According to the World Resources Institute, Barbados is one of seven Caribbean countries ranked as being the most water stressed territories in the world. Prevailing drought conditions for the period 2010-2016 further compromised its water security while confirming predictions of a drier regional Caribbean climate. The simultaneous failing of at least 50-year-old water infrastructure at many points in the distribution network adds to these water stress conditions, and presents a financial burden to the local water utility in the form of lost revenues, and increased energy consumption for pumping. Climate change and its impacts are not gender-neutral, and water infrastructure projects developed to mitigate and or adapt to climate change impacts will have different degrees of gender dimensions, based on the social and economic contexts within which populations are embedded. Incorporating gender differences in climate projects is smart economics, and as such the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the first international fund to mandate the integration of a “gender-sensitive approach” throughout project life cycles. The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) is applying, with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (5Cs), for funding from the Green Climate Fund to pursue an Energy-Water-Nutrient Nexus for Sustainable Coastal Infrastructure (EWN-SCI) project. The proposed project will develop an interdisciplinary program in Barbados that implements demonstration sites with integrated water supply, resource recovery, and renewable energy management systems that are designed to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, support climate change adaptation strategies, build technical capacity in the Caribbean region, and share lessons learnt with the rest of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries. The overall goal of this research is to present practical guidelines, and approaches to mainstream and operationalize gender throughout the life cycle of water and wastewater infrastructure projects using an Energy Water Nutrient nexus project in Barbados. The objectives to guide this research are (1) to determine the institutional and legal frameworks that inform the types and extent of gender mainstreaming activities to be incorporated in the development of water and wastewater climate infrastructure projects in Barbados, (2) to characterize the current landscape for integrating gender into the design and management of water and wastewater infrastructure in Barbados, and (3) evaluate and recommend opportunities for gender integration in the life cycle of water and wastewater infrastructure in Barbados. Literature and tools for categorization of the gender dimensions of water and wastewater infrastructure (centralized and decentralized) projects in Small Island Developing States, and particularly Caribbean nations to determine the scope, and type of appropriate gender mainstreaming activities are limited. In the literature, gender equality as a goal of climate financing mechanisms was introduced retroactively for several multilateral climate funds due to sub-optimal project outcomes from gender blind projects. Projects implemented by these funds globally, post inclusion of explicit gender equality outcomes can provide direct, or indirect guidance on appropriate gender mainstreaming activities to be included in the development of water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Barbados. Case studies on water and sanitation gender vulnerabilities in Jamaica provide one of the few ideal sources of information on Caribbean gender mainstreaming activities. To inform objective 1, literature on Barbados’ population, socio-economic statistics, and national gender and climate change policies was used to determine the status and scope of institutional and legal commitments to gender mainstreaming the development of water and wastewater climate adaptive infrastructure in Barbados. To satisfy objective 2, a gender profile of technical and leadership roles at the BWA was created, and social media information, results of a water user survey, focus groups and interviews were analyzed to gain cultural context, and community insight on existing gender inequalities, impacts resulting from the types of water infrastructure projects pursued and their methods of implementation. The survey, focus groups and interviews were conducted in Barbados during the period 10/20/16 to 11/8/16. This period was characterized by unprecedented water shortages and interruptions which were reflected in the feedback from the data analysis. For objective 3, gender impacts of the infrastructural components of the EWN-SCI projects were described, and opportunities to address these concerns across the individual infrastructure project cycles were proposed. There are currently no legislative commitments to gender equality in water and wastewater resources management in Barbados. A Draft National Policy on Gender is presently before parliament but the policy does not address gender and water. The BWA has more men than women employed in technical (45% vs 3.5%), and leadership (9.1% vs 3.9%) roles which directly contribute to the design and management of the utility’s projects. Most of these individuals are in the middle or near the end of their careers (> 40 years of age), and thus present a timely opportunity to recruit, train and promote women to fill these roles. On social media (Facebook and Twitter), many individuals described the challenges experienced during the water shortages. Individuals also criticized the BWA for their lack of communication during this period. The lack of an online presence by the BWA represented a lost opportunity to engage its stakeholders on collaborative solutions that could temporarily or permanently alleviate the challenges. The water user survey revealed a statistical significant association (p ≤ 0.05) between gender and type of water storage container used at the household level. Men were more likely than women to report use of larger plastic buckets and tanks, while women showed a preference for smaller buckets and bottles. Identification and consideration of design parameters such as preference for type and size of storage receptacle, system elevation, position of cleaning access point, and need for a pump will facilitate or limit the successful adoption or adaptation of rainwater harvesting systems. The proposition of a research arm of the utility that could study gender dimensions of health impacts of water quality and water interruptions, and economic studies assessing feasibility of introducing a tariff structure on water provision were priority projects from the BWA. Investment in equipment at the national government lab, and at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Chemistry Department represents a skills building and economic empowerment opportunity for women who form the bulk of workforce at these institutions. The key recommendations identified from the Gender Impact Assessment for the model EWN-SCI Projects were to the need to identify clear gender objectives and targets prior to project implementation to ensure their incorporation in the project. Budgetary allocations to appoint a gender focal point who would coordinate these activities are also recommended. Job creation is one the main areas for distribution of project benefits for the EWN-SCI Project. Since the current skillsets for technical jobs at the BWA bias allotment to men, and at the UWI Chemistry Department there is bias in favor of women, targeted training and recruitment should be aimed at the under-represented sex for each position. Additionally the inclusion of socio-economic information as a criterion for prioritization of locations for intervention was recommended.

In the UK, the debate surrounding energy production lies at the forefront of the political agenda, with growing emphasis on achieving an increasingly sustainable energy mix into the future. The nuclear option is especially debatable - issues such as waste management and decommissioning receive much attention. In addition, the many stakeholders interested in nuclear power display very divergent views on its sustainability. Since the turn of the century, nuclear power has received much attention globally, with many nations’ governments taking consideration of the potential benefits of new nuclear adoption. Conversely, the Fukushima nuclear disaster has led to new nuclear resistance in other nations, such as Germany, where plans have been made to stop nuclear power generation completely. This research aims to help inform the debate on nuclear power and the future UK electricity mix. A multi-criteria decision support framework (developed by the SPRIng Project) has been used for these purposes, taking into account technical, economic, environmental and social criteria.The methodology used in this work has involved: stakeholder consultation; use of future electricity scenarios; sustainability assessment of current and future electricity options (Pressurised Water Reactor, European Pressurised Reactor, European Fast Rector, coal, gas, solar and wind power, and coal carbon capture and storage [CCS] power); assessment of future electricity scenarios based on both sustainability impacts and stakeholder (expert and public) preferences for the sustainability indicators and electricity technologies. The sustainability assessment of future nuclear power options and coal CCS power have been carried out here for the first time in a UK-specific context.Based on the public and expert opinions on the importance of different sustainability indicators, results of the scenario analysis suggest that the scenario with a high penetration of low-carbon technologies (nuclear [60%] and offshore wind power [40%]) is the most sustainable. For the sample considered in this study, this finding is not sensitive to different stakeholder and public opinions on the importance of the sustainability indicators. However, when the stakeholder preferences for individual technologies are considered, scenarios with high penetration of renewables (26-40% solar and 20-48% wind) become the preferred options. This is due to the favourable stakeholder opinion on solar and wind power. In that case, the scenario with high penetration of nuclear is never the preferred option due to the low to moderate stakeholder preference for nuclear power.Therefore, the results from this research suggest that the ‘sustainability’ of different electricity options and scenarios is highly dependent on stakeholder preferences and priorities. Thus, for successful future deployment of these options and implementation of energy policy measures, transparency of information on the impacts of electricity options is key in ensuring that stakeholder opinions are founded in the actual rather than the perceived impacts of these options.

Den här studien handlar om varför små företag väljer att inte anlita en revisor och vad somskulle få dem att göra det. Revisionsplikten avskaffades i november 2010 och detta gjorde attsmå aktiebolag som omfattas av revisionspliktens avskaffande får välja om de vill behålla sinrevisor eller inte. Efter revisionspliktens avskaffande uppstod det både positiva och negativaeffekter för de företag som är inblandade samt deras intressenter. Syftet med vårt arbete är att identifiera vilka faktorer som påverkar valet att anlita en revisoreller inte. Tidigare studier visar att det är en kostnadsfråga då kostnaden varit högre än denupplevda nyttan. De företag vi ska analysera är företag som aktivt har gjort ett val att väljabort revision. Det vill säga företag som fanns innan revisionspliktens avskaffande och haromfattats av revisionsplikten tidigare. Studien behandlar små aktiebolag i Västernorrland och har genomförts med enkäter. Urvaletgjordes utifrån en lista från Bolagsverket över alla små företags organisationsnummer iVästernorrland som inte anlitar en revisor och som berörs av revisionspliktens avskaffande.Totalt uppfyllde 877 företag våra krav och efter en genomgång av 754 företag fann vi 200giltiga e-postadresser. Detta berodde på att många av företagen inte hade någon e-postadressoch att många inte längre var i bruk. Av dessa 200 företag var det 39 stycken (19 %) somsvarade på enkäten. Studien visar att det inte enbart är en kostnadsfråga för företagen när det gäller att anlita enrevisor eller inte. Generellt anses det att företagen inte får ut något mervärde av revisionen, dåden anses överflödig, eftersom de flesta av företagen redan anlitar en redovisningsfirma somgör årsredovisningen åt dem. I vissa andra fall beror det på att företaget redan besitterkunskap inom redovisning vilket gör att revisionen även då anses överflödig. De störstaanledningarna till att företagen skulle kunna tänka sig anlita en revisor var att intressenternakan kräva det eller för att känna trygghet inför myndigheter. / This study looks at why small companies choose not to hire an auditor and what would makethem do it. The audit deregulation was abolished in November 2010 which allowed smallcompanies to choose whether or not to hire an auditor. After the audit deregulation arose bothpositive and negative effects for the companies involved and their interest. The aim of our work is to identify the factors that influence the choice to hire an auditor ornot. Previously studies show that there is a cost issue when the cost was higher than theperceived benefits. The companies we shall analyze are the companies who have activelymade a choice to opt out audit. That is, companies that existed before the audit deregulationand has been subject to audit requirement before. The study deals with small companies in Västernorrland and has been conducted withquestionnaires. The sample was selected from a list from Bolagsverket of all small businessorganizations in Västernorrland who do not hire an auditor and who is affected by the auditderegulation. A total of 877 businesses met our requirements and after a review of 754businesses we found 200 valid e-mail addresses. This was because many of the companieshad no e-mail address and that many were no longer in use. Out of these 200 companies wegot 39 replies on our survey (19 %). The study shows that it is not explicit a matter of cost whether or not to hire an auditor.Generally, it is considered that the companies do not receive any added value of the audit, asit is considered redundant, since most of the companies already employ an accounting firmthat makes the annual accounts for them. In some other cases it is because the companyalready possesses expertise in accounting, which means that the audit would be consideredredundant. The main reasons why companies would consider hiring an auditor was becausethe interested parties would demand it or to feel secure with the authorities.

Den här studien handlar om varför små företag väljer att inte anlita en revisor och vad som skulle få dem att göra det. Revisionsplikten avskaffades i november 2010 och detta gjorde att små aktiebolag som omfattas av revisionspliktens avskaffande får välja om de vill behålla sin revisor eller inte. Efter revisionspliktens avskaffande uppstod det både positiva och negativa effekter för de företag som är inblandade samt deras intressenter.Syftet med vårt arbete är att identifiera vilka faktorer som påverkar valet att anlita en revisor eller inte. Tidigare studier visar att det är en kostnadsfråga då kostnaden varit högre än den upplevda nyttan. De företag vi ska analysera är företag som aktivt har gjort ett val att välja bort revision. Det vill säga företag som fanns innan revisionspliktens avskaffande och har omfattats av revisionsplikten tidigare.Studien behandlar små aktiebolag i Västernorrland och har genomförts med enkäter. Urvalet gjordes utifrån en lista från Bolagsverket över alla små företags organisationsnummer i Västernorrland som inte anlitar en revisor och som berörs av revisionspliktens avskaffande. Totalt uppfyllde 877 företag våra krav och efter en genomgång av 754 företag fann vi 200 giltiga e-postadresser. Detta berodde på att många av företagen inte hade någon e-postadress och att många inte längre var i bruk. Av dessa 200 företag var det 39 stycken (19 %) som svarade på enkäten.Studien visar att det inte enbart är en kostnadsfråga för företagen när det gäller att anlita en revisor eller inte. Generellt anses det att företagen inte får ut något mervärde av revisionen, då den anses överflödig, eftersom de flesta av företagen redan anlitar en redovisningsfirma som gör årsredovis-ningen åt dem. I vissa andra fall beror det på att företaget redan besitterkunskap inom redovisning vilket gör att revisionen även då anses överflödig. De största anledningarna till att företagen skulle kunna tänka sig anlita en revisor var att intressenterna kan kräva det eller för att känna trygghet inför myndigheter. / This study looks at why small companies choose not to hire an auditor and what would make them do it. The audit deregulation was abolished in November 2010 which allowed small companies to choose whether or not to hire an auditor. After the audit deregulation arose both positive and negative effects for the companies involved and their interest.The aim of our work is to identify the factors that influence the choice to hire an auditor or not. Previously studies show that there is a cost issue when the cost was higher than the perceived benefits. The companies we shall analyze are the companies who have actively made a choice to opt out audit. That is, companies that existed before the audit deregulation and has been subject to audit requirement before.The study deals with small companies in Västernorrland and has been conducted with questionnaires. The sample was selected from a list from Bolagsverket of all small business organizations in Västernorrland who do not hire an auditor and who is affected by the audit deregulation. A total of 877 businesses met our requirements and after a review of 754 businesses we found 200 valid e-mail addresses. This was because many of the companieshad no e-mail address and that many were no longer in use. Out of these 200 companies we got 39 replies on our survey (19 %).The study shows that it is not explicit a matter of cost whether or not to hire an auditor. Generally, it is considered that the companies do not receive any added value of the audit, as it is considered redundant, since most of the companies already employ an accounting firm that makes the annual accounts for them. In some other cases it is because the company already possesses expertise in accounting, which means that the audit would be considered redundant. The main reasons why companies would consider hiring an auditor was because the interested parties would demand it or to feel secure with the authorities.

The Florida Reef and associated human community form a unique socio-ecological system. While this system represents great value to society, it is exposed to high levels of vulnerability. Despite intense study of its elements, the system lacks conceptual integrity, its management is fragmented, and user valuation remains unclear. A survey using contingent valuation methods investigated stakeholders' attitudes and how much they are willing to pay for sustainable seafood, coral reef restoration, and research funding for coral reefs in southeastern Florida. Respondents expressed angst about climate change and reef conditions, and they connected reef degradation to land-based pollution and water quality. Regression analysis revealed status (income, education) as weak, indirect predictors of behavior, age as a moderating influence, and environmental and emotive factors as strong, direct predictors. One's relative attachment to ecosystems, such as coral reefs, is theorized as a motivation that displaces the expectations of traditional economic theory.

This dissertation’s purpose was to explore the governance of two domestic multi-sport events—2012 Ontario Summer Games and 2013 Canada Games—regarding how stakeholder coordination and knowledge management occurred. Case studies were built using content and social network analyses of 27 interviews and 476 document pages. In both events, the organizing committee staff and sport organizations were the most salient stakeholders, being therefore seen as the focal actors within the event network regarding coordination, initiating communication, building trust, and improving relationships. For the provincial event specifically, findings suggested the organizing committee should exist within an enduring organization in order to maximize resources (e.g., financial, human, etc.), build long-term coordination mechanisms, and enhance knowledge management capacities. Knowledge transfer appeared to occur at both levels, to varying degrees of sophistication. The knowledge management processes at each event stressed the importance of people and of tacit knowledge. Implications for researchers and managers provided.

We propose making an empirical application of the temporal view of stakeholder management theory by applying it in the particular context of the Canadian wind industry. The temporal view builds on insights from the resource-based view (RBV), institutional theory, and stakeholder salience theory. We argue that both early stage competitive advantage and late stage sustained competitive advantage could be dependent on the use of salient stakeholders as a special network of resources. We contribute to the literature in various ways. First we determine an empirical list of five salient stakeholders specific to the wind industry. Second, we show that, at early stages, the moderating effects of firm size and market conditions determines stakeholder support or rejection. Lastly, we show that, at late stages, the sustainability equation must take into account the introduction of new salient stakeholders. Also, we make practical recommendations for industry players and policy makers. We reached theory refinement by adopting an exploratory qualitative methodology based on interviews with seven cases of large and small wind firms operating in different electricity market types and provinces across Canada.

The aim of this study is to understand the influence of online discussion forums during times of crisis. These forums can be considered as a form of social media, a relatively new form of technology that is constantly evolving and gaining in popularity. It has become an important medium, and can be integral in communications plans, specifically with regards to crisis communication. Through the use of these media, message delivery has unbelievable breadth and speed, making it crucial to understand its implications in crisis events. In order to understand social media’s implications in reputation management, during times of crisis, an ethnographic content analysis was conducted through the analysis and comparison of comments posted on news forums and media documents issued by the NHL during the 2012-2013 lockout. Literature suggests the importance of relationship management prior to crisis onset, as social media has the potential to inflame and contaminate the perceptions of others. Through social media, the formation and emergence of an engaged and active public was observed and studied. However, when considering traditional crisis communication theories, results from this particular case are counterintuitive; the findings counter traditional crisis communication theories, suggesting that cases such as this one are to be investigated further.

Mobility, as the ability among newcomers and citizens to move temporarily and circularly across international borders and between states, has become a pervasive norm for a significant portion of Canada’s population. Despite its pervasive nature and the growing public interest, however, current research has been limited in how Canadian policies are reacting to the ability of citizens and newcomers to move. This thesis seeks to fill that gap by analyzing Canada’s treatment of mobility within and across policies of immigration, citizenship and foreign affairs. An analytical mobility framework is developed to incorporate interdisciplinary work on human migration and these policy domains. Using this framework, an examination of policy developments in each domain in the last decade reveals that they diverge in isolation and from a whole-of-government perspective around the treatment of mobility. In some instances policy accommodates or even embraces mobility, and in others it restricts it.

No description available.