Abstract Introduction: Potable water is vital for human existence, but scarce in certain areas. Purpose: The research focused on exploring Kumbo potable water on the livelihood of the rural inhabitants of the Kumbo community in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. It also examined stakeholders' involvement in the project and the sustainability of the project. Methods: The research was a descriptive qualitative case study that used in-depth individual interviews, focus group discussions and document reviews as sources of data. 21 participants were involved and they included key informants, community leaders, households, focus groups, and staff of the Kumbo water project. Informant feedback or member checking was used to as a strategy to establish validity of data collected. The Nvivo software was used for data storage, management and to facilitate analysis. Results: The findings identified 4 major themes: participants’ perspectives of accessibility of water provided by the project, stakeholders and their roles in the management of the project, social and economic factors influencing the livelihood of the Kumbo population and the sustainability of the project. Majority of the interviewed participants reported that the water project has increased the accessibility of potable water in the Kumbo community. However, stakeholders involved in the management of the project has changed over time since its inception (from the Department of Public Works, Department of Urban Development, National Water Supply Company of Cameroon (commonly known as SNEC- a French acronym), Nso Development Association (NSODA), and currently Kumbo Water Authority (KWA) and Nso Community Water). Besides the KWA and Nso Community Water currently involved in the management of the project, the Governor of the Northwest region, the Senior Divisional Officer of Bui division, the Paramount Chief of Kumbo, and the Mayor of the Kumbo Urban Council are stakeholders involved in this project. Nevertheless, all these stakeholders have undefined roles and they often make conflicting decisions on how the project should be managed. The undefined roles of these stakeholders compounded by climate change and population expulsion threatens the sustainability of this water project. These setbacks have reduced the quantity of water supplied by the project to the community; resulting in the rationing of water. Conclusion: The findings of this study have revealed that the inhabitants of the Kumbo community perceived that the water project provides accessible and clean water needed for their livelihood. Nonetheless, conflicts between stakeholders has led to the poor management of the project, and this can potentially lead to waterborne diseases in the community. To protect the health of the population, stakeholders need to come to a compromise on how to better manage this project. Also, multiple case studies of similar projects in and around the region may further highlight best practices of water governance and its benefit to rural communities in Cameroon.

Construction is an investment intensive industry which has been notoriouslyknown to be cost and time ineffective. Further, the construction industry isknown to be the world’s largest resource utilizer and the largest polluter.Hence sustainability in construction is necessary.Since Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) are one of the most importantstakeholders in construction, this research aims to determine the sustainabilityaspects taught in Swedish construction programmes. On comparing the aimsand outcomes of all construction courses to the United Nations SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs), this research found that Swedish constructioneducation programmes lack political and social sustainability in theirconstruction curricula. Further, this research investigates the challenges toimparting sustainability education due to present research andpedagogical/teaching methods. Data to investigate the results was collectedthrough interviews with programme directors from various SwedishUniversities.The findings of this research show a connection between practical application,research and traditional education. Further, the factors affecting research andpedagogy are also inter-related and convoluted. A large cause and effectnetwork arising due to the interplay of the factors is addressed in thediscussions section. This thesis finds that sustainable development inconstruction requires development of sustainability evaluation methods as wellas combined efforts from various stakeholders and professions.

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has attracted considerable interest recently as the low cost and chemical stable derivative of pristine graphene with application in many applications such as energy storage, water purification and electronic devices. This dissertation thoroughly investigated stacked rGO membrane fabrication process by vacuum-driven filtration, discovered asymmetry of the two surfaces of the rGO membrane, explored application perspectives of the asymmetric rGO membrane in fog collection and microstructure patterning, and disclosed membrane compaction issue during water filtration and species rejection. In more details, this dissertation revealed that, with suitable pore size, the filtration membrane substrate would leave its physical imprint on the bottom surface of the rGO membrane in the form of surface microstructures, which result in asymmetric dynamic water wettability properties of the two surfaces of the rGO membrane. The asymmetric wettability of the rGO membrane would lead to contrasting fog harvesting behavior of its two surfaces. The physical imprint mechanism was further extended to engineering pre-designed patterns selectively on the bottom surface of the rGO membrane. This dissertation, for the first time, reported the water flux and rejection kinetics, which was related to the compaction of the rGO membrane under pressure in the process of water filtration.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Community Work in the Department of Social Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2012 / Community development in rural areas is under stress due to numerous setbacks such as theft, neglect, and lack of skills from the community to support development initiatives. The municipality remains the only relevant government institution that could deal with this unsustainable nature of community development by establishing an effective partnership with rural communities. In principle partnerships offer many advantages including that of sustainability of community development infrastructures. This study demonstrates that municipality has a valuable role to play in dealing with sustainability of community development. The study emphasises that both the municipality officials and the community should acquire relevant skills that would promote sustainable community development. The study was descriptive, exploratory and qualitative in nature. A survey questionnaire containing both qualitative and quantitative questions was used to collect the data from the respondents. The findings in this study indicate that the rural communities in Mandeni municipality are not empowered by the partnership between them and the municipality. The municipality is also experiencing a shortage of personnel and appropriate specialists to facilitate mentorship programmes for the rural communities on sustainable community development. In the study respondents also indicated that a partnership is necessary to empower a rural community on sustainable community development provided the community and municipality officials are trained adequately. Partnerships will increasingly become a popular approach to government-community relations, from this perspective there is a hope for improved services for communities in rural areas.

Small businesses fail at high rates; 51% fail to succeed in business beyond the first 5 years. The purpose of this exploratory case study was to explore the strategies that salon business owners used to succeed in business. The sample comprised of 2 salon business owners in Savannah, Georgia who have been in business more than 5 years. The conceptual framework was based on the general systems theory. Data were collected from conducting semistructured interviews with each business owner, a review of company business plans, direct observation of participants during client interaction in the salon, as well as member-checking interview responses. The data were methodologically triangulated to strengthen the credibility and trustworthiness of the study results. Four main themes were identified: (a) education and training, (b) customer service strategies, (c) determination and dedication, and (d) professionalism. The findings from this study may contribute to social change by giving business owners the necessary skills and strategies needed to sustain and develop a successful business and increase profit. The data from this study may contribute to the prosperity of small business owners, their employees, communities, and the local economy.

Indirect procurement is becoming one of the most challenging function in food processing organizations, which need strategies to enhance supply chain sustainability. Food processing organizations could expect more than 50% maverick indirect costs out of the 80% procurement cost from total annual costs. The focus of the research question was on strategies procurement managers responsible for food processing indirect procurement could use to enhance supply chain sustainability. The conceptual framework for this study was resource dependency theory, and the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies some procurement managers responsible for food processing indirect procurement could use to enhance supply chain sustainability. Face-to-face semistructured interviews were used from 2 procurement managers from food processing organizations in Nairobi, Kenya, who were recorded and gave responses to 9 interview questions. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed into themes. Data were triangulated and then subjected to member checking to ensure reliability and strengthen credibility of collected data. The data revealed 2 major themes, which included, indirect procurement strategies, and resource availability. The identification of indirect procurement strategies was important because participants believed stakeholder partnering and collaboration in formulating procurement strategies could enhance value for money in indirect procurement. The resource availability was important to enhance supply chain sustainability. Implications for social change include cost reduction in the supply chain, increasing organization profits, lower products costs, which could improve economic, and social benefit.

Small businesses in the United States employ 98% of workers, yet approximately 47% of small businesses shut down in less than five years. Business leaders who fail to implement adequate strategic strategies experience reduced profits and sustainability challenges. These business closures cause unemployment rates to rise and inflict damages to the economic growth of economies in the United States. This multiple case study was grounded in the theory of transformational leadership. The purpose was to explore strategies used by small financial business owners to sustain their businesses beyond five years. The population consisted of 8small financial businesses in Southwest Florida; these businesses all have been in operation beyond 5years. Using methodological triangulation, data were collected from interviews with the leaders, company documents, physical artifacts such as the company websites and social media pages, to assess culture similarities and differences. Thematic analysis involved developing codes and themes from data collected and member checking. Four themes emerged transformational leadership, establishing trust, maintaining adequate capital, and proficient time management. These themes applied by business owners may help business owners experience greater success in remaining sustainable. The findings of this study could contribute to positive social change by providing insights for small financial business owners on the strategic implementations for business longevity that would possibly increase workplace stability for employees supporting their families as well as contributing positively to their communities in Southwest Florida

Senior construction project managers who fail to create strategies for environmental sustainability risk losing their competitive advantage in the business environment. Based on stakeholder theory, the purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that senior project managers use to implement environmental sustainability in their construction projects. Data were obtained from semistructured interviews with 4 senior project managers from 4 construction companies located in the midwestern region of the United States who implemented environmentally sustainable practices in their project processes. The data analysis process included methodological triangulation. The interviews were transcribed, interpreted, and coded to generate themes, which were validated through member checking and archival documentation. The centralized themes included (a) stakeholder engagement, (b) terminology, and (c) cost. Construction projects require the use of appropriate strategies for implementation of environmental sustainability in their project processes, lest project failure occurs. The use of stakeholder engagement principles, to strengthen environmental sustainability interests, creates shared concern and helps generate a roadmap for using environmentally sustainable business strategies. The implications for positive social change include the potential to affect business practices by contributing new knowledge to develop strategies that project managers can use for implementing environmentally sustainable practices. Environmentally sustainable construction practices will enhance the social practice of caring for the environment and create health and well-being.

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In developed countries, companies' product innovation has the problem of not incorporating sustainability in a sufficiently high degree. Companies in developed countries will however continue to innovate since it is required to stay competitive. At the same time, being considered sustainable is vital for a company to stay competitive, when market demand for such products and services increases. One way to overcome the imbalance between innovation and sustainability could be frugal innovation. Frugal innovation, according to some, is inherently sustainable and at the same time offer business opportunities and a new target group to companies in developed countries. This thesis therefore aims to explore how frugal innovation can enable companies to develop sustainable products.  The study employed explorative research with a single case study on a Swedish company. Via twelve semi-structured interviews, primary data from a purposeful sampling of employees was gathered. A theoretical framework was established by performing a literature review. Analytical activities such as categorization, abstraction and data reduction were performed after transcribing and coding the recorded interviews. The analysis revealed three general findings: 1. Profit margin has been sacrificed to pursue environmental sustainability. 2. One suggestion to lower cost is moving the production outside Sweden. 3. Frugal products can be in conflict with a brand positioning that emphasizes quality. This thesis concludes that companies similar to the company in this study actively and purposefully consider environmental sustainability when developing products. Economic sustainability is built into the construction of profitable business cases, whereas social sustainability is “forgotten” and rarely talked about or considered. Outcomes from frugal innovation, in combination with an existing brand positioning that emphasizes quality, might require a new marketing strategy. Frugal innovation can be realized by setting strict limitations to resource usage and the complexity of technology. Suggested further research is to expand the study to a larger number of companies. Another research field is how frugal innovation can be measured now and in the future. It is also suggested to study how companies in developed countries can “go back” and design out of resource scarcity, and how frugal innovation will diversify business models and product portfolios.