Tesi sul tema "Business climate strategy"

Level:                           Master thesis in Business administration with concentration towards Ecological economics

 

Title:             Combating climate change – a case study of Statoil’s climate strategy

 

Problem:       The world is facing an environmental situation where we no longer can ignore problems like climate change, losses of species and an overall environmental degradation. Many actors have to take their responsibility and do as much as they can for a sustainable development. One crucial actor is the business world. Often, they both have the knowledge and financial power to make a difference. Higher environmental regulations and pressure from stakeholders, such as the Swedish government or the EU, forces companies to consider the environment while doing business. This requires a strategy.

 

Purpose:       The purpose with the essay is to identify and study Statoil’s climate strategy.  We also want to identify the most important internal and external factors that are affecting the strategy.

 

Method:       The thesis is based on a qualitative method made up by two parts, interviews and literature studies. We made one informant interview and two respondent interviews with two environmental executives from Statoil AB.

 

Results:        Statoil has a mainly pro-active strategy and are very ambiguous in the climate question, although their strategy is highly affected by the surrounding. Developing new technologies, cooperation and profiling are the main parts of their strategy. They are affected by the dominating discourse ecological modernization, as well as by the organizational field. They are in turn affecting the field by their offensive strategy. The customers and the legal framework are the most important external factors of impact. Whereas the corporate group StatoilHydro and financial resources are the most important internal factors.

 

Keywords:    Climate strategy, environmental strategy, responsible company, greening, ecological modernization

 

 

Within the last decade research on climate change strategies and adaptive capacity emerged as the debate about climate change was intensified with the publishing of the Third Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2001. That companies are facing risks and opportunities is not new and the awareness to address these issues is growing. However, there is still need for research in the field of corporate strategic response to climate change. Recently, research focused on resilience management to address climate change. Resilience management is about being able to experience changes and remain stable getting back into the same situation before the change happen. On the contrary to resilience management adaptive capacity is about the ability to be able to adapt to uncertain and unexpected events on the long term. This includes long-term changes. This work argues that companies should think about their adaptive capacity as climate change induces short and long-term changes. Adding this dimension to the strategic planning companies need to think of how they can improve their adaptive capacity. This work investigates research in both issues adaptive capacity and climate change research and in their relation. Applying a systematic literature review this study conducted 60 references which are examined by a qualitative-quantitative analysis and answers the following questions: What is the current scientific view of adaptive capacity within strategic management literature? What are determinants of adaptive capacity? How can adaptive capacity be linked to climate change strategy and is it even antecedent to climate change strategies? The findings of this research indicate that adaptive capacity and climate change strategies exhibit a link but it cannot be proved whether adaptive capacity is antecedent. Furthermore, the term adaptive capacity is merely discussed within strategic management literature and if it is discussed and examined, several concepts and theories are applied to explain determinants of adaptive capacity. Several concepts such as dynamic capabilities, organizational learning capability, organizational learning, organizational change capacity, flexibility and more could be identified as concepts enhancing adaptive capacity. This works provides an overview of related concepts and theories.

The impact of climate change on agriculture is evident in changing growing seasons, crop yield, crop quality, and even complete crop losses. Changing climate conditions negatively affect the profitability of agricultural organizations. This study was a single descriptive case of one agricultural corporation in the western United States. The purpose was to identify and explore successful climate change-based sustainability strategies. The conceptual framework for this study was legitimacy theory. The data collection methods consisted of a semistructured interview of a corporate exectutive and obtaining corporate documents, including the annual report from the company's website. Data were analyzed using content analysis and principal themes were identified by reexamining and resorting the data into various categories. The findings indicated that the farm's sustainability strategy was based on the the basic qualities of successful sustainability strategies of corporate social responsibility, triple-bottom-line thinking, and systems thinking. Specific themes in terms of climate change-based sustainability strategies were mitigation-oriented strategies, and adaptation-oriented strategies. The distinctive approaches related to climate change mitigation that were identified were reducing carbon emissions, reducing fertilizer/herbicide use, and reducing the use of pesticides. The specific adaptation approaches identified were water conservation, soil enhancements, and diversity in business endeavors. Implications for social change include the advancement of climate change strategies within agricultural organizations to provide for increased food security and decreased danger of starvation and malnutrition of people in underdeveloped areas.

Within the last decade research on climate change strategies and adaptive capacity emerged as the debate about climate change was intensified with the publishing of the Third Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2001. That companies are facing risks and opportunities is not new and the awareness to address these issues is growing. However, there is still need for research in the field of corporate strategic response to climate change. Recently, research focused on resilience management to address climate change. Resilience management is about being able to experience changes and remain stable getting back into the same situation before the change happen. On the contrary to resilience management adaptive capacity is about the ability to be able to adapt to uncertain and unexpected events on the long term. This includes long-term changes. This work argues that companies should think about their adaptive capacity as climate change induces short and long-term changes. Adding this dimension to the strategic planning companies need to think of how they can improve their adaptive capacity. This work investigates research in both issues adaptive capacity and climate change research and in their relation. Applying a systematic literature review this study conducted 60 references which are examined by a qualitative-quantitative analysis and answers the following questions: What is the current scientific view of adaptive capacity within strategic management literature? What are determinants of adaptive capacity? How can adaptive capacity be linked to climate change strategy and is it even antecedent to climate change strategies? The findings of this research indicate that adaptive capacity and climate change strategies exhibit a link but it cannot be proved whether adaptive capacity is antecedent. Furthermore, the term adaptive capacity is merely discussed within strategic management literature and if it is discussed and examined, several concepts and theories are applied to explain determinants of adaptive capacity. Several concepts such as dynamic capabilities, organizational learning capability, organizational learning, organizational change capacity, flexibility and more could be identified as concepts enhancing adaptive capacity. This works provides an overview of related concepts and theories.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Previous studies show that interest rates, dividend yields and other commonly available variables are useful market indicators. Although this has produced new insights into asset pricing models, it has not been applied to the measurement of unit trust funds' performance. This study introduces a set of predetermined variables into the measures of performance of South African unit trust fund managers. This paper modifies classical performance measures to incorporate these well-known market indicators. The performance and strategy of the South African general equity unit trust managers are evaluated for the period 1989 to 2002. The incorporation of these predetermined variables is both statistically and economically significant. It is concluded that when the conditional measures are applied to this sample of unit trusts, their performance improves and there is no evidence of market timing strategy. This study advocates conditional performance evaluation in which the relevant expectations are conditioned on public information variables.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vorige studies toon dat rentekoerse, dividendopbrengste en ander algemeen beskikbare veranderlikes bruikbare markaanwysers is. Hoewel dit nuwe insigte in bateprysbepalingsmodelle bring, is dit nog nie toegepas op die meting van effektetrust prestasie nie. Hierdie ondersoek gebruik 'n stel voorafbepaalde veranderlikes in die prestasiemeting van Suid-Afrikaanse effektetrust bestuurders. Hierdie werkstuk wysig klassieke prestasiemetings om die bekende markaanwysers in ag te neem. Die prestasie van Suid-Afrikaanse algemene aandele-effektetrusts vir die tydperk van 1989 tot 2002 is geëvalueer met behulp van hierdie wysigings. Daar word bevind dat die gebruik van hierdie voorafbepaalde veranderlikes statisties sowel as ekonomies beduidend is. Hierdie ondersoek bevind dat die prestasie van die steekproef van effektetrusts verbeter wanneer voorwaardelike metings daarop toegepas word. Daar is geen bewys van marktydberekeningstrategie nie. Hierdie werkstuk beveel voorwaardelike prestasie-evaluering aan waarin die betrokke verwagtings bepaal word deur veranderlikes wat openbare inligting is.

As mudanças climáticas estão provocando alterações no macro-ambiente econômico, social e regulatório. Países de todo o mundo discutem em fóruns internacionais e também internamente como tratar os impactos das mudanças do clima sobre as condições de vida da sociedade, o ecossistema e sobre a economia como um todo. As pressões regulatórias por ações empresariais de combate às mudanças do clima crescem no Brasil, como também aumentam as exigências dos consumidores. As empresas precisam adotar ações de combate às mudanças climáticas, reduzindo as suas emissões de gases do efeito estufa (GEE), e, ao mesmo tempo, crescer de forma sustentável. Essa pesquisa buscou entender quais são as ações de combate às mudanças do clima desenvolvidas pelas empresas localizadas no estado brasileiro do Rio Grande do Sul, quarta economia do país. Como ferramenta de análise, quatro variáveis com dimensões e indicadores específicos foram criadas a partir de ampla pesquisa bibliográfica e investigação documental. Os dados de campo foram levantados através de pesquisa do tipo survey, com questionários aplicados, online e presencialmente, a 92 empresas, associadas à Centro das Indústrias do Rio Grande do Sul e à Câmara Americana de Comércio, com atuação em 19 setores econômicos. Os resultados mostram que o percentual de empresas que conhece a sua contribuição às mudanças do clima é baixo e, conseqüentemente, a quantidade de organizações que conhece os riscos e oportunidades impostos pelas mudanças climáticas é bastante reduzida. Exceções acontecem no setor de papel e celulose e no setor de energia, onde a prática de desenvolvimento de inventário de emissões está mais consolidada. Em geral, as empresas ainda estão em estágio inicial do desenvolvimento de uma estratégia climática, efetuando ações de redução de emissões de GEE de baixo custo dentro da própria empresa. Ações de eficiência energética, melhorias no processo operacional e utilização de tecnologias de teleconferências são as mais desenvolvidas. As organizações, em sua maioria, não efetuam ações na sua cadeia produtiva e desconhecem os instrumentos financeiros e atores externos disponíveis para auxiliá-las na implementação de ações de combate às mudanças climáticas. O aumento da competitividade, o acesso aos novos mercados e a valorização da marca são os principais fatores indutores ao desenvolvimento de uma ação de redução de emissões. Concluiu-se também que o nível de maturidade das empresas em relação às questões climáticas varia conforme o setor de atuação e que os setores químico e petroquímico e de papel e celulose são os que apresentam o maior número de empresas desenvolvendo os passos do modelo de estratégia climática apresentado por Hoffman (2006).
Climate Change is causing alteration on economic, social and legal environment. Countries around the world discuss in international forums and also internally how to treat climate change impacts over life conditions of society, ecosystem and economy as a whole. Regulatory pressure that requires business actions to combat climate change grows in Brazil, as well as it increases customers requirements. Companies need to adopt actions to address climate change, reducing their greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, and, at the same time, to improve its business in a sustainable way. This research seeks to understand which business actions to address climate change are developed in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, fourth country’s economy. As an analysis tool, four variables with specific dimensions and indicators were created from a wide range literature review. Data were collected through survey research with questionnaires applied online and in person to 92 firms, associated to the Rio Grande do Sul Center of Industries and American Chamber of Commerce, which operate in 19 economic sectors. The results shows that the percentage of companies which know their contribution to climate change is low and, consequently, the quantity of organizations that knows the risks and opportunities imposed by climate change is quite low. Exceptions occur in .the pulp and paper industry and electricity sector, where emissions inventories practices is more consolidated. In general, firms are in the initial stage of climate strategy development, implementing low-cost actions of GHG emissions reductions inside the company. Energy efficiency, operational improvements and teleconference technology are the most developed actions. Organizations do not develop actions in their supply chain and they do not know financial instruments and external actors available to assist them to implement actions to combat climate change. Increase of competitiveness, access to new markets and branding are the main inducing factor for the development of an emission reduction action. It was also concluded that the companies’ maturity level related to the climate issues varies accordingly the economic sector and that pulp and paper and chemical and petrochemical industries are the sectors that present the highest number of companies developing the steps of the climate strategy model presented by Hoffman (2006).

Climate change has become an increasingly important strategic issue for businesses to deal with. The stake is high particularly for those in energy-intensive industries as governments are implementing legislations that limit the carbon emission coming from these industries. Not only are such companies’ carbon emission confronted by regulatory bodies, but also various stakeholders such as customers and investors. Such pressures increased the business relevance of the issue and have provided various strategic contexts and drives. Businesses have responded in different ways to the changes that are coming with climate change. The purpose of this study was to provide insight into the dynamics and characteristics of carbon strategies. The case study companies were three pulp and paper companies located in Sweden, all subjected to the EU ETS regulation. In order to fulfill the purpose we have developed an analytical framework which we applied to the empirical findings. Based on our analysis we concluded that there are several factors that determine and drive the development of carbon strategies: sustainability, energy efficiency, market competition, and owners. The findings also revealed that the most prevalent response type was an optimization strategy, which is enhancing the carbon productivity from operational activities. The findings also confirmed the usefulness and comprehensiveness of the analytical framework employed to the understanding of carbon strategies and development factors.

Small businesses represent more than 99% of all employers in the United States, but more than 50% of small businesses have failed before 5 years. Climate change, digitization, and social media contribute to a paradigm shift in consumers' habits, as more consumers have become environmentally and social justice conscious. Business leaders who are unable to follow the consumers' trends and changes of habit may not succeed in sustaining their businesses. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore strategies owners of small businesses in the District of Columbia use to sustain their businesses for longer than 5 years while fulfilling their firms' social responsibility obligations. The conceptual framework was the sustainability development theory. Data were collected from 5 small retailers through face-to-face, semistructured interviews, observations, field notes, and reviews of documents related to business sustainability. Data analysis was based on the thematic analysis model, which involved a process of organizing, coding, arranging data into common themes relevant to the research question and interpreting of the information. Member checking was used to enhance the credibility and validity of the data. Emerging themes included business establishment planning, sustainability planning, and sustainability factors use. The results of this study may contribute to positive social change by providing information to entrepreneurs about successful strategies for small business sustainability, which can lead to business owners, employees, and communities living and working in a human-oriented, prosperous, and healthy environment.

The aim of this thesis is to characterize the current export strategy of the Czech Republic and analyze whether Morocco has potential for Czech entrepreneurs and companies. The first part of the thesis describes theories of international trade. The second part is dedicated to explain the term trade policy and to describe the development of export policy of the Czech Republic. In the third part there are fundamental information about the Kingdom of Morocco as well as analysis of investment climate. The key part of the thesis analyzes business opportunities for Czech companies and entrepreneurs.

In 2014, only 48% of S&P companies scored high-performance band B ratings and above in their Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reports to attract the interest of institutional investors holding U.S. $92 trillion plus assets under management. This multiple case study explored the business leaders' strategic decisions to improve the performance band ratings in the companies' CDP reports. The conceptual framework for this study was stakeholder theory, which suggests that businesses should incorporate the interest of institutional investors to minimize the climate-related risks that could affect their investment decisions. The target population for this study was business leaders from S&P 500 companies in the eastern United States who have experience in making strategic decisions to improve performance band ratings in the CDP reports. Data collection included semistructured face-to-face interviews with 4 business leaders and an exploration of company archival documents related to carbon management. Using Yin's data analysis method 5 themes emerged: governance, risk management, target and initiatives, measurement and verification, and transparency and disclosure. These themes highlighted companies' governing strategies for better carbon management, which are essential in achieving better performance band ratings in the CDP reports to attract the interest of intuitional investors. Better carbon management by S&P 500 companies will facilitate a positive social change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are detrimental to human health and well-being of its stakeholders.

The effects of businesses all over the globe on social issues like climate change have caused an increasing demand for those businesses to take responsibility for their actions. While corporate social responsibility has been concerned with such topics for a while, the more recent concept of ‘creating shared value’ aims to have a more justified approach in a way that it provides economic value for the implementing company while also targeting social issues simultaneously. Still, specific tools helping companies to implement initiatives that create shared value are missing.Multinational large-fleet operators, such as logistics companies or car rental services, are considered to contribute a significant share to the earlier mentioned social issue of climate change. With the rising adoption of electric vehicles by such large-fleet operators, the concept of Vehicle-to-Grid is identified as a way for multinational large-fleet operators to create shared value. Vehicle-to-Grid is a technology that promises to help increase the utilisation of renewable energy sources, thereby helping to tackle climate change. Since the concepts of creating shared value and Vehicle-to-Grid have not been combined so far, a research gap was identified. Therefore, this research aims to answer the questions of how Vehicle-to-Grid can create shared value for multinational large-fleet operators and how expected results of that implementation can be measured for the implementing company, society and other considered stakeholders.Empirical data is collected by qualitatively interviewing organisations that have been involved in Vehicle-to-Grid related projects and is analysed with the help of a conceptual framework that the authors developed. The conclusion of this study closes the identified research gap and contributes to the theory of how shared value initiatives can be implemented. The research suggests that for multinational large-fleet operators, shared value creation by implementing Vehicle-to-Grid could be achieved by redefining productivity in the value chain and enable local cluster development. Additionally, the research gives implications on how progress for all considered parties can be measured and suggests managerial and policy implications that would help to define Vehicle-to-Grid business cases in the future.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior
As mudanÃas climÃticas podem produzir consequÃncias em todas as esferas sociais e empresariais, mudando a forma como as empresas e governos se comportam e fazendo com que tomem medidas para mitigar os seus efeitos. Entretanto, alguns setores da economia poderÃo ser mais afetados do que outros, como à o caso do setor de energia, que sofre forte regulaÃÃo e caracteriza-se como um setor estratÃgico e com alta contribuiÃÃo para a questÃo da mudanÃa do clima. Nesse sentido, este trabalho consiste no desenvolvimento e validaÃÃo de um modelo estrutural para avaliar os efeitos das mudanÃas climÃticas no setor de energia, atravÃs da anÃlise da relaÃÃo entre riscos, pressÃo dos stakeholders, respostas estratÃgicas e vantagem competitiva relacionados à temÃtica. O modelo proposto parte da anÃlise da teoria acerca dos efeitos e desafios das mudanÃas climÃticas em Ãmbito organizacional, e pretende avaliar se os riscos inerentes Ãs mudanÃas climÃticas e as pressÃes dos stakeholders impactam nas respostas estratÃgicas das empresas do setor de energia em relaÃÃo a esta questÃo, e se, por sua vez, estas respostas apresentam impacto positivo para a vantagem competitiva da empresa. O estudo à desenvolvido no setor de energia brasileiro por meio de survey exploratÃria aplicada com gestores do setor atravÃs de questionÃrio respondido via web. A anÃlise dos dados à realizada atravÃs de anÃlise fatorial e modelagem de equaÃÃes estruturais. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam a relaÃÃo existente entre os riscos, a pressÃo dos stakeholders, as respostas estratÃgicas e a vantagem competitiva no contexto das mudanÃas climÃticas nas empresas do setor de energia brasileiro. Os resultados contribuem para entender o comportamento das empresas de energia frente aos desafios ocasionados pelas mudanÃas climÃticas de forma a traÃar o cenÃrio das respostas estratÃgicas neste setor.

The impact of climate change produces variations in the production of goods and services, modifies consumption patterns ofbuyers, affects the strategies of private companies and influences the environmental policies of governments. In this context, the return expected by shareholders or partners cannot be achieved due to uncontrollable factors that often generate threats or opportunities for companies, according to which industry they operate. On the other hand, international trade is affected by climate change by increasing sanitary and phytosanitary requirements of governments, retail business associations and consumers. This situation leads to redefine business strategies and to the implementation of standards by international organisms,directly or indirectly related to climate change, seeking to adapt or mitigate its effects on life in the planet.
El impacto del cambio climático produce variaciones en la producción de bienes y servicios, modifica los patrones de consumo de los compradores, afecta las estrategias de los empresarios privados e influye en las políticas ambientales de los gobiernos. En este contexto, la rentabilidad esperada por los accionistas o socios puede no lograrse debido a factores incontrolables, que muchas veces generan amenazas u oportunidades para las empresas, según la industria en la que operen. Por otro lado, el comercio internacional es afectado por el cambio climático al aumentar las exigencias sanita- rias de parte de los gobiernos, las asociaciones de negocios retail y los consumidores. Esta situación conduce a redefinir estrategias de negocios y a la implementación de normas, por parte de organismos internacionales relacionados directa o indirectamente al cambio climático, en la búsqueda de adaptar o mitigar sus efectos sobre la vida en el planeta.
O impacto da mudança climática produz variações na produção de bens e serviços, modifica os padrões de consumo doscompradores, afeta as estratégias dos empresários privados e influencia as políticas ambientais dos governos. Neste contexto, a rentabilidades esperada pelos acionistas ou sócios não pode ser alcançada devido a fatores incontroláveis, que muitas vezes geram ameaças ou oportunidades para as empresas, de acordo com o setor em que atuam. Por outro lado, o comércio interna- cional é afetado pelas mudanças climáticas através do aumento dos requisitos de saúde dos governos, associações de empresas varejistas e consumidores. Isto leva a as organizações internacionais a redefinir estratégias de negócios e as normas, direta ou indiretamente relacionados às mudanças climáticas, procurando adaptar-se ou atenuar seus efeitos sobre a vida no planeta.

La motivation des salariés est une nécessité vitale pour le succès d’une entreprise, notamment dans le contexte de la crise économique mondiale. En comprenant ce qui motive leurs membres, les dirigeants peuvent mobiliser le plein potentiel de chaque personne et diriger plus efficacement leur énergie. Le renouvellement des sources de motivation demande d’analyser au préalable les changements qui affectent actuellement le monde du travail et leurs conséquences. L’objectif de cette thèse vise à aider les personnes qui gèrent les ressources humaines (dans l’entreprise) à comprendre quelles sont et comment créer des conditions propices à la motivation des salariés, comment orienter, susciter et soutenir leur motivation et comment construire des stratégies motivationnelles adaptées. De plus, à cette fin, en favorisant la motivation et en suscitant les salariés, nous essayons de proposer d’établir un climat motivant dans l’entreprise chinoise
The motivation of employees is vital necessity to the success of the enterprise, especially in the context of global economic crisis. By understanding what motivates their members, directors can mobilize and realize the full potential of each person and direct their energies more effectively. The renewal of sources of motivation asks that analyze in advance the changes currently affecting the world of working and their consequences. The objective of this thesis is to help people manage human resources (in the enterprise) to understand what and how to create conditions favor the employee motivation, how to orientate, to improve and to maintain the motivation of its employees and how to construct appropriate motivational strategies in the management. In addition, for this aim, in favorite of promoting the motivation and stimulating the employees, we try to propose to establish a dynamic environment in Chinese enterprises

På grund av de ökade utsläppen av växthusgaser, och att forskare angett klimatförändringar som en av de mest kritiska miljöfrågor människan stött på, har frågan kring utsläpp av växthusgaser blivit ett högaktuellt ämne. År 2016 trädde Parisavtalet i kraft med syfte till att stärka de globala åtgärderna mot klimatförändringar, och hittills har 189 länder skrivit på avtalet. Med anledning av klimatförändringarna och Parisavtalet har denna studie på hur företagsledningen arbetar strategiskt med frågor för att minska utsläpp av växthusgaser på ett fallföretag genomförts. För att kunna besvara studiens frågeställningar har en fallstudie genomförts på ett moderbolag i en koncern som arbetar med tillverkning och försäljning. Data samlades in genom enkäter och telefonintervjuer med totalt sex personer i fallföretagets ledningsgrupp och andra nyckelpersoner på och kring företaget. Litteraturstudier har också genomförts för att samla in tidigare forskning relaterat till ämnet. Enkäterna och intervjuerna har gett en insyn kring hur fallföretaget arbetar med miljö och hållbarhetsfrågor på företaget och i koncernen. Något som har identifierats som ett hinder för företaget är dess fokus på hög tillväxt, vilket har lett till att miljö- och hållbarhetsfrågor har varit lågt prioriterade. Det har även till viss del setts som problematiskt av respondenterna att det inte finns en dedikerad person som arbetar aktivt med dessa frågor på företaget. I studien har teori ställts mot resultatet för att kunna se vilka hinder, utmaningar och möjligheter ett företag har när det kommer till att arbeta strategiskt för att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser. Det ges en bild av hur Parisavtalet och andra klimatpolitiska åtgärder kan påverka företag. En visuell modell presenteras som visar sambandet mellan ny miljöreglering, innovation samt information och medvetenhet. Modellen beskriver en pågående process där företag, genom att arbeta med innovation, kan sprida information kring ny teknik och öka medvetenheten om de möjligheter som finns. En spridning av information och ökad medvetenheten kan motivera och underlätta införandet nya miljöregleringar, vilket i sin tur kan främja arbetet med innovation. Det har även tagits fram konkreta förslag på hur företag ska kunna arbeta för att minska utsläppen av växthusgaser genom ett miljöledningssystem, miljöbedömningar, produktutveckling, innovation och Supply chain management.
Due to the increased emissions of greenhouse gases, and the fact that researchers have identified climate change as one of the most critical environmental issues man has encountered, the subject of greenhouse gas emissions has become highly topical. In 2016, the Paris Agreement came into force with the aim of strengthening global measures against climate change, and so far 189 countries have signed the agreement. Due to climate change and the Paris Agreement, this study on how corporate management works strategically with issues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a case company has been conducted. To answer the study's questions, a case study has been conducted at a parent company in a group that works with manufacturing and sales. Data was collected through surveys and telephone interviews with a total of six people in the case company's management group and other key people in and around the company. Literature studies have also been conducted to collect previous research related to the subject. The surveys and interviews have provided an insight into how the case company works with environmental and sustainability issues at the company and in the group. Something that has been identified as an obstacle to the company is its focus on high growth, which has resulted in environmental and sustainability issues getting a low priority. It has also, to some extent, been seen as problematic by the respondents that there is not a dedicated person working actively with these issues at the company. In the study, theory was set against the results to be able to see what obstacles, challenges and opportunities a company has when it comes to working strategically to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An image has been given of how the Paris Agreement and other climate policy measures can affect companies. A visual model has been presented that shows the connection between new environmental regulation, innovation and information and awareness. The model describes an ongoing process in which companies, by working with innovation, can disseminate information about new technologies and raise awareness of the opportunities that exist. The dissemination of information and increased awareness can motivate and facilitate the introduction of new environmental regulations, which in turn can promote the work on innovation. Concrete proposals have also been made on how companies can work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through an environmental management system, environmental assessments, product development, innovation and Supply chain management.

Using organizational theory, this research study examines whether a firm's business strategy influences the ethical culture and climate within the organization, and thus explains why a firm's business strategy may ultimately contribute toward an increased risk of financial misreporting. This study develops from recent research which finds that companies following an innovative, risk-oriented Prospector business strategy are significantly more likely to experience financial reporting irregularities, despite increased audit effort levels. To examine the research question, both survey and archival methods are employed. Using a large-scale research survey, I find two subset groups of Prospector firms where a smaller (larger) group is significantly associated with a less (more) ethical culture and climate, which offer insights into why companies following a Prospector business strategy continue to experience irregularities despite auditors' efforts. Results suggest auditors may not be able to distinguish between the two sets of Prospectors and thus may direct higher audit efforts too generally at Prospector firms rather than at the smaller set of firms with less ethical cultures and climates?i.e., firms more prone to rationalizing less ethical behavior. I also find that firms pursing a second type of strategy, a transitory Reactor strategy, are consistently associated with a negative ethical culture and climate. For a subset of public companies which can be linked to archival data, I find evidence to suggest that companies with less (more) ethical climates are associated with an increased (reduced) risk of financial misreporting while controlling for incentive and opportunity factors. I continue to find evidence that companies following a Prospector business strategy are associated with greater risks of misreporting, confirming prior research. Altogether, my findings suggest several antecedents for firms experiencing greater risk of financial statement misreporting and provide evidence regarding the third leg of the auditing fraud triangle (rationalization).

Climate change and poverty are the main challenges which potentially endanger the continua-tion of the human species. Companies, with their global supply chains have adopted a range of sustainable actions and corporate social initiatives to act against these threats. But what are the drivers of sustainable action? Is it purely the consideration of future needs, or are there eco-nomic reasons involved? The fashion industry with its outsourced operations and global span-ning supply chains comes up regularly in discussions about social and environmental impact. With the example of Adidas, this business case analyzes the drivers for sustainable actions, how they developed over time and how different drivers lead to different responses and strategic options. Students will be able to understand that external regulatory pressures lead companies to use reactive and defensive actions motivated by legitimation. Over time these actions of compliance and monitoring move to a proactive approach but are still based on legitimation. A shift towards a strategic focus on competitiveness as a motivator, as is Adidas collaboration with Parley for the Ocean, integrates sustainability across the whole supply chain and could potentially have a bigger and more positive impact on all sustainability dimensions if correctly aligned with current capabilities.
As alterações climáticas e a pobreza são os principais desafios que potencialmente colocam em risco a sobrevivência da espécie humana. Ao longo das suas cadeias de abastecimento globais, as empresas adotaram uma série de ações sustentáveis e iniciativas sociais corporativas para agir contra essas ameaças. No entanto, quais são os impulsionadores da ação sustentável? É puramente a consideração das necessidades futuras ou existem razões económicas envolvidas? A indústria da moda, com as suas operações externalizadas e cadeias globais de fornecimento, surge regularmente nas discussões sobre impactos sociais e ambientais. Através do exemplo da Adidas, este caso de negócio analisa os fatores que levam a empresa a desenvolver comportamentos e ações sustentáveis, a evolução dos mesmos ao longo do tempo e como diferentes motivos originaram diferentes respostas e opções estratégicas. O presente trabalho tornará possível entender de que forma as pressões regulatórias externas levaram as empresas a usar ações reativas e defensivas motivadas pela legitimação. Com o passar do tempo, essas ações de conformidade e monitorização transformam-se numa abordagem proativa, mas continuam a baseadas na legitimação. A mudança para um foco estratégico na competitividade como um motivador, tal como a colaboração da Adidas com a Parley for the Ocean, integra a sustentabilidade em toda a cadeia de abastecimento e poderia ter um impacto maior e mais positivo em todas as dimensões da sustentabilidade dado um alinhamento correto com as capacidades atuais.

Every year, over 130 million people go on ski vacations worldwide. Half of them visit the biggest skiing hotspot in the world – the Alps. However, climate change now poses a significant threat to prosperity and income there, as winters are becoming shorter, infrequent and less reliable. By the end of this century, 70% less snow is projected for altitudes below 1500 m. This thesis discusses how executives assess exogenous threats, particularly the risks from climate change, and provides action plans for high and low altitude resorts to remain profitable. A quantitative survey across potential tourists and eleven semi-structured interviews with industry experts and resort executives served as primary research to enrich current knowledge. Interviews revealed that when executives have high conviction about climate change, their product offering becomes more diversified making the resort more resilient to threats. Yet, destinations universally invest in snow production equipment. Alpine tourists, including current non-skiers, show ongoing interest in skiing activities, so this is an expedient investment. Nevertheless, climate change creates a disparate impact for ski resorts. Low altitude resorts will struggle to remain profitable as costs for technical snow production rise with every increase in temperature. Thus, they should maintain some ski alpine offerings at higher elevations and invest in novel markets with additional attractive activities for resorts at lower elevations. High altitude resorts will profit from climate change, as tourists will retreat to snow reliable resorts. Hence, these resorts should maintain sustainable competitive advantages by investing in snow reliability, accommodation capacities and infrastructure.
Anualmente, mais de 130 milhões de pessoas saem de férias de esqui em todo o mundo. No entanto, as alterações climáticas representam, agora, uma ameaça significativa à prosperidade e ao rendimento do local. Até o final deste século, as projeções apontam para uma redução de 70% da neve para altitudes abaixo de 1500 m. Esta tese examina como os executivos avaliam as ameaças exógenas, particularmente os riscos das alterações climáticas, e apresenta planos de ação para que os resorts de alta e baixa altitude permaneçam lucrativos. Uma pesquisa quantitativa com mais de 300 respostas de potenciais turistas e onze entrevistas semiestruturadas com especialistas do setor e executivos de resorts serviu como pesquisa primária. As entrevistas revelaram que, quando os executivos têm grande convicção sobre as alterações climáticas, a sua oferta de produtos torna-se mais diversificada, tornando o resort mais resistente às ameaças. No entanto, as mudanças climáticas criam um impacto díspar para as estações de esqui. Os resorts de baixa altitude vão ter dificuldades em permanecer lucrativos, pois os custos para a produção técnica de neve aumentam a cada incremento de temperatura. Assim, eles devem manter algumas ofertas de esqui alpino em altitudes mais altas e investir em novos mercados com atividades atraentes adicionais para resorts em altitudes mais baixas. Os resorts de alta altitude vão beneficiar das alterações climáticas, pois os turistas vão retirar-se para resorts de maior fiabilidade de neve. Portanto, estes devem manter vantagens competitivas sustentáveis investindo na confiabilidade da neve, capacidade de acomodação e infra-estruturas.

Yes
The Planetary Boundaries (PB) framework represents a significant advance in specifying the ecological constraints on human development. However, to enable decision-makers in business and public policy to respect these constraints in strategic planning, the PB framework needs to be developed to generate practical tools. With this objective in mind, we analyse the recent literature and highlight three major scientific and technical challenges in operationalizing the PB approach in decision-making: first, identification of thresholds or boundaries with associated metrics for different geographical scales; second, the need to frame approaches to allocate fair shares in the 'safe operating space' bounded by the PBs across the value chain and; third, the need for international bodies to co-ordinate the implementation of the measures needed to respect the Planetary Boundaries. For the first two of these challenges, we consider how they might be addressed for four PBs: climate change, freshwater use, biosphere integrity and chemical pollution and other novel entities. Four key opportunities are identified: (1) development of a common system of metrics that can be applied consistently at and across different scales; (2) setting 'distance from boundary' measures that can be applied at different scales; (3) development of global, preferably open-source, databases and models; and (4) advancing understanding of the interactions between the different PBs. Addressing the scientific and technical challenges in operationalizing the planetary boundaries needs be complemented with progress in addressing the equity and ethical issues in allocating the safe operating space between companies and sectors.

Energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy have become a vital part of everyday life and business. The increase in energy cost and the consequences of greenhouse gas emissions necessitates energy management and in particular energy risk management within organisations. Organisations need to manage the possible negative effect that the increased costs will have within the organisation. The present research investigated the introduction of a structured approach to energy risk management within the financial services sector of South Africa. The research followed a quantitative, non-experimental research design by using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent to managers within the financial services sector. The research investigated the criteria for the implementation of a structured approach to energy risk management such as organisational requirements (culture, corporate social responsibility, management, and finance), governance, energy strategies (energy conservation, efficiency and renewable energy), risk identification, risk management and lastly communication and review. The research found that the structured approach to energy risk management should include the context within the organisation namely organisational requirements, governance and energy strategies. Thereafter the risks within the energy strategies need to be identified, analysed and evaluated, and control measures need to be implemented. It is important to monitor the various energy strategies continuously in order to identify corrections and implement preventative actions. The strategies need to be reviewed and communicated in terms of the various strategies to all stakeholders within the organisation in order to set continual improvement plans. Risk management should form part of the energy management strategies of organisations. The research showed that energy risk management plays an important role in the overall business strategy and that the vast majority of financial services organisations have already implemented some form of energy management. There are however aspects that are still lacking within management strategies that need attention.
D. Phil. (Management Studies)
Business Management