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Article
Publication date: 1 June 2005

Cory Searcy, Stanislav Karapetrovic and Daryl McCartney

The purpose of this paper is to present and analyze a case study on the design of a system of sustainable development indicators for an electric utility.

3290

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present and analyze a case study on the design of a system of sustainable development indicators for an electric utility.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study is based on collaboration with an electric utility and consultation with external experts. A six‐step process was used to create the indicators: conduct a needs assessment; conduct process planning; develop a draft set of indicators; test and adjust the indicators; implement the indicators; and review and improve the indicators.

Findings

The case study demonstrates how existing projects impact the process of developing indicators. It highlights that any system of indicators must be linked to the business planning process. It shows how this may be accomplished through a design based on a hierarchical approach that also illustrates linkages between the indicators and incorporates existing measures.

Research limitations/implications

The first three steps of the indicator design process have been completed. Research on the remaining three steps is ongoing.

Practical implications

Applying the principles of sustainable development has become an essential part of doing business. This paper illustrates how sustainable development indicators may be developed and integrated with existing business infrastructure at an electric utility.

Originality/value

Even in companies with strong corporate responsibility programs, a key challenge is to construct meaningful indicators that are integrated with mainstream business systems. Although it is recognized that each situation is unique, this paper provides insight into the development of indicators within existing corporate infrastructures.

Details

Measuring Business Excellence, vol. 9 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-3047

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Sustainability Assessment
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78743-481-3

Book part
Publication date: 6 February 2023

Enrico Ivaldi, Andrea Ciacci and Riccardo Soliani

Sustainable development calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for people and planet. The approach that considers sustainable…

Abstract

Sustainable development calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for people and planet. The approach that considers sustainable development as the fight against poverty, through the promotion of a sustainable and equitable economy, as the attempt to reduce polluting emissions to promote environmental protection and as the satisfaction of social goals to increase the well-being of populations is adopted. Sustainability development is therefore a complex and subjective concept, considering the three dimensions that define the phenomenon: economic, environmental and social.

The authors have chosen subjective variables, which provide information on the perception of the ‘sustainable development’ in the European countries. Data come from the database of ‘Eurofound’, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. The authors applied a formative measurement model, according to which indicators are considered as the cause of the phenomenon analysed, unlike with the reflective model. To conduct the quantitative analysis, the authors have adopted a non-compensatory approach: Mazziotta and Pareto index which summarising a set of individual indicators that are assumed to be not fully substitutable. The authors place at the centre of the analysis, variables deriving from the perceptive state of the different European populations, offering new hints to measure sustainable development on the basis of subjective assumptions.

Details

The Impact of Environmental Emissions and Aggregate Economic Activity on Industry: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-577-9

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 May 2023

Shuli Yan and Luting Xia

As an important measure to promote sustainable development, green finance has developed rapidly in recent years. In order to comprehensively analyze the positive and negative…

Abstract

Purpose

As an important measure to promote sustainable development, green finance has developed rapidly in recent years. In order to comprehensively analyze the positive and negative indicators of the influencing factors of green finance, this paper puts forward a grey relational method of spatial-temporal panel data from the perspective of the development trend of the object dimension indicators and the performance difference between the time dimension indicators.

Design/methodology/approach

From the different perspectives of object dimension and time dimension, the positive and negative indicators are standardized differently considering the reverse of indicators and characterizing factors. The grey absolute relational degree is used to define the matrix sequence. This method reflects the development trend of objects in time and the difference characteristics among objects, which comprehensively represents the correlation between the reference panel and the comparison panel.

Findings

The results show that: (1) The object dimension reflects the internal driving force of the development of green finance in each provincial administrative region and the time dimension reflects the relationship between regional differences of influencing factors and green finance. (2) From the object dimension, the influencing factors of green finance from high to low are economic development potential, economic development level, air temperature, policy support, green innovation and air quality. (3) From the time dimension, the influencing factors of green finance from high to low are green innovation, air quality, economic development potential, economic development level, policy support and air temperature.

Originality/value

The different standardized processing methods of positive and negative indicators proposed in this paper not only eliminate the sample dimension, but also study the grey relational degree among the indicator panels from different reference dimensions. The proposed model is applied to identify the influencing factors of green finance, which expands the practical application scope of the grey relational model. The research results can provide reference for relevant departments to better promote the development of green finance.

Details

Grey Systems: Theory and Application, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-9377

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2010

Beser Oktay Vehbi, Ercan Hoskara and Sebnem Önal Hoskara

This study1 seeks to identify and propose a model for measuring and assessing the level of sustainability in housing environments based on a range of indicators. With this…

Abstract

This study1 seeks to identify and propose a model for measuring and assessing the level of sustainability in housing environments based on a range of indicators. With this intention, the article is composed of four main parts. In the first part, the relationship between sustainability and housing is presented based on previous research; in the second part, a theoretical framework is put forward for sustainable housing. Then in the third part, sustainability indicators are discussed thoroughly within the context of indicator frameworks. In this section, the development, selection and measuring processes of indicators are also introduced. Finally in the fourth part, the model for measuring and assessing the level of sustainability in housing environments is presented. It is believed that this model will be used as a tool in the decision-making processes for the future development of existing housing settlements and their environments.

Details

Open House International, vol. 35 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0168-2601

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 November 1993

Myriam Bacquelaine

Argues that, notwithstanding the wide acceptance of themultidimensional character of the development process, one has toconsider the many theoretical problems that this…

Abstract

Argues that, notwithstanding the wide acceptance of the multidimensional character of the development process, one has to consider the many theoretical problems that this recognition has generated. Determining criteria and measurements for development are very likely among the more intricate issues to be dealt with. Given the underlying value judgements which influence the choice of criteria, this is particularly true for the social dimension of development, especially when the approach to development is persistently pervaded by economics.

Details

International Journal of Social Economics, vol. 20 no. 11
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0306-8293

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 March 2020

Madlen Sobkowiak, Thomas Cuckston and Ian Thomson

This research seeks to explain how a national government becomes capable of constructing an account of its biodiversity performance that is aimed at enabling formulation of policy…

2973

Abstract

Purpose

This research seeks to explain how a national government becomes capable of constructing an account of its biodiversity performance that is aimed at enabling formulation of policy in pursuit of SDG 15: Life on Land.

Design/methodology/approach

The research examines a case study of the construction of the UK government's annual biodiversity report. The case is analysed to explain the process of framing a space in which the SDG-15 challenge of halting biodiversity loss is rendered calculable, such that the government can see and understand its own performance in relation to this challenge.

Findings

The construction of UK government's annual biodiversity report relies upon data collected through non-governmental conservation efforts, statistical expertise of a small project group within the government and a governmental structure that drives ongoing evolution of the indicators as actors strive to make these useful for policy formulation.

Originality/value

The analysis problematises the SDG approach to accounting for sustainable development, whereby performance indicators have been centrally agreed and universally imposed upon all signatory governments. The analysis suggests that capacity-building efforts for national governments may need to be broader than that envisaged by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Details

Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, vol. 33 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3574

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 17 March 2021

Vinicius Jaques Gerhardt, Julio Cezar Mairesse Siluk, Ismael Cristofer Baierle and Cláudia de Freitas Michelin

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model composed of performance indicators divided into stages that represent a chronological order of the market development

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a theoretical model composed of performance indicators divided into stages that represent a chronological order of the market development process.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical model presented by this paper was developed based on the information collected through three systematic reviews. The first review identified the steps that segment the market development process. The second and third systematic review sought to identify a set of indicators that are most used in companies' market development.

Findings

The paper develops a theoretical model that identifies the market development indicators that are most present in the current literature, dividing them into stages that represent the chronological order of the market development process.

Originality/value

A research opportunity was identified based on the investigation of the existing literature. The study collaborates with existing research and provides a model that guides companies in market development decisions and actions.

Details

International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, vol. 71 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-0401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 September 2012

Eva Blozik, Monika Nothacker, Thomas Bunk, Joachim Szecsenyi, Günter Ollenschläger and Martin Scherer

The purpose of this paper is to examine the question of how official bodies, health care organisations, and professional associations deal with the absence of a methodological…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the question of how official bodies, health care organisations, and professional associations deal with the absence of a methodological gold standard for the simultaneous development of clinical practice guidelines and quality indicators, what procedures they use and what they feel are major strengths and limitations of their methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a web‐based survey among 90 organisational members of the Guidelines International Network (G‐I‐N) representing 34 countries from Africa, America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. All organisational G‐I‐N members were invited to participate in the survey by following a link provided in the invitation e‐mail.

Findings

The responses of 24 organisations were included in the final analysis. The results indicate a broad variability in the approaches and methods used to develop quality indicators and guidelines simultaneously. The answers of the participants indicated a lack of formal procedures for the simultaneous development. Formal procedures exist in only about half of the participating organisations. In addition, piloting or evaluation of the procedures is almost completely missing. Significantly, respondents mainly reported that the procedure used in their organisation “could certainly be more rigorous”. Besides various strengths, participants reported a considerable number of limitations of the development processes they use.

Originality/value

This survey among G‐I‐N members – despite limitations – gives helpful insights in the state of the simultaneous development of quality indicators and clinical practice guidelines and underlines the need for future activities in methodological standard development and quality improvement of these processes.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 25 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2005

O.O. Ugwu and T.C. Haupt

This paper reports on research that investigated perceptions and prioritization of key performance indicators (KPI) for infrastructure sustainability, from a cross section of…

1991

Abstract

This paper reports on research that investigated perceptions and prioritization of key performance indicators (KPI) for infrastructure sustainability, from a cross section of construction industry stakeholders in Hong Kong and Republic of South Africa. The results show that although there is general agreement on the indicators, there are noticeable differences in stakeholder ranking, which measures their prioritisation of the various indicators. These differences are closely linked to the level of development of the respective country and hence macro‐level priorities in formulating their sustainable development agenda. The most significant agreements are on indicators related to health and safety, while there are significant disagreements on some indicators related to environment, economy and project management and administration. The study provides empirical evidence of such underlying differences. The paper discusses the implications and challenges in addressing sustainability and sustainable development in developed and developing countries. The paper discusses the findings from the two‐country comparative studies and provides validated indicators for infrastructure sustainability. Recommendations are given on the application of these indicators for decision‐support and integrated sustainability appraisal in infrastructure project (SUSAIP).

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