In this thesis, the framework within which long-term goals are set and subsequently achieved or approached is analyzed. Sustainable development and climate change are areas in which goals have tobe set despite uncertainties. The analysis is divided into the normative motivations for setting such goals, what forms of goals could be set given the empirical and normative uncertainties, and how tomanage doubts regarding achievability or values after a goal has been set. Paper I discusses a set of questions that moral theories intended to guide goal-setting should respond to. It is often claimed that existent normative theories provide only modest guidance regarding climate change, and consequently have to be revised or supplemented. Two such suggested revisions or supplements are analyzed in order to determine whether they provide such guidance. Paper II applies the deep ecological framework to survey the extent to which it can be utilized to discuss issues concerning the management of climate change. It is suggested that the deep ecological framework can provide guidance by establishing a normative framework and an analysis of how the overarching values and principles can be specified to be relevant for actions. Paper III is focused on normative political theory, and explicates the two dimensions of empirical and normative uncertainty. By applying recent discussions in normative political theory on ideal/non-ideal theory, political realism, and the relation between normative demands and empirical constraints,strategies for managing the proposed goals are suggested. Paper IV suggests a form of goal that incorporates uncertainties. Cautious utopias allow greater uncertainty than realistic goals (goals that are known to be achievable or approachable, and desirable),but not to the same extent as utopian goals (goals wherein it is highly uncertain whether the goal can actually be achieved). Such goals have a performance-enhancing function. A definition and quality criteria for such goals are proposed. Paper V considers whether a goal that is becoming all the more unlikely to be achievable should be reconsidered. The paper focuses on the two degrees Celsius target, and asks whether it could still be a sensible goal to aspire to. By applying the principle that ‘ought’ implies ‘can’, the role of such obligations is investigated. Paper VI surveys how to treat circumstances in which an already set goal should be reconsidered and possibly revised, and what would evoke doubt in the belief upon which those goals have been set.Two situations are analyzed: (i) a problematic or surprising event occurs, upsetting confidence in one’s relevant beliefs, or (ii) respectable but dissenting views are voiced concerning one’s means and/or values. It is suggested that the validity of doubt has to be considered, in addition to the level in a goal-means hierarchy towards which doubt is raised. / <p>QC 20151204</p>

This thesis is a critical evaluation of the theory and practice of Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM). It seeks to understand why SSCM theory has so little to say about environmental sustainability and to explore how SSCM practice is contributing towards the transition towards sustainable development. I conjecture that SSCM scholars have not engaged sufficiently with the broader sustainability literature and other constructions of sustainability, which has led to a lack of theory development within SSCM. The sustainability paradigms framework that forms the core of the thesis was developed in order to broaden the discussion around sustainability within SSCM. Specifically, it embraces the contested nature of the concept of sustainability and uses multiple sustainability paradigms to construct future directions for theory development. In order to put the concept of environmental sustainability at the centre of SSCM theory, the concept of ‘environmental effectiveness’ was developed which seeks to differentiate between environmentally sustainable strategies and those that merely seek to achieve reductions in unsustainability. In order to evaluate the practice of SSCM, a case study was conducted. The concept of ‘environmental effectiveness’ is operationalized through the use of non-perceptual measures related to carbon emissions and evaluates the extent to which SSCM practices contribute towards climate stabilization, a key sustainability objective. It is found that those SSCM practices that have been shown to improve ‘environmental performance’ within the extant SSCM literature did not deliver ‘environmentally effective performance’ within the case study. This raises the possibility that the literature has mistaken reductions in unsustainability for sustainability proper and that we may need to go back to basics. The findings are discussed with reference to the sustainability paradigms framework and multiple opportunities for theory development within SSCM are explored.

Thesis advisor: Robert J. Starratt / This thesis is a descriptive and analytical study of the complete works of Michael Fullan as a scholar of educational change. Fullan is one of the foremost individuals who have helped established the field of educational change and who continues to push the field forward. This dissertation investigates, articulates and interrogates the intellectual and strategic contributions of Fullan in the scholarly field of educational change. This is a critical description and examination of the historical events and trends that influenced his research and to which he was responding. It provides insight into a significant area of practice and research in educational administration by looking at the development of a field through the intellectual contributions of one of its most important authorities. The main purpose is to highlight the development and cogency of Fullan's ideas in the field of educational change through an examination and exploration of his intellectual underpinnings. This study was grounded in the qualitative research tradition, particularly rooted in a conceptual framework of hermeneutics. The task was to search for an understanding rather than explanation and for interpretation rather than prediction. Thus, in this study the researcher was the primary instrument for data collection and analysis. Data was using collected various artifacts, namely: books, journal articles, scholarly papers, technical reports, conference papers, dissertations about Fullan, web-site reports and/or papers, newspaper articles and publicity material. More specifically, Fullan's writings were primarily accessed through various venues: the internet (especially his website: http://www.michaelfullan.ca/), college libraries and professors who use his books. One person-to-person interview was conducted to clarify. Data was critically analyzed and reported thematically and chronologically in order to position Fullan's works within those historical periods and to identify the development and evolution of his theory of change. Findings indicate several periods of education reform: innovation and diffusion, school effectiveness and school improvement, restructuring and reculturing, large-scale reform and post-standardization. Fullan's assessments of each period revealed that he has been more influential in the large-scale reform period than the others. Themes unfolding highlighted the importance of stakeholders (students, teachers, principals, parents and community, district administrators, consultants) and concepts (process, objective and subjective assumptions, moral purpose, relationships, knowledge, sustainability, complexity/chaos & evolutionary theories, systems, paradoxes, coherence and theory of action. Connections to key thinkers in sociology, educational change and mentors as well as Fullan' unique approach to the change process among various other change process models, definitions and perspectives were highlighted. Development and evolution of Fullan's theory of education is underscored by the influence of early mentors in sociology as well as decades of emphasis on certain critical issues within the literature: namely, the absence of the implementation perspective (1970s), meaning-making (1980s), capacity-building (1990s), systems-leading (2000s) and a more recent post-standardization era. Critical and positive commentaries on particular Fullan's works reveal multiple and often opposing values, assumptions and purposes of education that characterize scholar's experiences and advocacy. The paper concludes with a brief personal and critical reflection on Fullan's educational change literature highlighting strengths, weaknesses and the future challenges for scholars in the field. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Administration.

The policy shift towards sustainability has led to increased diversity of stakeholders in land management. This thesis explores how capacity building projects affect the way stakeholders are included in emerging platforms for change. It does so by combining action research and narrative analysis in a case study of a project that aimed to develop social capability in rural Victoria, Australia. The thesis concludes with ways to improve capacity building methodologies and the reflexive performance within platforms for change.

Background and Problem: Global climate change presents the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced. As the Ecological Footprint metric and behaviour towards sustainable investment can present essential contributions to humanity’s sustainability transition, they have gained significant importance over the last years. However, it is largely unexplored if living and consuming sustainably also affects how savings are allocated when investing.  Purpose: The purpose of this study is to contribute to the current body of knowledge by studying the motivations and backgrounds that drive the decision of individuals to invest sustainably. Thus, we investigate the relationship between people’s Ecological Footprint and their sustainable investment behaviour. Method: This study follows a positivist research approach where quantitative data is gathered through a structured questionnaire from 290 respondents with financial literacy and sustainability awareness. The results are analysed through a logistic regression and then interpreted and discussed in the context of the frame of reference.  Conclusion: The results indicate that individuals with a lower Ecological Footprint and thus a higher awareness of sustainability are more likely to invest sustainably. Consequently, this study showed that individuals who consumed more sustainably tend to act more sustainably in other areas and levels. Moreover, this study adds new knowledge to the literature regarding individual’s consumption behaviour and its relationship with sustainable investments.

No description available.

<p>Information technology (IT) has been applied in every aspect in common everyday experience. Most industries have changed from paper based to digitally supported processes. The implementation of IT has resulted in lower costs, faster operations, and faster response to consumer demands, thus achieving economies of scale and major advancements in the quality of products introduced to the consumer.</p> <p>In healthcare, IT has led to extensive advances in many different aspects of medicine. IT has enhanced diagnostic equipment, laboratory result accuracy, research methodologies and analysis advancements, and has resulted in more effective prescription of medications. These advances have increased the overall quality of life for patients.</p> <p>Despite the fact that the adoption rate of Electronic Medical Record systems (EMRs) in European countries has reached more than 90%, the adoption of EMRs by primary care physicians in Canada lags far behind at a rate closer to 30%. Much of this low adoption rate can be attributed to barriers due to resistance to change. Many adoption projects in IT fail, even after change has occurred. These failures have occurred in many different industries, including healthcare. EMR adoption in primary care requires a focus on change management and sustainability for primary care physicians, the target audience of change.</p> <p>This thesis research investigates the reasons for the low rate of adoption of EMRs in the primary care environment in Canada. A change management model dedicated to the Canadian primary healthcare environment for the management and sustainability of change is created and discussed in detail. This study is based on a thorough literature review of change management models; a qualitative analysis of interviews with industry leaders from different backgrounds such as consultancy, government, and vendors; and a quantitative analysis of data through an online primary care physician questionnaire.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)