaders, sustainability practitioners and employees experience tensions. Unless the root causes of such tensions are identified, understood and discussed, barriers that developed over time will significantly affect the rate of business transformation in building a sustainable future for both business and society at large. This thesis then aims to identify the root causes of tensions that arise in the process of sustainability adoption in business. The outcomes of the research highlight the process of organisational and systemic change required in business, and the need for organisational culture and values to align to the values of sustainability. The lack of adaptive leadership skills in business causes tension as a fundamental requirement of sustainability is transformation. Sustainability challenges the ethics of decisions made in business and thereby creates significant tension. Leaders and employees alike are faced with decisions that require careful consideration in order to ensure that the consequences of those decisions do not result in unintended consequences that impact negatively on society and the environment. Systemic complexity, where capitalism defines the rules within which businesses operate and are being measured, creates tension, as these rules often contradict the values of sustainability. Employees and leaders in business experience tension, as they have to face the dichotomy between values and profit imperatives. This results in an ethical dilemma for business. The current consumer culture, upon which retailers rely significantly for income, requires the extraction of raw materials and the use of energy, water, oil and chemicals for production purposes. This dependency is concerning, as price volatility as a result of the demand and supply fluctuations, affect the retailer price structures. If these resources were to be priced, based on the true cost to the environment, prices will increase, leaving retailers with no option but to increase sales prices. The scale and depth of change, as well as the uncertainties that exist within decisions that needs to be made, causes tensions for retailers. Other tensions that arise are the need for meaningful stakeholder engagement, transparency, and a common understanding of what sustainability aims to achieve. Meaningful conversations in business will help define new rules that can be applied to create long-term value for all in society. Employees are more committed to sustainability through intrinsic values as oppose to extrinsic values. Therefore, a values based approach to sustainability adoption will resonate with employees, thereby improving the effect of sustainability integration. Adaptive leaders who are prepared to interrogate current business models are required. This way, different models are developed, that delivers shared value and intergenerational equity to society and the environment.

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This study explores the concept of Social Investment beyond the corporate domain. The issue of Corporate Social Investment (CSI) has been on the South African radar since the 1970's and on the international agenda since the 1950's. Very little, however is known about what small businesses are doing in the area of social investment (SI); in fact there is no national research currently looking at this area which makes this a significant research need. Given the fact that small businesses are significant contributors to our country's economy it is of essential importance to determine what (if anything) is happening in this field. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Alfred P. Sloan School of Management, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND DEWEY. / Bibliography: leaves 157-159. / by Randy Glenn Woelfel. / M.S.

Orientador: Angelo Del Vecchio / Banca: João Luiz Passador / Banca: Carla Gandini Giani Martelli / Banca: Vera Alves Cepeda / Banca: Oswaldo Mario Serra Truzzi / Resumo: O intento desta tese é investigar a contribuição de Roberto Simonsen para o conhecimento e a melhora das condições de vida dos trabalhadores no Brasil. Nossa hipótese é a de que o intelectual contribuiu de maneira fundamental para que o tema das condições de vida dos trabalhadores, especialmente dos operários, fosse inserido em uma agenda mais ampla, a do nacional-desenvolvimentismo, para a qual também contribuiu de maneira significativa, conforme debateremos ao longo deste trabalho. A obra de Simonsen é ampla e aborda aspectos variados, que se estendem desde os problemas centrais de nossa história econômica e social até questões relativas ao associativismo empresarial. Optamos por este tema porque entendemos que Simonsen tinha uma especial atenção para o tema das condições de vida e entendia que a superação da pobreza era a chave para que o Brasil se tornasse um país desenvolvido economicamente. Entendemos e pretendemos demonstrar ao longo do trabalho que foi a partir da constatação da situação de carestia em que a classe trabalhadora vivia no Brasil que o autor desenvolveu seus importantes conceitos sobre a economia e sobre a necessidade da industrialização como forma de superação da pobreza, sendo o tema o centro de suas teorias, o cerne, o alicerce do qual partiu para erguer o corolário de ideias sobre o Brasil e o mundo que o consagraram como um pensador do Brasil / Abstract: The intent of this thesis is to investigate the contribution of Roberto Simonsen, for knowledge and improvement of living conditions of workers in Brazil. Our hypothesis is that the intellectual contributed in a fundamental way to the theme of the living conditions of workers, especially workermens, was inserted into a broader agenda, that of national developmentalism, to which she also contributed significantly, as we will discuss throughout this work. The work of Simonsen is broad and covers various aspects, which extend from the central problems of our economic and social history to issues relating to business associations. We chose this theme because we believe that Simonsen had a special attention to the issue of living conditions and understand that overcoming poverty was the key for Brazil, to become a developed country economically. We understand and we intend to demonstrate over the work, that was based on the statement of the situation of famine in the working class lived in Brazil, that the author developed his important concepts, about the economy and about the need for industrialization as a means of overcoming poverty, and the subject at the center of their theories, the core, the foundation of which went to build the corollary ideas about Brazil and the world consecrated as a thinker of Brazil / Doutor

A key challenge confronting modern policymakers is to ensure that economic development is both socially just and environmentally sustainable. Toward that goal, effective government regulations require the accurate quantification of their associated costs and benefits. An extensive theoretical and empirical literature in economics has shown the benefits of government policies in addressing market failures and providing public goods. But few studies have credibly identified the social costs and distributional impacts of existing policies. My dissertation integrates new data and empirical methods from economics and earth sciences to investigate the social impacts of energy infrastructure and environmental policy. Chapter 1 uses the Three Gorges Dam in China as a natural experiment to provide the first evidence of the social and economic impacts of dam-induced inundation on population displacement and labor market reallocation. Chapter 2 examines the political economy implications of wind turbine construction on United States congressional elections. Chapter 3 employs original data from a large-scale survey to study the social benefits of environmental quality improvements. Overall, results from these papers inform future research on the social impacts of energy and environmental policy and highlight the importance of unbiased policy evaluations.

From a review of sociological theory, and the main features of the South African labour environment, the enquiry was designed to identify pressures for change amongst South African industrial workers. Research involved 554 workers in five industrial situations, ranging from that peripheral to 'black homeland' areas to that of settled urban workers in metropolitan Durban, and 43 managers and supervisors. Factor analysis of data revealed three themes (the 'social dynamics' ) in terms of which workers responded consistently. The first was the causative integration dynamic, the second the responsive dynamic of orientation to change. The interaction of these dynamics defines the nature of internal labour relations. Successful management of these dynamics demanded effective conmunication and involvement. The third theme was identified as the adherence dynamic, representing extrinsic pressures or responsibilities compelling workers to find employment, and inhibiting or regulating their freedom of egress. The external environment is beyond the control of management, and is influenced by both government policy and general economic conditions. Conclusions are that historic restrictions on labour mobility and residence in South Africa have contributed significantly to conditions hindering achievement of South Africa's full growth potential. Growth impediment arises from accumulation of workers in work situations not of their choice, from which they cannot easily escape, and in which they become increasingly uncommitted and alienated. This contributes to gradual development of potential conflict which, considered generally assumes the character of that based on social divisions of class and race. However it also explains, through the example of South African industry, how it is possible for societies to function over long periods of time when significant levels of internal conflict and opposition remain within the bounds of equilibrium. Capitalism in South Africa is seen in the context of an interdependent spiral of gradual economic decline and rising political discontent. Essential steps in its reversal would include removal of all restrictions on personal freedom of movement, and urgent integrative management strategies. South African industry is compared with American and Japanese industry in the social dynamics context. The study draws independent support from, and lends support to theory evolved in United States industry from work done particularly by Hirschman (Hirschman, A.O., 1970), and Sayles (Sayles, L.R., 1958). / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1986.

The embracing of Health Information Technology (HIT) by hospitals is viewed as one mechanism to mitigate the ever-growing healthcare supply and demand gap, reduce medical errors, increase efficiency, improve quality of care and automate business processes. This has led to many hospitals investing large sums of money in the hope that HIT can help hospitals achieve this goal. The problem, however, is that similar to other industries that have undertaken this journey towards embracing Information Technology (IT), hospitals have not been very successful and have not achieved the expected benefits of IT. One of the major contributing factors to the high failure rate of IT implementation within the healthcare sector is user acceptance. The main objective of this study was to determine the perception and preparedness of clinical stakeholders to adopt a paperless environment and to determine if the clinical stakeholders were equipped with the necessary skills to be able to function within a paperless environment. Due to the nature of the study, a quantitative approach was used to gather information using a questionnaire. The private hospital that agreed to participate in the study is from the eThekwini municipality. A total of 300 questionnaires were handed out to the nursing clerk at the hospital and a total of 102 questionnaires were successfully answered giving the researcher a response rate of 34%. The findings of the study indicate that both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use by clinical stakeholders are enablers to HIT usage while resistance to change is an inhibitor to HIT usage. The findings also indicate that both related knowledge and perceived compatibilities have a positive effect on the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use respectively. / Thesis (M.Com.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2010.

This study sets out to explore employer response to the EU social dimension, in answer to the question, "How are employers in the UK and Germany responding to the EU social dimension, and why?" Using case study evidence from nine large British and German engineering companies, as well as material from employers' associations at all levels, it is argued that there is little employer support for extending the social dimension. Focusing on micro-economic aspects of the debate, it is also argued that a common feature in both British and German employer opposition is a concern for the impact of EU industrial relations regulation on firm-level flexibility. This stands in direct contradiction of the EU Commission's own contentions about the flexibility-enhancing effects of its social policy measures, and appears paradoxical in light of earlier research findings of a German flexibility advantage over UK rivals on account of the country's well-structured regulatory framework for industrial relations. Evidence from participant companies, however, suggests that, in the global environment of the late 1990s, much of Germany's former flexibility advantage has been eroded, and the regulation-induced limitations on both the pace and scale of change are increasingly onerous to German companies. German managers perceive a need for targeted deregulatory reform of their industrial relations system; by strengthening (and often extending) existing industrial relations regulation, EU social policy measures meet with firm disapproval. In the UK, by contrast, the changed context has contributed to a significant increase in firm-level flexibility. British companies now operate to levels of flexibility often in advance of their German counterparts, at far lower 'cost' in terms of the time taken, and the extent to which change measures are compromised, to reach agreement. For British managers, EU social policy measures are perceived as a threat to these beneficial arrangements, and vigorously opposed. The thesis concludes by suggesting that such fixed opposition, in the face of Commission determination to extend the EU social dimension, points to an escalation of the controversy surrounding the social dimension.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver uma metodologia para analisar o desenvolvimento de redes de empresas através de sua tipologia e das práticas de produção por ela utilizadas. Para tanto, foi adaptada uma metodologia para revisão bibliográfica, e definiu-se como período de corte de 2008 a 2012. Formou-se então um portfolio bibliográfico sobre as tipologias e as metodologias de desenvolvimento das redes de empresas e práticas de produção. Essa revisão bibliográfica fundamentou a criação da metodologia de análise de desenvolvimento da rede de empresas, onde utilizou métodos AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) para determinar os pesos das características da rede e das práticas de produção da metodologia e o MCDA-C (Metodologia Multicritério de Apoio a Decisão Construtivista), utilizado para determinar os pesos das escalas ordinais das características da rede e das práticas de produção. Os valores extraídos nos dois métodos foram unidos, transformando em um diagrama da metodologia de análise do desenvolvimento da rede. Essa identifica em qual fase de desenvolvimento determinada rede está situada, por meio das práticas de produção utilizadas nas empresas pertencentes à rede e pelas intensidades das características essenciais da rede: cooperação horizontal, cooperação vertical, inovação e competição, identificando as vantagens, as dificuldades e as melhorias que a rede deve fazer para evoluir. Por fim, a metodologia foi aplicada em uma rede de empresas do setor de vestuário, no estado do Paraná, o principal resultado foi que a rede se encontra na fase de desenvolvimento da metodologia, onde detem caracteristicas e práticas de produção com aspectos medianos, sendo necessário melhorar todas as caractériscas analisadas da rede e incentivar a utilização das práticas de produção. / The aim of this work is to propose a model to analyze the development of business networks through the bias typology and production practices. A literature review methodology was adapted to construct a portfolio with typologies and models of development business networks and production practices. It was analized papers between 2008 and 2012. This literature review justified the creation of the analysis model of network development company. The AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) and MCDA-C (Methodology Multicriteria Decision Support Constructivist) methods were used, the first one to determine weights of the network characteristics and production practices and the second one to determine weights of ordinal scale of network characteristics and production practices. The values extracted from both methods were assembled, becoming a model diagram analysis of network development.This model identifies in which phase of development given network is located, through the production practices used in companies belonging to the network and the intensities of the essential characteristics of the network: horizontal cooperation, vertical cooperation, innovation and competition, identifying the advantages, difficulties and improvements to the network must do to evolve. Finally, the model was applied to a network of companies in the clothing sector in the state of Paraná.