Global environmental challenges have become more prevalent in the Anthropocene, with the cross-cutting nature of global challenges necessitating a unique way of looking at resource streams. The Water-Energy-Food Nexus (WEF Nexus) provides a conceptual framework for highlighting scarcity concerns and interdependencies between the three natural resource streams. However, stakeholders in the WEF nexus sectors tend to operate at different temporal and spatial scales and existing governance structures are plagued by disproportionate stakeholder contributions and unclear strategic goals. This thesis uses a systematic literature review and expert interviews to evaluate stakeholders' contribution in WEF nexus decision-making processes. A social-constructivist approach is adopted to conduct a thematic analysis of relevant articles and expert interviews with two main focuses. First, identifying the challenges of engaging public, private and civil society stakeholders in WEF nexus decision-making processes and second, developing counterstrategies to the identified challenges. The analysis shows that external influences, coordination challenges, process asymmetries, structural asymmetries and nexus cognition are challenges that underpin WEF decision-making processes. As a result of these challenges, decision-making processes are plagued by reduced trust, stakeholder fatigue, power imbalances and disproportionate nexus understanding. The analysis also develops solutions based on implemented practices and recommendations from prospective remedies. The discussion links the findings to broader debates on mainstream media communication, power asymmetries and participatory processes. Therefore, this thesis demonstrates that engagement challenges can be understood through collaborative governance and WEF nexus governance and that counterstrategies exist both in current practices and as future recommendations

Yes / Previous research has theorised that the link between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and performance is mediated by environmental sustainability orientation (ESO). However, firm- level factors that may moderate this relationship are lacking. This paper attempts to fill this gap by examining how and when EO enhances new venture performance by considering ESO as mediator and stakeholder integration as an important contingent factor. Using primary data obtained from 242 chief executive officers (CEOs)/entrepreneurs, we found that the indirect relationship between EO and new venture performance is strengthened at high levels of stakeholder integration. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed

Yes / A global response to Covid‐19 pandemic has triggered issues related to stress and social restrictions; thus, mental health is seen as a particular area of concern for social well‐being for both policymakers and corporate regulators/companies. Given that mental health intersects with most, if not all, of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), this research brought to light issues surrounding employment of people with mental disabilities (PWMDs) and the financial merits of employing them. An online survey was administered to PWMDs to elicit what possible flexible opportunities could enable them to gain or stay at work. Interviews were also conducted with human resource managers and financial managers. Our results show that there are currently no flexible working opportunities available for PWMDs, which could enable them work effectively to improve both self and general economic growth.

This study explored how social aspects for stakeholder engagement are being addressed and incorporated in climate action plans (CAPs). This focus was chosen to address the knowledge gap in research on social conditions for climate action which has been found to provide barriers to achieving deep decarbonisation. The thesis conducted a case study of two cities, Copenhagen (Denmark) and Stockholm (Sweden). Each city’s CAP was analysed through a thematic document analysis that explored through what measures each city aim to achieve stakeholder engagement for local climate action.    Five overarching themes were identified through a literature review and used as an analysis framework: citizen engagement, private sector engagement, stakeholder collaboration, awareness development and advocacy. For both CAPs, the results showed an extensive variation for measures that contributed to each theme. The main findings were that measures should focus on developing collaborations, partnerships, networks, knowledge, awareness, skills, green procurement policies and stricter environmental regulations to support the level of stakeholder engagement needed for deep decarbonisation. Also, to focus on advocation measures, as well as measures aimed at developing knowledge and support to accelerate systematic change. In addition, it was found that cities need to focus on ensuring higher levels of equity and formalize extended citizen involvement for more inclusive and fair transitions. Findings also highlighted similarities and differences between the two CAPs, what lessons could be learned from these and connected these findings to how climate action could be further developed.

This master thesis investigates stakeholder perspectives on the adoption of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for sustainable construction of buildings. Study includes stakeholder views, preferences, and obstacles regarding adoption of sustainable construction initiatives by utilising a qualitative research approach. Key stakeholder viewpoints on the applicability, usefulness, and relevance are provided through qualitative interviews. Furthermore, stakeholder perspectives towards sustainability and process for development of KPIs are evaluated using qualitative surveys. The study utilises a case study methodology, focusing on a case company that is engaged in the construction of sustainable buildings, and employs a constructivist research design technique to comprehend the individual viewpoints and insights of stakeholders. To obtain in-depth insights, qualitative data gathering techniques like surveys and interviews are employed. A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is also included to determine internal and external variables impacting the adoption of KPIs and to systematically assess stakeholder viewpoints. The research findings shows that various stakeholders hold distinct opinions about the development of sustainable buildings. Although most stakeholders agree that KPIs are crucial for assessing sustainable development, there are significant differences in perspectives about sustainable initiatives in terms of the cost, lack of knowledge, and organizations involvement in decision-making. On the basis of the findings, recommendations are made to the case company to improve stakeholder involvement and collaboration in the development of KPIs for sustainable building construction. These include using standardised frameworks and rules for the creation of KPIs, incorporating stakeholder perspective into data gathering and analysis, and adopting collaborative approaches that engage stakeholders across the KPI life span.  The research contributes to the current discussion on sustainable construction approaches by addressing stakeholder perspectives and reservations, as well as influencing future efforts to develop and carry out effective KPIs in line with the goals and values of the company.

The closure of a mine is an inevitable event in the lifecycle of a mining operation and one that can have massive environmental, social and economic consequences for mining communities in particular. The ultimate goal of mine closure should be sustainable development and, while adequate planning, risk assessment and goal setting influence the mine closure process, the relationships between stakeholders, especially those between mining companies and communities, lie at the heart of implementing sustainable closure. Mining communities are affected by nearby mining operations and, although they can enjoy the economic benefits of the industry, they also bear the brunt of the negative social and environmental impacts. The focus on sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in addition to the increased power of communities in recent years has forced mining companies to consider the interests of this stakeholder group. The community‟s perceptions and expectations of sustainable development can, however, differ from those of the mining company and have an influence on the stakeholder engagement process. The current study investigates the mining community of Kagiso‟s perceptions of sustainable development and the implications of these perceptions for the implementation of Mintails Mogale Gold Mine‟s approach to mine closure. Stakeholder engagement issues are brought to the fore and recommendations for improving the engagement between the mine and the community are proposed. / M (Development and Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The closure of a mine is an inevitable event in the lifecycle of a mining operation and one that can have massive environmental, social and economic consequences for mining communities in particular. The ultimate goal of mine closure should be sustainable development and, while adequate planning, risk assessment and goal setting influence the mine closure process, the relationships between stakeholders, especially those between mining companies and communities, lie at the heart of implementing sustainable closure. Mining communities are affected by nearby mining operations and, although they can enjoy the economic benefits of the industry, they also bear the brunt of the negative social and environmental impacts. The focus on sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in addition to the increased power of communities in recent years has forced mining companies to consider the interests of this stakeholder group. The community‟s perceptions and expectations of sustainable development can, however, differ from those of the mining company and have an influence on the stakeholder engagement process. The current study investigates the mining community of Kagiso‟s perceptions of sustainable development and the implications of these perceptions for the implementation of Mintails Mogale Gold Mine‟s approach to mine closure. Stakeholder engagement issues are brought to the fore and recommendations for improving the engagement between the mine and the community are proposed. / M (Development and Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This thesis explores the factors that influence the extent to which the World Wide Web (henceforth web) is utilised by corporations in an environmentally sensitive industry to communicate with their stakeholders in relation to environmental issues. The study initially establishes, in theory, the communication potential of the web and possible factors which can impact on the extent to which this potential is utilised for environmental communication. Subsequently, it examines the use of the web by specific companies in the Australian minerals industry for communicating environmental issues to their stakeholders over time. Explanations for current practices are established through an analysis of the impact of the factors established in theory on web based environmental communication in the Australian minerals industry.¶ A model was established to guide the research process for this study. Drawing upon media richness theory (Daft & Lengel, 1984, 1986; Sproull, 1991; Valacich et al., 1993), the Media Richness Framework was developed to provide criteria for assessing the communication potential of the web. It was also posited that the extent to which this potential is utilised in practice is dependent on management’s web based communication needs. These needs incorporate timeliness, accessibility, presentation and organisation, and interaction. Contextual factors, which include limitations of web based technologies, economic, internal organisational and external stakeholder issues, influence these needs.¶ Case study research (Hagg & Hedlund, 1979; Yin, 2003a, 2003b; Scapens, 2004) was used as the methodological approach for this thesis in order to obtain an in-depth understanding of current web based environmental communication practices. An evaluation of the websites of mining companies was used as the basis for selecting three companies as cases. These cases involved a triangulation of approaches towards data collection: monitoring corporate websites on a regular basis; interviewing appropriate personnel in these organisations; and evaluating documents related to the companies’ environmental communication practice. Data gathered from interviews, websites and documents were analysed for individual cases and then through cross-case comparisons. The intention was to confirm the research model and to potentially extend it through a consideration of other factors not identified in theory but evident in current practices.¶ The findings of this research indicate that even though the web has the potential to enhance environmental communication in an environmentally sensitive industry that is subject to extensive stakeholder pressures, there is variation in its use by companies in the Australian minerals industry. An evaluation of the practices of the three chosen companies highlighted that while the web is used extensively by these companies in comparison with other corporations in the industry, the case study companies were at different stages of web based environmental communication.¶ Management’s web based environmental communication needs and the influence of contextual factors on these needs explained the variation in web based environmental communication across all three companies. Moreover, two other factors emerged from the field; these are referred to as the double-edged sword and change in management philosophy. These findings from the field highlight that the need for communication through the web could have unintended consequences while a change in management could alter the current approach towards web based environmental communication.¶ This study into the use of the web in the Australian minerals industry highlights that the medium has an impact on environmental communication practice. Further research could assess the communication potential of the various media used for environmental communication in order to extend the explanatory power of the current study. This study also outlines arguments in support of extending theorisation in environmental communication. Existing theories for social and environmental accounting, such as stakeholder and legitimacy theory (Roberts, 1992; Lindblom, 1993; Deegan, 2002) need to be accompanied by other theoretical perspectives in order to capture a range of potential factors that could impact environmental communication practices. Such insights could provide a comprehensive understanding of environmental communication in different contexts.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has long been promoted as a means of reducing reliance on pesticide inputs as compared to conventional farming systems. Reduced pesticide application could be beneficial due to the links between intensive pesticide use and negative impacts upon biodiversity and human health as well as the development of pesticide resistance. Work assessing the potential of IPM in cereal production is currently limited, however, and previous findings have generally covered the subject from the perspective of either field trial data or social science studies of farmer behaviour. This thesis attempts to help to address this knowledge gap by providing a more holistic assessment of IPM in Scottish spring barley production (selected because of its dominance in Scotland’s arable production systems), in relation to three of its most damaging fungal pathogens: Rhynchosporium commune, Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei, and Ramularia collo-cygni. Several IPM techniques of potential relevance to the sector were identified, and the prospects of three in particular – crop rotation, varietal disease resistance, and forecasting disease pressure – were assessed in several ways. Preliminary analysis of experimental field trial data collected from 2011 – 2014 across Scotland found that the majority of spring barley trials in this period (65%) did not show a statistically significant impact of fungicide treatment on yield, with the average yield increase due to fungicide application being 0.62 t/ha. This initial analysis was expanded upon using stepwise regressions of long-term (1996 – 2014) field trial data from the same dataset. Here, the difference between treated and untreated yields could be explained by disease resistance, average seasonal rainfall (whereby wetter seasons saw an increased impact of fungicide use on yield), and high combined disease severity. Stakeholder surveying provided information about current practice and attitudes towards the selected IPM techniques amongst a group of 43 Scottish spring barley farmers and 36 agronomists. Stakeholders were broadly open to taking up IPM measures on farm; sowing of disease resistant varieties was most frequently selected as the best technique in terms of both practicality and cost, though individual preference varied. However, a disparity was seen between farmer perception of their uptake of IPM and actual, self-reported uptake for both varietal disease resistance and rotation. Farmers and agronomists also overestimated the impact of fungicide use as compared with the field trials results – the majority of stakeholders believed fungicide treatment to increase yields by 1 - 2 t/ha, while the majority of 2011 – 2014 field trials had a yield difference of under 1 t/ha. The reasons behind these differences between perception and practice are not currently known. Finally, an annual survey of commercial crops, gathered from 552 farms across Scotland (from 2009 – 2015), highlighted two gaps where IPM practice could be improved upon. Firstly, relatively few of the varieties listed in the commercial crops database were highly resistant to the three diseases – 26.1% were highly resistant to Ramularia, 14.2% to Rhynchosporium, and 58.1% to mildew. Secondly, 71% of the farms included in the database had planted barley in at least two consecutive seasons, indicating that crop rotation practices could be improved. The overarching finding of this project is that there is scope for IPM uptake to be improved upon and fungicide use to be reduced while maintaining high levels of yield in Scottish spring barley production. Incorporating experimental field data, stakeholder surveying, and commercial practice data offered a unique view into the potential for IPM in this sector, and provided insights which could not have been gained through the lens of a single discipline.

Title: Designing Communication for Dialogue and Engagement Authors: Christopher Bradson & Sofia Amanuel Level: Master Thesis, 30p  Keywords: Dialogue, Communication Design, Stakeholder engagement, Stakeholder communication, CSR communication.  Background: The changed attitudes about the role of business in today's contemporary society alongside with globalization and the evolved media-information environment has enlarged the pressures on businesses in regards to how they should pursue profitability, while responding to demands about accountability that is motivated beyond financial gain. There is a need for a better understanding about communication choices and how these are perceived by intended stakeholders, in order to accelerate effective communication that initiates stakeholder engagement. Research Questions:(1)How is Volkswagens communication design constructed in creating dialogue and engagement after a corporate scandal with its customers? (2)How does Swedish Volkswagen customers, in attribute of being external stakeholders, perceive the opportunities for engagement based on the four selected Volkswagen tools? What challenges does Volkswagen encounter when trying to create dialogue through these tools? Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to examine how Volkswagen is creating opportunities for stakeholder dialogue and engagement through the theoretical perspective of communication design. By engagement we mean one-way or two-way communication, where stakeholders seek out or take part of communicative messages provided by the organisation.The study aims to examine how Volkswagen has designed their communication efforts, after being subjected to a global corporate scandal which proposed public demands for accountability and responsibility. Theoretical Framework: The framework consists of Communication theories, giving considerable space to literature from theorists Aakhus and Bzdak whom developed the framework for communication design used in this study. Additionally, the framework includes a smaller selection of CSR, Public Relation, and Media research focusing on stakeholder engagement.  Method: We have taken two parallel methodological pathways. The first method involved applying for elements provided by Aakhus and Bzdak framework for reconstructive design, while doing a thematic analysis on the media texts provided by the tools. The second research question was examined by conducting semi-structured interviews with Swedish Volkswagen stakeholders in order to gain a deeper understanding if Volkswagens communicative instruments were enabling engagement.   Findings & Conclusions: Our study concludes that Volkswagen is showcasing constructs in their design that aims to reduce scepticism among stakeholders, addressing important issues for stakeholders, providing solutions and articulating progress in multi-stake issues. Wealso conclude that Volkswagens communication messages are conveyed in a calculated way, with a persuasive nature to create an identity of being a ‘corporate good citizen’.There is a complexity in terms of diminishing scepticism, since stakeholders are being more demanding in today's society, particularly after a corporate scandal such as the one Volkswagen has been subjected to. Stakeholders are becoming more aware that companies are dictating the dialogic discourse, which affects the communication design in what motives a company incorporates in their communication. We conclude that customers felt that the opportunities to engage with the company was fairly low, and highly depended on how they where processing the nature of the messages (intrinsic/extrinsic),as well as how they defined engagement from personal beliefs and values.