Exploring Operational Managers’ logic around trade-offs related to sustainability
| aut.embargo | No | en |
| aut.thirdpc.contains | No | |
| aut.thirdpc.permission | No | |
| aut.thirdpc.removed | No | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Kearins, Kate | |
| dc.contributor.author | Daubenschuez, Tobias | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2011-06-20T22:23:17Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2016-04-25T22:13:18Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 2010 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2010 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2011-05-29T11:39:23Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | This dissertation investigates how managers perceive trade-offs in relation to sustainability. The dissertation results from a research project with both a theoretical and applied orientation, following the argument that both in business and in theory, a “win-win paradigm” of sustainability prevails. According to the win-win paradigm, the extent of a company’s environmental and social commitment is principally restricted by its positive economic value. Drawing on a practical case, this dissertation contributes to this new and underexplored field of research around the win-win paradigm of sustainability. The dissertation 1) investigates the win-win paradigm with regard to the business case to be made for adoption of a particular initiative; and 2) explores operational managers’ logic around trade-offs related to sustainability. Academic and practitioner literature regarding sustainability, the win-win paradigm and sustainability-related trade-offs was reviewed, as was the context for business decisions. Data collection was based on in-depth interviews with operational managers from four different companies with an interest in a particular sustainability initiative. The data were analysed thematically and integrated with the afore-mentioned literature to inductively develop a series of hypotheses. The dissertation confirms that companies are trapped within the limits of the win-win paradigm of sustainability. Externally-oriented initiatives are regarded as more likely to overcome financial boundaries than are internally-oriented initiatives. It is found that the specifics of an industry determine the scope of the win-win zone for companies. The dissertation moreover argues that competitive forces reinforce the boundaries of the win-win paradigm and that the win-win zone is likely to expand in future in the particular initiative at the centre of this dissertation. Visible problems, which affect companies in exploiting their environmental and economic (win-win) opportunities, can be grounded in the hidden context of stakeholder-related trade-offs. These trade-offs stem from a lack of incentives for involved stakeholders. The recognition of these trade-offs is impeded by a lack of communication. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10292/1326 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | en_NZ |
| dc.publisher | Auckland University of Technology | |
| dc.rights.accessrights | OpenAccess | |
| dc.subject | Sustainability | |
| dc.subject | Trade-offs | |
| dc.title | Exploring Operational Managers’ logic around trade-offs related to sustainability | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | Auckland University of Technology | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters Dissertations | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Business |