Submitted by Edileide Reis (leyde-landy@hotmail.com) on 2013-04-10T19:39:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Érika.pdf: 19408513 bytes, checksum: 6b78cf30a8d5eb4a7564e94e182fd593 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Meirelles(rodrigomei@ufba.br) on 2013-04-22T19:31:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Érika.pdf: 19408513 bytes, checksum: 6b78cf30a8d5eb4a7564e94e182fd593 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-04-22T19:31:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Érika.pdf: 19408513 bytes, checksum: 6b78cf30a8d5eb4a7564e94e182fd593 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Este trabalho tem como objeto de análise os rios urbanos que são hodiernamente problemas sócio-ambientais, em decorrência da crise ambiental, como resultado do distanciamento do homem em relação à natureza. Mediante o atual estágio de degradação dos rios localizados em ambientes urbanos e considerando a extrema importância destes para os fins naturais, sociais e culturais, torna-se premente uma gestão política, administrativa e educativa em prol de uma percepção mais ampla e consciente que incorpore de forma simbiótica, as dimensões antropocêntricas e ecológicas. No âmbito epistemológico, se faz necessária a construção de uma racionalidade científica, pautada nas abordagens interdisciplinar, holística e contextualizada, que, em relação ao sistema hídrico, deve consolidar a perspectiva da água doce como um bem social, crucial à sobrevivência da humanidade. Nesse sentido, este estudo busca contribuir para a discussão teórica sobre a problemática da degradação dos corpos d’águas urbanos e visa propor um sistema de indicadores de sustentabilidade ambiental como subsídio para a gestão dos rios urbanos que, na atualidade, são contraditoriamente, ao mesmo tempo utilizados, como fonte de água para consumo e ponto de descarga de resíduos e efluentes. Esta proposta é construída a partir de um modelo teórico que relaciona as dimensões, princípios, funções e indicadores em prol da sustentabilidade dos rios e foi aplicada na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio do Cobre, situada na cidade de Salvador, Bahia–Brasil, com o intuito de avaliar e legitimar a aplicação do referido sistema. A formulação deste, se deu de forma participativa, com base na contribuição de estudiosos, especialistas e membros da comunidade, por meio de consultas estruturadas à grupos de técnicos e cientistas que trabalham com o tema, além de integrantes de grupos sociais que convivem diretamente com os problemas oriundos da precariedade de conservação do Rio do Cobre. Os resultados desta pesquisa foram armazenados em um SIG e enfim mapeados. Conclui-se que os rios urbanos, hoje entendidos como “esgotos”, possuem funções de primordial importância para o meio e por isso, devem ser recuperados e preservados com base em uma gestão sustentável, que considere os indicadores apresentados ao longo deste trabalho como instrumentos úteis para a efetiva organização e delimitação de ações para a conservação dos recursos hídricos. Almeja-se que o presente trabalho contribua para subsidiar a Administração Pública e a formulação de políticas ambientais, bem como ser um instrumento de conscientização e reivindicação da sociedade em busca pelo re-equilíbrio ambiental para a garantia de vida no planeta. / Salvador

O desenvolvimento da presente tese tem por motivação central investigar como organizações que possuem ações de sustentabilidade buscam disseminá-las e incorporá-las ao longo de suas cadeias de suprimento. Para tanto, com uma nova definição para sustentabilidade em cadeias de suprimento (SCS), agora assumida por uma abordagem institucional efetivada por um processo socialmente construído, bem como a proposição do conceito de Lógica Institucional da Sustentabilidade (LIS) a partir de quatro dimensões de análise: Sequência de eventos; Empreendedorismo institucional; Mudança de estrutura; e Prática de sustentabilidade, esta tese apresenta contribuições tanto no contexto teórico como no empírico. Com uma essência propositiva, assume-se como questão de pesquisa: Como a Lógica Institucional da Sustentabilidade é constituída e praticada por organizações em cadeias de suprimento, em relação aos impactos no ambiente e na sociedade? Baseando-se nesta, tem-se como objetivo central de pesquisa: Analisar a promoção da Lógica Institucional da Sustentabilidade em Cadeias de Suprimento, a partir da proposição de um framework teórico e estudos de caso no Brasil e no Reino Unido. Por meio de uma pesquisa qualitativa conduzida com um método abdutivo, foram utilizados quatro estudos de caso como suporte à pesquisa, duas organizações no Brasil (uma indústria e uma agroindústria) e duas no Reino Unido (uma indústria e uma universidade). Assim, com uma análise processual, baseando-se nos resultados da análise de conteúdo, foram utilizados vários instrumentos de coleta de dados no sentido de validar o framework teórico para representar como a LIS se aplica à cadeia de suprimento. As análises seguem as quatro dimensões já mencionadas, bem como nove macro práticas e um conjunto de 21 micro práticas. Os casos foram analisados individualmente a partir das ações de sustentabilidade realizadas, pela formação do campo organizacional que os circundam, pela promoção da LIS ao longo do período de pesquisa, bem como a partir de uma análise institucional. Características peculiares foram identificadas nos diferentes casos, todavia a partir de uma aproximação dos resultados ficou visível que no caso do Brasil existiu um nível de esforço interno mais evidente por parte das organizações, o que se reflete na efetiva existência de estratégia e prática de sustentabilidade. Já no que se refere ao Reino Unido, as motivações identificadas possuem um caráter mais externo, com a observação da prática de sustentabilidade em muitos momentos limitada, ao se seguir o framework proposto. Outros resultados são destacados, como é a questão de grupos de trabalho identificados para buscar e efetivar a sustentabilidade dentro das organizações e em suas cadeias de suprimento, o que teve contribuição direta na validação do framework. Quanto as análises institucionais, percebe-se forte legitimidade em todos os casos dentro de seus campos organizacionais, o que ratifica como efetiva a definição aqui proposta. Com base nos resultados e nas construções teóricas, identifica-se originalidade e ineditismo nesta pesquisa, principalmente por avançar na discussão sobre o processo de implantação da sustentabilidade em cadeias de suprimento, ainda pouco considerada na literatura. Além disso, entende-se ser possível modificar o foco excessivo, e constante, apenas em performance e discutir o processo de mudança necessário para se esclarecer o papel das organizações quanto à sustentabilidade. / The main motivation to develop this thesis dissertation is to identify how companies are incorporating and widespread sustainability through the supply chain. Thus, the thesis presents a set of contribution in both theoretical and practical perspectives considering a new definition for supply chain sustainability (SCS), which is understood as an institutional approach achievable by a socially-constructed process, and a proposition of Institutional Logic of Sustainability (ILS) according to the following dimensions: Event sequencing; Institutional entrepreneurism; Structure overlap; and Practice of sustainability. Based on a purposeful viewpoint, the research question is: How the Institutional Logic of Sustainability is created and practiced from organisations through the supply chains, according to impacts on the environment and society? Further, the main objective of research is: Analyse the promotion of Institutional Logic of Sustainability in supply chains, from a theoretical framework and case studies in Brazil and in the UK. From a qualitative approach and an abdutive method, it were used four case studies to support the empirical research, in which two companies are Brazilian (an industry and an agro industry) and two are British (an industry and an university). Based on a processual analysis, according to the content analysis, it were used different data collection methods to validate the theoretical framework which represent the ILS applied to supply chains. The analysis were conducted using the four dimension presented already, as well as nine macro practices and 21 micro practices. All case studies were analysed individually considering: sustainability activities, the organisational field observed, the promotion of ILS during the time analysed, and last but least the institutional analysis. The results present some particular characteristics in all case studies, however from the approach among the results it is possible to highlight in one hand that in Brazil the internal motivation was more evident, which is identified in the strategies and the practices of sustainability in the companies. On the other hand, in the UK, the external motivation was more highlighted in which the practice of sustainability is limited in some moments, according to the proposed framework. Moreover, other results could be presented as the working groups identified in three case studies to achieve the sustainability internally and in the supply chain. These results have a huge contribution to validate the framework. Further, the institutional analysis indicates that the legitimacy is strong in all case studies, which ratify the definition proposed in this thesis. Based on this results and the theoretical contribution it is possible to identify originality and novelty in the research, since the thesis advances in relation to the implementation process of sustainability in supply chains, which is rare in the literature. Moreover, the thesis presents a shift from the excessive, and frequent, focus on performance for a discussion of process of change, which is necessary to understand the role of companies in the sustainability debate.

A Sustentabilidade vem se sedimentando como diretriz das compras e contratações públicas, principalmente, após o surgimento da ideia, de que ao Estado cabe reduzir e eliminar padrões insustentáveis de produção e consumo nas suas tomadas de decisões. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar se o Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnológico pratica a sustentabilidade, por meio das compras e contratações, considerando os constructos das dimensões do desenvolvimento sustentável e as diretrizes preconizadas na legislação brasileira. O método aplicado nesta pesquisa se constituiu em um estudo de caso, exploratório e descritivo, que envolveu a análise entre as variáveis: “contratações públicas” e “critérios de sustentabilidade”. Utilizou-se da pesquisa bibliográfica e documental para a coleta dos dados. Quanto aos processamentos dos dados, utilizou-se da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostram que, ao longo de 2011 a 2015, a variável da sustentabilidade, em suas dimensões - social, ambiental e econômica, tem sido, gradativamente, incorporada aos editais de compras e contratações. Adicionalmente, aponta-se a carência de estudos e de informações, sobre o ciclo de vida de bem ou um serviço sustentável, como barreira ainda a ser enfrentada. / Sustainability has become a solid criterion for public purchases and contracts, especially after the dawn of the concept that the responsibility of reducing and eliminating unsustainable standards for production and consumption falls on the Government. The objective of this study was to analyze whether the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development practices sustainability throughout its purchases and contracts, considering the construct of sustainable development and the guidelines that were preceded by the Brazilian legislation. The method used in this research consisted of an exploratory and descriptive case study, that encompassed the analysis of the variables: “public biddings” and “sustainability criteria”. The data collection used records and bibliographic research. As for the data processing, the technique used was that of content analysis. Results show that, between 2001 and 2015, the sustainability variable in all its dimensions – social, environmental, and economic, has been gradually introduced to the notices of biddings and contracts. Additionally, it points to a lack of studies and information about the life-cycle of goods or sustainable services as a barrier yet to be faced.

A preocupação com as questões ambientais e sociais vem aumentando ao longo dos anos, principalmente no que se refere à busca pela redução dos impactos causados pelo homem. Nesse contexto, têm sido discutidas formas de inserir a Sustentabilidade na vida dos cidadãos e nas decisões das organizações, visando aliar o crescimento econômico com a conservação do meio ambiente e com a equidade social. Os administradores, devido às funções que desempenham em seus postos de trabalho, tem a oportunidade de incluir em suas decisões e atitudes princípios da Sustentabilidade, desencadeando uma mudança que inicia dentro das organizações e reflete na sociedade. É no sentido de contribuir para a formação de um profissional ético e responsável que a inserção da Educação para a Sustentabilidade na formação do gestor foi tema deste trabalho. O objetivo principal foi de explorar possibilidades que permitissem relacionar de forma direta o tema Sustentabilidade nas diferentes áreas de atuação do Curso de Graduação em Administração da Escola de Administração da UFRGS. Para isso foi realizada uma pesquisa inicial por meio de questionário com alunos do final do curso a fim de conhecer o que pensam sobre a Sustentabilidade na sua formação e no mercado de trabalho. Em uma segunda etapa, foram analisados os programas de todas as disciplinas do curso para mapeamento dos conteúdos com maior relação direta com a Sustentabilidade. Foi selecionada uma disciplina de cada área (Finanças, Marketing, Administração Pública, Produção e Sistemas e Recursos Humanos) e um ou mais tópicos em cada uma delas para realização de uma aula por parte dos pesquisadores incluindo questões relacionadas com Sustentabilidade. Ao final de cada aula os alunos responderam a um questionário e aos professores responsáveis foi solicitado um depoimento. Para realização do estudo foram utilizados os métodos de análise documental e de pesquisa ação e os dados foram analisados através da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os principais resultados revelam que estudantes acham importante que a Sustentabilidade seja abordada durante o curso de Administração e que a demanda por esse tipo de profissional existe e irá aumentar ao longo dos anos. Em relação às aulas ministradas, a maioria dos estudantes se disse muito interessada na temática e acham pertinente ou muito pertinente que o assunto seja incorporado à disciplina nos próximos semestres. Alguns pontos positivos da experiência destacados pelos alunos foram: a oportunidade de conhecer melhor o tema nos semestres iniciais do curso, a aplicação prática do tema no contexto das organizações e as dinâmicas e atividades realizadas. Na formação em Administração, a Sustentabilidade é percebida como um aspecto essencial, que representa agora um diferencial, mas que tende a se tornar um requisito básico para os profissionais. / Concerns about environmental and social issues have been increasing over the years, especially with regard to the efforts to reduce the impacts caused by man. In this context, new ways to insert Sustainability in citizens' lives and organizations decisions have been discussed, seeking to combine economic growth with environmental conservation and social equity. Administrators, due to the functions they perform in their jobs, have the opportunity to include in their decisions and attitudes principles of Sustainability, triggering a change that starts within organizations and reflects in the society. In order to contribute with the generation of a more ethical and responsible professional that insertion of Education for Sustainability in the graduation of managers was the subject of this work. The main objective was to explore possibilities that allow relating directly the theme Sustainability in different areas of the graduation course in Business Management of Business Management School at UFRGS. To accomplish these objectives, an initial research was conducted through a questionnaire to students at the end of the course in order to know what they think about sustainability in their graduation and in the labor market. After that, the programs of all disciplines of the Business Management Graduation Course were analyzed for mapping the content that is more directly related to Sustainability. It was selected from each discipline area (Finance, Marketing, Public Administration, Production and Systems and Human Resources) and one or more threads in each one of them to hold a class by researchers including issues related to sustainability. At the end of each class students answered a questionnaire and, to the teachers of those disciplines, a testimonial was asked. Documentary analysis and action research were used as methods for this project and data were analyzed using content analysis as technique. The main results show that students think nowadays it is important to have an approach regarding sustainability during the course of business management, and that the demand for this type of professional exists and will increase over the years. Regarding the classes, most students said that they are very interested in the theme and find relevant or very relevant that sustainability should be incorporated into the course in the next semester. Some positive points from the experience highlighted by the students were: the opportunity to learn more about the topic in the first semesters of the course, the practical application of the subject in the context of organizations and the dynamics and activities. In formation at management, sustainability is perceived as an essential aspect, which is now a difference, but it tends to become a basic requirement for professionals.

Increasing urbanization has serious implications for resource and energy use. One of these resources is drinking water. The increased amount of impervious surfaces associated with urban development is responsible for increased runoff during rain events, which may have a negative impact on the quality of nearby bodies of water, including drinking water sources. The growing populations associated with urbanization require a higher water demand. In addition, urban drinking water systems use energy to collect, treat, and distribute a safe reliable effluent to users. Therefore, this study focuses on the degree to which urbanization influences the embodied energy of drinking water in the city of Tampa via three objectives: (1) determine the degree to which the embodied energy of drinking water treatment is influenced by water quality possibly caused by urbanization, (2) determine the influence of urban form on the embodied energy of water supply, and (3) determine the effect of the state of water infrastructure on the embodied energy of drinking water. The influence of the water quality of the Hillsborough River Reservoir on the embodied energy of drinking water at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility was determined and quantified via statistical analysis methods and life cycle energy analysis. Results show that energy due to electricity and fuel use (direct energy) is responsible for 63% of the embodied energy of drinking water treatment in the city of Tampa. However, the 37% of energy due to treatment chemical usage (indirect energy) is substantial and most influenced by influent water quality. Two constituents, total organic carbon and conductivity, are responsible for influencing 14.5% of Tampa’s drinking water treatment embodied energy. The effect of smart growth on the embodied energy of water supply was studied via the comparison of four future development scenarios within the Tampa WSA. The water consumption was estimated for each scenario and integrated into EPANET, a water distribution modeling software. After running each scenario, the embodied energy was calculated. The smart growth scenarios had 1-4% higher embodied energies than the business-as-usual scenario (urban sprawl). This was due to the location of added demand relative to the location of the water treatment facility. Nevertheless, while smart growth does not inherently minimize the embodied energy of water supply, it can result in the minimization of per capita water use due to the addition of more multi-family homes. About 16 pipe replacement scenarios were used to determine the degree to which the state of water infrastructure affects drinking water supply embodied energy. These scenarios were simulated using EPANET. The replacement of all pipes in the city of Tampa is estimated to result in an embodied energy decrease of about 20%. However, taking into account the energy use associated with pipe installation, only replacement of pipes that are older than 20 years with recycled ductile iron yields a net energy savings. The results of these studies show the influence of the roles that influent water quality, future urban development and infrastructure condition play on the embodied energy of drinking water in the Tampa WSA. However, future studies could look more in depth into these relationships via more definitive studies on the effect of land use on the Hillsborough River, and expanding the future development scenario studies to the metropolitan scale.

abstract: This research assessed the sustainability of protected area-based tourism systems in Nepal. The research was composed of three interrelated studies. The first study evaluated different approaches to protected area governance. This was a multiple-case study research involving three protected areas in Nepal: the Annapurna Conservation Area, Chitwan National Park, and the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area. Data were collected from various published and unpublished sources and supplemented with 55 face-to-face interviews. Results revealed that outcomes pertaining to biodiversity conservation, community livelihoods, and sustainable tourism vary across these protected areas. The study concluded that there is no institutional panacea for managing protected areas. The second study diagnosed the sustainability of tourism in two destination communities: Ghandruk and Sauraha, which are located within the Annapurna Conservation Area and Chitwan National Park, respectively. A systemic, holistic approach--the social-ecological system framework--was used to analyze the structures, processes, and outcomes of tourism development. Data collection involved 45 face-to-face semi-structured interviews and a review of published and unpublished documents. Results revealed that tourism has several positive and a few negative sociocultural, economic, and ecological outcomes in both communities. Overall, tourism has progressed towards sustainability in these destinations. The third study examined tourism stakeholders' perspectives regarding sustainable tourism outcomes in protected areas. The study compared the responses of residents with residents, as well as tourists with tourists, across the Annapurna Conservation Area and Chitwan National Park. Tourism sustainability was evaluated with six tourism impact subscales measuring negative and positive ecological, economic, and social impacts. Data were collected using the survey method. Respondents included 230 residents and 205 tourists in Annapurna, and 220 residents and 210 tourists in Chitwan. The findings revealed that the residents across these protected areas perceived positive and negative impacts differently, as did the tourists, suggesting that the form of tourism development affects the sustainability outcomes in protected areas. Overall, this research concluded that protected areas and tourism are intricately related, and sustainable management of a protected area-based tourism system requires a polycentric adaptive approach that warrants a broad participation of relevant stakeholders. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Community Resources and Development 2014

abstract: Advancing sustainable food systems requires holistic understanding and solutions-oriented approaches that transcend disciplines, so expertise in a variety of subjects is necessary. Proposed solutions are usually technically or socially oriented, but disagreement over the best approach to the future of food dominates the dialogue. Technological optimists argue that scientific advances are necessary to feed the world, but environmental purists believe that reductions in consumption and waste are sufficient and less risky. Life cycle assessment (LCA) helps resolve debates through quantitative analysis of environmental impacts from products which serve the same function. LCA used to compare dietary choices reveals that simple plant-based diets are better for the environment than diets that include animal products. However, analysis of soy protein isolate (SPI) demonstrates that certain plant-based proteins may be less preferable for the environment than some unprocessed meats in several categories due to additional impacts that come from industrial processing. LCAs' focus on production risks ignoring consumers, but the food system exists to serve consumers, who can be major drivers of change. Therefore, the path to a sustainable food system requires addressing consumption issues as well. Existing methods for advancing sustainable food systems that equate more information with better behavior or performance are insufficient to create change. Addressing food system issues requires sufficient tacit knowledge to understand how arguments are framed, what the supporting content is, the findings of primary sources, and complex and controversial dialogue surrounding innovations and interventions for food system sustainability. This level of expertise is called interactional competence and it is necessary to drive and maintain holistic progress towards sustainability. Development strategies for interactional competence are informed by studying the motivations and strategies utilized by vegans. A new methodology helps advance understanding of expertise development by assessing levels of expertise and reveals insights into how vegans maintain commitment to a principle that influences their daily lives. The study of veganism and expertise reveals that while providing information to debunk fallacies is important, the development of tacit knowledge is fundamental to advance to a stage of competence. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2015

abstract: This dissertation presents a new methodology for the sustainable and optimal allocation of water for a river basin management area that maximizes sustainable net economic benefit over the long-term planning horizon. The model distinguishes between short and long-term planning horizons and goals using a short-term modeling component (STM) and a long term modeling component (LTM) respectively. An STM optimizes a monthly allocation schedule on an annual basis in terms of maximum net economic benefit. A cost of depletion based upon Hotelling’s exhaustible resource theory is included in the STM net benefit calculation to address the non-use value of groundwater. An LTM consists of an STM for every year of the long-term planning horizon. Net economic benefits for both use and non-use values are generated by the series of STMs. In addition output from the STMs is measured in terms of sustainability which is quantified using a sustainability index (SI) with two groups of performance criteria. The first group measures risk to supply and is based on demand-supply deficits. The second group measures deviations from a target flow regime and uses a modified Hydrologic Alteration (HA) factor in the Range of Variability Approach (RVA). The STM is a linear programming (LP) model formulated in the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) and the LTM is a nonlinear programming problem (NLP) solved using a genetic algorithm. The model is applied to the Prescott Active Management Area in north-central Arizona. Results suggest that the maximum sustainable net benefit is realized with a residential population and consumption rate increase in some areas, and a reduction in others. / Dissertation/Thesis / PHP files / Doctoral Dissertation Civil and Environmental Engineering 2015

abstract: Scenario planning originally garnered attention within the corporate sector as a tool to manage energy transitions, but it has gained traction within the field of sustainability. It is a process for exploring potential futures and thinking critically about complex decisions that involve high degrees of uncertainty. It is also effective in shifting mental models, engaging diverse stakeholders, and enhancing organizational learning, making it ideal for the complex problems that sustainability seeks to address. The resulting insights from scenario planning are typically used in strategic planning, which further aligns it with sustainability’s commitments to action-oriented solutions. As a highly participative process, its success hinges on inclusive and just engagement of participants. This dissertation employed a multimethod approach to address the question, “What impacts do social dynamics have on participation in scenario planning for sustainability?” First, I conducted an ethical exploration of participation, looking to the systemic societal factors that might function as barriers to authentic participation. Next, I conducted an ethnographic study of a scenario planning workshop to identify ways in which social influence and authority impact participation in the process. Finally, I piloted a psychology study that explored the impact of explicit acknowledgement of status differential and the use of pre-event brainstorming on participation in a small group task that parallels scenario planning interactions. In doing so, this dissertation presents a conceptual framework from which to understand the role of participation in scenario planning for sustainability and coins the term “strawman participation,” drawing attention to the role and function of social influence in participatory processes. If “token participation” arises from participants not being granted decision-making power, strawman participation develops from social/structural barriers, then “authentic participation” allows for both decision-making power and social capacity for participation. Though my findings suggest that scenario planning utilizes methods to equalize participation and engage diverse participants, factors such as status differentials and gender dynamics impact authentic participation. Results of the pilot study point to the utility of status concealment and individual-level brainstorming to bolster participation. Ultimately, this work contributes to a more nuanced understanding of participation in service of more robust, pluralistic sustainability decision making. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2015

abstract: Urban areas face a host of sustainability problems ranging from air and water quality, to housing affordability, and sprawl reducing returns on infrastructure investments, among many others. To address such challenges, cities have begun to envision generational sustainability transitions, and coalesce transition arenas in context to manage those transitions. Transition arenas coordinate the efforts of diverse stakeholders in a setting conducive to making evidence-based decisions that guide a transition forward. Though espoused and studied in the literature, transition arenas still require further research on the specifics of agent selection, arena setting, and decision-making facilitation. This dissertation has three related contributions related to transition arenas. First, it describes a process that took place within Phoenix that focused on identifying, recruiting, and building the capacity of potential transition agents for a transition arena. As part of this, a first draft suggestion of plausible steps to take for identifying, recruiting, and building a team of transition agents is proposed followed by a brief discussion on how this step-by-step process could be evaluated in subsequent work. Second, building on such engagement, this dissertation then offers criteria for transition agent selection based on a review of the literature that includes the setting in which a transition arena occurs, and strategies to support successful facilitation of decision-making in that setting. Third, those criteria are operationalized to evaluate the facilitation of a specific decision (draft of a new transportation plan) in a specific transition arena: the Citizens Committee for the future of Phoenix Transportation. The goal of this dissertation is to articulate a first-draft framework for guiding the development and scientific evaluation of transition arenas. Future work is required to empirically validate the framework in other real-world transition arenas. A feasible research agenda is provides to support this work. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2015