Exploring stakeholder roles in the management of indoor environmental quality of higher education institutes in South Africa
Management of Environmental Quality
ISSN: 1477-7835
Article publication date: 19 July 2021
Issue publication date: 5 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore the influential role stakeholder play in the management of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in facilities of higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. By defining the indoor environmental challenges facing HEI's, an alternative redress to these challenges can be achieved through stakeholder management.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted a quantitative survey approach which was informed by a post-positivism philosophical stance. The closed-ended questionnaire survey was used to gather views from academic and administrative staff who were employed in various HEIs across South Africa. The literature review revealed 13 influential stakeholder management roles which were explored. The gathered data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics that evaluated the influential role stakeholder play in the management of IEQ in HEIs.
Findings
Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed three core categories of stakeholder management roles to being community engagement and awareness, organisational commitment and objective function. These roles play an integral part of overhauling the current IEQ conditions in HEIs, which subsequently improves the quality of education through efficient academic and administrative performance.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the body of knowledge as it reveals that HEI, particularly in developing countries like South Africa, can improve their current IEQ conditions through adopting critical stakeholder management roles. Also, this study provides further theoretical background for future research in the area of stakeholder management which has been lacking in previous IEQ studies.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The work presented in this study was fully supported the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. All research findings and reviewed literature sources have been acknowledged. Moreover, the financial support of National Research Foundation (NRF) Scarce Skills and Innovation grant is also acknowledged.
Citation
Ndou, M., Aigbavboa, C. and Thwala, W.D. (2021), "Exploring stakeholder roles in the management of indoor environmental quality of higher education institutes in South Africa", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 32 No. 6, pp. 1367-1382. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-03-2021-0057
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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