This research investigated the system by which the social effects of oil sands development on Fort McMurray, a city in northeastern Alberta, are assessed and managed. The research focused on Social Impact Assessment (SIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and the work of an industry initiative, the Regional Issues Working Group (RIWG). The oil sands industry, which involves large, labour-intensive mining and drilling operations in a boom-bust cycle, places considerable pressure on Fort McMurray, a city of approximately 50,000 inhabitants and the only urban area within 350 km of the oil sands. The social effects experienced there include exorbitant housing prices, shortages in service industry labour, insufficient social services, at times, to assist individuals and families who can no longer cope with the difficult conditions in the area, and a variety of other negative effects. Sixteen key informant interviews were conducted with urban planners, municipal politicians, provincial employees, a spokesperson for one of the First Nations in the area, community NGOs, and oil sands industry representatives. Data from the interviews were combined with a literature review and a document analysis. A modified McKinsey 7S Integrated Management Framework was used as a structure for describing and analyzing the Social Effects Assessment and Management System (SEAMS) in Fort McMurray. The SEAMS was found to be weak in comparison to the needs of the community. Project-by-project assessment of oil sands development was found to downplay the cumulative nature of social effects. Furthermore, no legislation or regulation existed that demanded action based on the findings of SIA. As a result, mitigation and management of social effects was insufficient, often occurring only when it was directly in the interests of the oil sands industry. While government and industry have plans in place to resolve some of the negative social effects, their actions were criticized by informants as being uncoordinated, inconsistent and often ineffective. The findings indicate that a strategy for exploiting Alberta's oil sands is necessary. The project-by-project evaluation of oil sands development proposals is not addressing the important long-term and regional social issues that arise as a result of construction and operation of the mines and facilities. A tool recommended for incorporating resolutions to long-term, regional social effects into the development plan is SEA with an explicit Strategic Social Assessment component. This strategic assessment and planning process should be undertaken by a publicly-accountable government body empowered to rationalize the pace of oil sands development based on social, environmental and economic effects, and to coordinate long-term responses by government and industry.

This research investigated the system by which the social effects of oil sands development on Fort McMurray, a city in northeastern Alberta, are assessed and managed. The research focused on Social Impact Assessment (SIA), Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and the work of an industry initiative, the Regional Issues Working Group (RIWG). The oil sands industry, which involves large, labour-intensive mining and drilling operations in a boom-bust cycle, places considerable pressure on Fort McMurray, a city of approximately 50,000 inhabitants and the only urban area within 350 km of the oil sands. The social effects experienced there include exorbitant housing prices, shortages in service industry labour, insufficient social services, at times, to assist individuals and families who can no longer cope with the difficult conditions in the area, and a variety of other negative effects. Sixteen key informant interviews were conducted with urban planners, municipal politicians, provincial employees, a spokesperson for one of the First Nations in the area, community NGOs, and oil sands industry representatives. Data from the interviews were combined with a literature review and a document analysis. A modified McKinsey 7S Integrated Management Framework was used as a structure for describing and analyzing the Social Effects Assessment and Management System (SEAMS) in Fort McMurray. The SEAMS was found to be weak in comparison to the needs of the community. Project-by-project assessment of oil sands development was found to downplay the cumulative nature of social effects. Furthermore, no legislation or regulation existed that demanded action based on the findings of SIA. As a result, mitigation and management of social effects was insufficient, often occurring only when it was directly in the interests of the oil sands industry. While government and industry have plans in place to resolve some of the negative social effects, their actions were criticized by informants as being uncoordinated, inconsistent and often ineffective. The findings indicate that a strategy for exploiting Alberta's oil sands is necessary. The project-by-project evaluation of oil sands development proposals is not addressing the important long-term and regional social issues that arise as a result of construction and operation of the mines and facilities. A tool recommended for incorporating resolutions to long-term, regional social effects into the development plan is SEA with an explicit Strategic Social Assessment component. This strategic assessment and planning process should be undertaken by a publicly-accountable government body empowered to rationalize the pace of oil sands development based on social, environmental and economic effects, and to coordinate long-term responses by government and industry.

Sustainable development is becoming more and more essential in the way companies behave and perform. The concern regarding the environment and the society reflects a broader concept and perception on how business should be conducted. The continuous demand for all kind of resources makes it vital and almost inevitable for a company, government and even physical person to embrace and embed in their culture and strategic goals the sustainable development dimensions. In the perspective of project management, the integration of sustainability requires particular attention especially from the decision-makers involved in the field of project management and more precisely in the project selection process. This research aims to examine how this process is achieved by organizations in a sustainable manner, by proper integration in effective tools such as Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. The exploration of theories and models regarding project selection and ESIA helped me in building and elaborating further on a sustainable framework that enhances the need for proper integration and incorporation of environmental and social issues in projects. This paper concludes that the most efficient way to benefit from the opportunities that the surrounding environment brings in a project area is to assess such impacts and integrate them since the corporate strategy crafting and the initial phase of project selection process

Die Dissertation setzt sich mit der Thematik der Arbeitssicherheit in produzierenden kleinen und mittelständischen Unternehmen der sächsischen Metall- und Feinmechanikindustrie auseinander. Dabei untersucht die Autorin mögliche Einflussfaktoren auf das Sicherheitsverhalten von Arbeitnehmer/innen, um Hinweise für verbesserte personalwirtschaftliche Methoden zu identifizieren. Dabei liegt der Schwerpunkt der Arbeit auf dem Einfluss, den direkte Kolleg/innen auf das individuelle Sicherheitsverhalten haben. Bisher standen in erster Linie die Aktivitäten von Manager/innen und Führungskräften im Fokus der Untersuchung. Jedoch liefern theoretische Grundlagen, wie die Theorie der sozialen Vergleichsprozesse, die Theorie der sozialen Identität, die Soziale Kategorisierungstheorie sowie Theorien des hilfreichen Verhaltens deutliche Hinweise, dass direkte und alltägliche Interaktionspartner/innen einen wesentlichen verhaltensbeeinflussenden Faktor darstellen. Dieser Aspekt wird mit dieser Dissertation aufgearbeitet. Es ist von Interesse, welchen Einfluss soziale Faktoren auf das individuelle Sicherheitsverhalten im Unternehmen haben. Neben Gruppenfaktoren werden deshalb auch Führungs- und Unternehmensfaktoren erfasst. Darüber hinaus sind individuelle Faktoren Gegenstand der Untersuchung. Dabei wird unter Sicherheitsverhalten einerseits das sicherheitsrelevante Verhalten, wie die Einhaltung von Sicherheitsregeln sowie das Auftreten von Beinahe-Unfällen, Verletzungen und Arbeitsunfällen verstanden. Ebenso zählt dazu das sicherheitsbezogene hilfreiche Verhalten zwischen Kolleg/innen in Form des gegenseitigen Hinweisens auf mögliche Gefahren bei der Arbeit sowie das Beseitigen von Gefahren. Die empirische Untersuchung erfolgt an einer Stichprobe von 358 Mitarbeiter/innen aus den produzierenden Bereichen sächsischer Industrieunternehmen, die mittels Fragebogen befragt werden (Rücklaufquote 67,2%). Zusätzlich kommt eine egozentrierte Netzwerkanalyse zum Einsatz, die insgesamt 328 Netzwerke von Arbeitnehmer/innen erfasst (Rücklaufquote 61,5%). Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass für das Entstehen von Verletzungen und Unfällen bei der Arbeit neben individuellen und Führungsvariablen vor allem Gruppenvariablen verantwortlich gemacht werden können. Dabei ist auch festzustellen, dass Beinahe-Unfälle sowie die Einhaltung von Sicherheitsregeln als zusätzliche Sicherheitsindikatoren genutzt werden können, um Ursachen für Verletzungen und Arbeitsunfälle frühzeitig aufzudecken. Darüber hinaus ergibt die Untersuchung, dass das sicherheitsbezogene hilfreiche Verhalten zwischen Arbeitnehmer/innen dazu beitragen kann, das Auftreten von Verletzungen und Arbeitsunfällen zu reduzieren. Dabei wird das sicherheitsbezogene hilfreiche Verhalten neben individuellen Variablen vor allem durch Gruppenvariablen bestimmt. Der Einsatz der egozentrierten Netzwerkanalyse gibt Hinweise dafür, dass direkte Kolleg/innen durch ihr Sicherheitsverhalten wesentlich dazu beitragen, ob sich Individuen sicherheitsgerecht verhalten. Somit liefert die Dissertation Hinweise dafür, dass Gruppenprozesse zwischen direkten Kolleg/innen für das Ausbilden von individuellem Sicherheitsverhalten relevant sind und für Führungsmethoden im Unternehmen beachtet und auch genutzt werden müssen. Durch die Festlegung von Arbeitssicherheit als ein wichtiges Teamziel können Führungskräfte dazu beitragen, dass sich Arbeitnehmer/innen damit identifizieren und zu ihrer Erreichung stetig beitragen. Dabei muss das Management besonders in kleinen und mittelständischen Unternehmen – wie sie in dieser Studie untersucht wurden – ihren Führungskräften die zeitlichen Ressourcen und Kompetenzen zur Verfügung stellen, um diesen Anforderungen der Personalführung gerecht werden zu können.

This paper is about the persistent failure of social scientists to bring into the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process socially constructed environmental concerns held by potentially impacted communities. The failure to communicate perceived risks results from a two-communities divide based on both epistemological differences and obfuscation due to vernacular communication. The analysis provides robust modeling variables that can bridge this social-environmental divide. The case involves data collected from members of traditional communities regarding their perceptions of the potential impacts of proposed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The study is situated in the Bahamas where the government has approved setting aside 30 No-take MPAs to protect their sea. This analysis is based on 572 interviews conducted during eight field trips with members of six traditional settlements in the Exuma Islands and Cays in the central Bahamas. Confidence in the findings is high because the sample involves 34% of the census population of these settlements and the findings have repeatedly been returned for review and approval by the members of these settlements.

Littorals in the in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas and the Bath Plantation, Barbados are comparative in many ways. These edges of the sea have provided critical services to local people during the time of slavery and since. More than food and medicine, the littoral is the nightly sea bath, where children are instructed, and the last ecosystem effectively used by the elderly. Independence and self- respect derive from use and protection of these littoral by individuals and communities. Local patterns of conservation and use are argued to be essential in the ecological structure and functions of the littoral. Development projects and marine protected areas alike are seen as potentially breaking local ties with the littoral causing trophic skew and damaging local society. If development occurs, mitigation solutions potentially derive from legally recognizing local people as partners in the co-management of their traditional littoral. Included with this article is a presentation prepared by Drs. Brent and Richard Stoffle.

Social lmpact Assessment is a relatively new field of study in South Africa and abroad. It is dynamic and constantly changes as it develops. Current literature indicates that there is a need for SIA to be done through all phases of the project life cycle. The assumption made in this study is that this is not happening in practice. This study investigated the current practices in South Africa. Six case studies were analysed. The results confirmed the assumptions. The case studies were measured against the principles of Social lrnpact Assessment, lntegrated Environmental Management and Social Development. The main recommendations are that Social lmpact Assessments should be conducted throughout the Project Life Cycle and be initiated as early in the planning phase as possible. It is recommended that Social lmpact Practitioners should be exposed to the Social Development approach as these two philosophies could enhance each other. Social Impact Assessment forms part of the Integrated Environmental Management tools, and shouldn't be treated as a snapshot assessment, but as a process. Only when treated as a process, it can truly contribute to sustainable development. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

There is no doubt that the assessment of social impacts is as important, in some cases even more important, than the assessment of biophysical and economic impacts of development projects. Nonetheless, social impact assessment (SIA) has remained an "orphan" in the broader environmental impact assessment (EIA) context, both internationally and in South Africa, and is often neglected or treated as a less important aspect of an EIA. It was the aim of this study to measure perceptions of relative neglect of SIA in South Africa against the theory and practice of SIA as reflected in the literature. The basic hypothesis was that, whereas the theory and practice of SIA has reached a sophisticated level in the developed world, the practice of SIA in South Africa is not yet on a sound footing and that it does not receive the professional attention it deserves in a country beset by enormous social challenges. Thus the research problem was whether SIA is practiced at a satisfactory level of proficiency in South Africa. Social aspects of impact assessment in the North West Province of South Africa were investigated, with the aim to identify shortcomings and their possible causes and to make recommendations for improvement. The article format was used, and the main section of the study comprises two articles. The first article, a theoretical perspective based on a literature study, is a critical evaluation of SIA as part of the EIA process in South Africa against the background of international guidelines and best practices. The article includes sections on the historical background of the development of SIA in South Africa, the legal status and requirements of SIA in the country, and a critical evaluation of SIA regulation in South Africa. It was found that the persistent problems of SIA practice, experienced in other parts of the world, are also evident in South Africa. Apart from institutional, financial and professional constraints, there are also serious problems associated with approach and methods. The second article is an evaluation of and recommendations for the improvement of the practice of SIA in the North West Province. An empirical study of 26 EIAs, performed in the province between 1999 and 2002, was done. It was established that in terms of social baseline data, the identification of significant social impacts, specialist studies, public participation, recommended mitigation measures, and the attention paid to social impacts in records of decision (RODS) SIA practice in the North West Province is far from satisfactory. Apathy towards social impacts is associated with a general lack of SIA expertise. The following recommendations are made in the study to improve the level of SIA practice: a system of mandatory registration of SIA practitioners should be introduced; specialized SIA training programmes for SIA practitioners and officials should be developed and accredited; SIA specialists should be used to assess significant social impacts identified in EIAs; a policy framework and code of ethics for SIA practice should be developed; methodological guidelines for SIA should be supplied in or as a supplement to the new EIA guidelines; and the public participation process should be redesigned. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The primary objective of this study was to determine the social impact of arts festivals with reference to the ABSA KKNK. This goal was achieved by firstly analysing the social impact phenomena and the role thereof in events tourism. Secondly, a literature study was conducted in order to examine events as tourism products. Thirdly the results of the empirical research were discussed. Lastly conclusions were drawn from the research and recommendations were made with regard to the social impact of events as well as further research. From the literature, social impact was defined as the changes in the norms and values of society that are more apparent in the short-term. It was noted that when tourists vacate to a specific destination, visible impacts are noticed. Events can however provide employment opportunities, promote international peace and pride, as well as promote educational and cultural experiences but it can also lead to increased levels of irritation, crime, drug and alcohol abuse and cultural change. These positive and negative impacts were measured in the questionnaire, as adapted from Fredline and it was therefore the objective of the questionnaire to measure whether the community is positive or negative towards the festival, and whether there were any differences in the social impact when comparing the results of 2006 and 2007. The questionnaires were distributed in the community of Oudtshoorn based on a stratified sampling method followed by a random sampling method. A total of 444 questionnaires were completed, 179 in 2006 and 265 in 2007. On a positive note respondents agreed on the following aspects in 2006 and 2007: the public money spent on the ABSA KKNK would be better spent on other things, media coverage of the ABSA KKNK promotes development in Oudtshoorn and the basic skill base for event management in Oudtshoorn has increased. On a negative note respondents agreed on the following aspects in 2006 and 2007: ordinary residents get no say in the planning and management of the festival and traffic congestion is a problem. The positive impact has increased from 2006 to 2007. Two factor analyses were performed to determine the social impact factors in order to determine differences in the social impact of 2006 and 2007. The first analysis resulted in nine factors which accounted for 56.85% of the total variance and were labeled as: community issues, damage to the environment, community activities, local business and community opportunities, pricing, public facilities, traffic, disturbances and visitors. The second analysis resulted in three factors that accounted for 44.22% of the total variance and were labelled according to similar characteristics which included: community opportunities, community problems and community image. Means and standards deviations were determined after which the effect sizes were determined to explore the differences between the social impact for 2006 and 2007 on the dimensions of the various factors as determined in the factor analysis. It is clear that a small effect (0.2-0.4) exists between 2006 and 2007 concerning local business opportunities (0.25), pricing of goods (0.24), community activities (0.35), public facilities (0.39) and community activities (0.48). There were therefore no huge differences in the social impact between 2006 and 2007. / Thesis (M.Com. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

This thesis examines the social and environmental impacts that have resulted from the construction and operation of the Channel Tunnel. Nord-Pas de Calais, Kent, France, Britain and Europe were all affected through the establishment of the Channel Tunnel. Three sections make up the body of this thesis: i. context and theory ii. social, environmental and economic impacts associated with the construction and operation of the tunnel iii. acknowledgement of the impacts that this development has had on the European Union. This study draws from an extensive body of literature in identifying and examining the issues that preceded and followed this development. The social and environmental impacts associated with public opposition, environmental impacts, land possession, soil disposal, environmental disturbance, water pollution, noise disturbance, energy consumption, water contamination, fire safety and asylum seekers remain the principal discussion points identifiable throughout this piece. These issues are largely concentrated on the areas of Nord-Pas de Calais and Kent, although they are infiltrating the wider European Union in a number of ways. The social and environmental impact assessments conducted prior to the construction of the of the Channel Tunnel proved to be tools that helped ensure that the bodies driving the development were made accountable for the impacts that arose. These processes also facilitated public involvement through public consultation in the development of social and environmental impact assessment. Early identification and recognition of the social and environmental issues identified by these reports led to a more comprehensive approach to project design, construction and operation.