A thesis submitted to the faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, January 2018 / The goal of this research was to develop a comprehensive theoretical perspective on values and framing of sustainability in the context of strategic transformation in an organisational field. This perspective aimed to address the gap in understanding of the role of values within and across framing levels in the sustainability discourse. The goal of this research was accomplished in two stages. Firstly, a conceptual review of the previous research was used to develop an initial model of the valuebased framing of sustainability. Secondly, a case study based on framing analysis was conducted to verify the model. To accommodate the diversity of framing sources, a framing analysis methodology was developed based on the previous methodologies of value elicitation and framing research. The results confirmed the usefulness of the framing analysis in understanding the meaning construction and the outcomes of change, conflict, or resistance to change in strategic transformation. Additional insights from the empirical case revealed both value-framing divergence and convergence and the influence of the roles of frame actors in such processes. The framing analysis also indicated that some values might be associated with silencing sensemaking. The original contribution is three-fold. Firstly, an integrated model was developed based on the conceptual synthesis and the case study. The model differentiates sensemaking, sensegiving, and silencing sensemaking as sub-processes within the framing mechanism of sustainability transformation. The model clarifies the role of values as inputs, outputs, and strategic devices. The model outlines the processes of value-framing divergence and convergence. This model forms the foundation for the value-based theory of sustainability framing. Secondly, a new approach to framing analysis was developed that facilitates analysis of diverse communication styles in a comparable way. Thirdly, this research resulted in the development of an agenda for the advancement of the value-based theory. / XL2018

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

This dissertation offers an examination of the concept of sustainability, via an ethnography of geothermal life in the district of Puna on Hawaiʻi Island. In the midst of global discourse on climate change, population growth, and energy needs, ‘sustainability’ brands a remarkable number of initiatives to signify a thoughtful connection with earth, and concern with the continuation of all of existence. Close examination of what sustainable measures have meant for life in the district of Puna on Hawaiʻi Island, however, reveal the ties of discourses on and enactments of ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainable’ living to the sustenance of market, colonial inheritance and renewability, and the manufacture of narratives that erase forms of existence—human and nonhuman, including and especially the geological. Examinations of the notion of ‘sustainability’ alongside currents of Kanaka ʻŌiwi inquiries into earth’s heat element and its relations, and settler experiences of geothermal activity, reveal the pliability of material Natures in the face of human desire, the graceless scaffolding of lives under Late Liberalism, and the structure of Late Liberal biases as suspended in love with the biontological—those forms deemed “Life.” In the dissertation I examine engagement points between literatures on Development, Indigeneity, and Space, in particular what they reveal about possible relationships with land and resource, as well as literatures on Foucauldian biopower and what Elizabeth Povinelli (2016) has termed “geontopower”—increasingly exposed arrangements of power as divisions between Life and Nonlife in the Late Liberal period—to think through the commodification of rock and earth, and the spaces between things where the possibility for hulihia (overturning) continues to exist.

Bibliography / Thesis (MEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempted to present a nuanced perspective on the frames of mind of teachers regarding the term sustainable development and the way it impacts on their educational practices. In the study, the researcher investigated the frames of mind of six Grade nine teachers teaching the Social Sciences and Natural Sciences learning areas at three different high schools in the Stellenbosch vicinity. The research report comprises two components, namely (a) a theoretical-philosophical component, and (b) an empirical component. The aim of the theoretical component was to explore the idea of “sustainable development as a frame of mind” critically. This was done firstly, by emphasizing the controversial nature of the term sustainable development, secondly, to present more clarity on the term frame of mind, and lastly, to integrate the two concepts by discussing the potential and development of “sustainable development as a frame of mind”, as well as the implications this has for education. Against the background of frames of mind and sustainable development, I critically analysed the South African curriculum statements of the Social Sciences and Natural Sciences learning areas for Grade nine, in order to determine which frames of mind regarding the phenomenon under investigation are most dominant within the statements. Teachers are confronted with these statements on a regular basis and the assumption is that frames of mind prevalent in the statements might have an impact on their frames of mind. This assumption was further explored in the interviews that were conducted with teachers, in an attempt not only to determine their frames of mind, but also to understand these. Therefore, it was important to determine the possible influences (experiences, role players, reading materials, etc.) that played a role (or are still playing) in the shaping of their frames of mind as these factors might serve as important points of departure in offering suggestions and recommendations for in-service teachers as well as for pre-service teachers. This study served as a confirmation of the controversy regarding the term sustainable development and the effect it has on teachers and the education system itself. The study also shows that the possibility of “sustainable development as a frame of mind” is locked up in the complexity of this idea. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het ten doel gehad om ’n genuanseerde perspektief te bied van onderwysers se denkraamwerke aangaande die term volhoubare ontwikkeling en die invloed wat dit op hul opvoedkundige praktyke het. Tydens die studie is die denkraamwerke van ses graad 9-onderwysers aan drie verskillende hoërskole in die Stellenbosch-omgewing aangaande volhoubare ontwikkeling binne die Sosiale Wetenskappe en Natuurwetenskappe ondersoek. Die navorsingsverslag bestaan dus uit twee komponente, naamlik (a) ’n teoreties-filosofiese komponent en (b) ’n empiriese komponent. Met betrekking tot die teoretiese komponent is daar beoog om die gedagte van “volhoubare ontwikkeling as ’n denkraamwerk” te verken deur dit krities te ondersoek. Dit is gedoen deur eerstens die omstredenheid ten opsigte van die term te beklemtoon, tweedens meer duidelikheid omtrent die term denkraamwerk te verkry en laastens om die twee begrippe te integreer deur die moontlikheid en ontwikkeling van “volhoubare ontwikkeling as ’n denkraamwerk” sowel as die implikasies wat dit vir die onderwys inhou, te bespreek. Wat betref denkraamwerke en volhoubare ontwikkeling, is daar verder beoog om die Suid-Afrikaanse kurrikulumverklarings ten opsigte van die leerareas Sosiale Wetenskappe en Natuurwetenskappe vir graad nege krities te analiseer om te bepaal watter denkraamwerke aangaande die verskynsel hierdie verklarings oorwegend onderlê. Onderwysers word op ’n daaglikse basis met hierdie verklarings gekonfronteer en die aanname is dat denkraamwerke wat daarin voorkom, ’n impak op hul denkraamwerke as sodanig sal hê. Hierdie aanname is verder verken in die onderhoude wat met onderwysers gevoer is waar daar nie net gepoog is om hul denkraamwerke te bepaal nie, maar ook om dit te verstaan. Dit was dus belangrik om die moontlike invloede (ervarings, rolspelers, leesstof, ens.) iii wat ’n rol in die vorming van hul denkraamwerke gespeel het (of steeds speel), te bepaal aangesien hierdie faktore as belangrike vertrekpunte dien tydens die ontwikkeling van voorstelle en aanbevelings vir onderwysers-in-diens sowel as onderwysers-in-opleiding. Die studie dien as ’n bevestiging van die omstredenheid ten opsigte van die term volhoubare ontwikkeling en die uitwerking wat dit op onderwysers en die onderwysstelsel self het. Die studie toon ook dat die moontlikheid van “volhoubare ontwikkeling as ’n denkraamwerk” in die kompleksiteit van hierdie gedagte opgesluit lê.

Since the 1970's, the increasing scale and complexity of development schemes has led to mounting public concerns about their environmental impacts. Environmental assessment and management developed out of a recognised need to protect the biophysical environment from overuse and degradation . Evidence suggests that the issues continue to become more complex and we need to equip ourselves to deal with them. The complexity of issues we face today demands a holistic and integrated management approach. This thesis highlights the weakness in the application of environmental impact assessment (EIA) to deal with current issues . The conceptualization of EIA within the ecological modernisation discourse has limited the use of the tool to adequately consider issues outside the biophysical environment. On the African continent, social issues such as HIV/AIDS are becoming more dominant than biophysical impacts. EIA must thus be re-framed to address concerns regarding the HIV/AIDS impact of development schemes. An alternative discourse of social justice is put forward as an approach that will take EIA closer to achieving sustainable development. The hypotheses put forward in the thesis were investigated through the use of both primary and secondary data sources. Extensive interviews and case studies formed the bulk of the data generated through the study. The results of the investigation showed that there are varying views on the purpose of EIA, that social issues continue to be underplayed in the process and that HIV/AIDS is considered a valid impact to be assessed in EIA. It must be noted that although HIV/AIDS is recognized as a common impact of development projects, particularly in Africa , the approach to dealing with the issue has been very different across EIAs and the issue is dealt with in an ad hoc manner. In order to expand the applicability of environmental assessment in Africa , a framework has been developed to integrate HIV/AIDS into the EIA process. The premise behind the framework is that HIV/AIDS can impact on the viability of a development scheme and conversely, development schemes can increase the transmission of HIV. The framework considers the social, economic and cultural drivers that create living and working environments, which promote the transmission of HIV. By applying the appropriate tools throughout the EIA process, one can identify potential impacts. Mitigation and management interventions can then be built into an HIV/AIDS component of the environmental management plan. This approach will allow environmental assessment practitioners; decision-makers and developers to better understand the critical issue of HIV/AIDS and ultimately contribute to managing the pandemic and further sustainable development in Africa. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

Social sustainability provides a meaningful approach for industry practitioners wishing to establish a platform to engage communities within enterprise development. It can be said that sustainability requires much more than environmental and fiscal achievements and, with an increased awareness of issues such as equity and power sharing, more corporates are incorporating their strategies in line with social responsibility values. This study therefore takes a closer look at how the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, integrates this important concept of social sustainability in its business practices. The tourism industry has in fact grown to such an extent that global economists estimate the progress of international growth at between three and six percent annually. However, this growth can only be measured when businesses take social responsibility factors into consideration. According to the UNWTO (2011, p 1) UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, opened the Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries stating that the majority of: “…least developed countries (LDCs) are rich in resources. All have young and vibrant populations. These men and women need decent jobs, education, training, so they can make the most of their country’s assets - minerals and other commodities, farmland, rich stores of biodiversity and tourism potential”. This study therefore focuses on current and future issues pertaining to socially sustainable tourism at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, it presents solutions for reducing the negative impacts of tourism, whilst at the same time embracing the benefits of tourism for the area and its local communities. The outcome of the study found that the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company added little value to social responsibility objectives. The company has made a significant effort in marketing their product through the mass media. However, there is an overall corporate responsibility barrier. Much still needs to be done to ensure accountability for social responsibility issues, not just within this particular company, but also throughout the tourism industry. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

Social sustainability provides a meaningful approach for industry practitioners wishing to establish a platform to engage communities within enterprise development. It can be said that sustainability requires much more than environmental and fiscal achievements and, with an increased awareness of issues such as equity and power sharing, more corporates are incorporating their strategies in line with social responsibility values. This study therefore takes a closer look at how the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company, integrates this important concept of social sustainability in its business practices. The tourism industry has in fact grown to such an extent that global economists estimate the progress of international growth at between three and six percent annually. However, this growth can only be measured when businesses take social responsibility factors into consideration. According to the UNWTO (2011, p 1) UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, opened the Fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries stating that the majority of: “…least developed countries (LDCs) are rich in resources. All have young and vibrant populations. These men and women need decent jobs, education, training, so they can make the most of their country’s assets - minerals and other commodities, farmland, rich stores of biodiversity and tourism potential”. This study therefore focuses on current and future issues pertaining to socially sustainable tourism at the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition, it presents solutions for reducing the negative impacts of tourism, whilst at the same time embracing the benefits of tourism for the area and its local communities. The outcome of the study found that the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company added little value to social responsibility objectives. The company has made a significant effort in marketing their product through the mass media. However, there is an overall corporate responsibility barrier. Much still needs to be done to ensure accountability for social responsibility issues, not just within this particular company, but also throughout the tourism industry. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Science)

Doctorat en environnement, Orientation urbanisme et aménagement du territoire / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

This research study evaluated and assessed the extent to which strategic management processes integrated economic, environmental and social sustainability elements in the fiveyear strategy (2012) of Elundini Local Municipality (ELM). The study focused on three areas of strategic management, that is, environmental analysis, strategic direction and strategy formulation. The study also looked at possible reasons for sustainability integration in ELM strategy or lack thereof and also recommended possible solutions. The literature reviewed revealed that there was adequate basis for municipalities to integrate sustainable development in their strategies even though sustainability was noted as an evolving, complex and changing phenomenon. Local Agenda 21 principles, national legislative & policy framework, regulations and other relevant guidelines were found to be adequate for municipalities to develop credible sustainability strategies. The objectives of the study were achieved by data collected through the review of existing literature; the review of ELM Five Year Strategy (2012-2017); and SIAT-based questionnaires that were filled in by ELM employees. The results of the study showed that economic and social sustainability activities were identified most in the ELM strategy compared to environmental sustainability. The study then mainly recommended the review of the current strategy in order to improve all areas of strategy formulation; introduction of Economic, Social and Environmental sustainability – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (ESEs-SWOT) for internal analysis as an improvement of SWOT analysis; introduction of Sustainability Integration and Strategic Management Framework (SISMF) as an improvement to existing framework.