Methodology for sustainability strategic planning and management

Purpose – This work proposes a framework that intends to help organisations achieve the Sustainability Goal by means of a methodology that integrates sustainability in both the planning and management tasks of the organisation and that serves as a base for the implementation of an information system aligned with the business strategy. Design/methodology/approach – After an exhaustive review of literature about Corporate Social Responsibility, Strategic Planning of organisations and Balanced Scorecards, a methodology has been developed that describes the process of designing and implementing a Sustainability Balanced Scorecard for sustainability strategic planning and management Findings – The methodology can be easily implemented at companies with a minimum of computer resources, but managers play a key role in its success, since they are the responsible for providing the necessary environment for overcoming such an important change. Research limitations/implications – The methodology has only been applied once and their results will only be able to be analysed after a long time. Meanwhile, more implementations have to be performed to test and improve the different steps und tools until the methodology can be considered definitive. Practical implications – The methodology could be used by many organisations, improving their social and environmental performance and contributing to their sustainability and the sustainability of all of their stakeholders, specially for society as a whole. Readers of this paper could see a practical application of methodology and its viability by means of the case. Originality/value – An innovative structure for Balanced Scorecards which has been developed having in mind the sustainability since the beginning, but not justly adding environmental and social variables to a model designed with economical purposes

Strategic management practices as a catalyst for SMME performance in the Gauteng province

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation Wits Business school February 2018This study explores the prospect of strategic management practices in stimulating SMME performance. In a country were the SMME failure rate is 75% and one of the highest globally, avenues need to be explored to improve the performance and sustainability of SMMEs’. The research aims to investigate the relationship between SMME performance and aspects of strategic management: scanning intensity, locus of planning, planning flexibility, planning horizon and strategic nonfinancial and financial controls. Hypotheses are created based on the performance relationship with each of the strategic management dimensions. The study followed a quantitative research methodology. Data was collected from 99 respondents via a structured questionnaire, the respondents targeted were owners and managers of SMMEs’ in the Gauteng province. The findings of the study supports the hypotheses proving that there is a positive relationship between performance and 5 of the strategic management practices and 1 negative relationship as hypothesised. The practical implications of the study are that owners and managers of SMMEs’ can adopt effective strategic management practices that can lead to performance improvementMT 201

Engaging sustainability good practice within the curriculum design and property portfolio in the Australian higher education sector

Purpose The aim of this research is to evaluate the extent which university’s strategic plans affect the level of incorporation of sustainability within the curriculum design and property portfolio. Design/methodology/approach This research adopted a case study approach. The case study institution was Deakin University in Australia. This paper used a qualitative research method. Desk-top study included the review of the University’s Strategic Plan, policy agenda on sustainability and the documents on sustainability courses and units. Semi-structured interviews were held with academics who have course development and management responsibility within the university, colleagues who have a sustainability-focused role on estate management and colleagues whose roles are to manage sustainability initiatives at institution level. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was used to analyse the interview data. Findings Despite the University having a clear strategic aims and initiatives on the incorporation of sustainability within curriculum design and property portfolio, there is disconnection between policy development and policy implementation. As a result, the incorporation of sustainability varies largely between curricula within the institution. The incorporation of sustainability within the property portfolio is clear and effective. However, within the curriculum it is polarised. The level of incorporation depends on the nature of the course or unit and is largely driven by the initiatives of the individual academic. Good practice identified in the incorporation of sustainability within the curriculum is to use a problem-based approach supported by real life projects to enhance the students’ authentic learning experience. The good practice for successfully incorporating sustainability into the property portfolio is to have clear vision of what it has planned to achieve and to ensure there is a balance between sustainability and value for money. Originality/value This is pioneering research to investigate the incorporation of sustainability into higher education in a more comprehensive way. This paper considered the impact of strategic planning on the incorporation of sustainability within a higher education, on both curriculum design and property portfolio management

A new methodology incorporating public participation within Cuba's ICZM program

Although public participation (PP) has influenced some integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) programs around the world, researchers have rarely analyzed this component specifically inside an ICZM cycle. Furthermore, the approach for integrating environmental energy planning tools within the ICZM Programs for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) has presented an ongoing challenge for specialists involved in management issues. In Cuba, plans for coastal development are supported by land use planning activities and environmental planning tools. However, the functions and outputs of those tools are “non-obvious”, precluding sufficient integration among them. As these aforementioned actions have not been systematically carried out in the Cuban territory, and the systems of inter-institutional relationships with local communities have presented some insufficiencies, the national marine-terrestrial interphase has suffered some negative environmental impacts impossible to be solved by the national authorities. Designing a new methodology that incorporates PP and environmental energy planning tools in the stages of an ICZM program is the objective of this article. The methodology was named MePuPa and has improved current tools for land use planning and ICZM in Cuba. Previously selected “Local Indicators of Environmental Sustainability”, applied in two geo-systemic units in the southeastern region of Cuba, were used to demonstrate the methodology. The qualitative and qualitative methods in the proposed MePuPa were also applied. Finally, the MePuPa methodology was tested for four of its five stages. Six advantages and five learned lessons were identified during the Preparation to Proposal stages. MePuPa resulted in a useful local management tool for environmental energy planning, ICZM, economic and agricultural activities, strategic ecosystems recovery, as well as improvements to the governance and decision-making processes in one SIDS

Management non-profit organizations: an assessment of performance through the balanced scorecard

The methodology Balanced Scorecard (BSC) focuses on the major critical issues of modern organizations, whether with or without profit. The measurement of the effective performance of the latter is by evaluating the successful implementation of organizational strategy. The main results of the proposed approach refers to evaluation of overall scores for each dimension of the BSC methodology, financial, customer, internal processes, learning and growth. These results are able to help the organization evaluate and revise their strategy and, in general, to adopt management methods more accurately. The findings highlight on balancing and alignment of strategic objectives, low causality map, strategic communication insufficient and fragmented. The performance indicators portray more meritocracy operational procedures of social projects in the context of the Strategic Map determined in a short-term over the long term. However, there is evidence of improved performance management and strategic taken as a basis of planning as both the strategic map structured. Therefore, the nonprofits need to adopt a form of management that enables planning, setting objectives and targets that provide the continuity of its activities, and generating instruments that can measure the financial performance and non-financial, in order to develop strategic actions for growth and sustainability

Perencanaan Strategis Sistem Informasi pada Pusat Penanganan Insiden Keamanan Informasi Sektor Pemerintah

Information security incident is a form of attack on the security of information that can occur in all sectors. The government sector is one of the targets of information security incidents. Central Government Information Security Incident Handling was established with the aim to address all forms of attacks on information security in government sector. The sustainability Central of Government Information Security Incident Handling (GovCSIRT) needs to be supported with information system infrastructure that's sophisticated and sufficiently. This research aims to create an information system strategic planning at the Center for Government Information Security Incident Handling. Implementation of Information Systems in an organization must adapt to the vision, mission, goals and needs of the organization. Therefore, the Information Systems Strategic Planning at the Government Information Security Management Center must be performed using appropriate methodologies. There are a wide variety of methodologies in information systems Strategic Planning. This study used a Cassidy methodology which is developed by Annita Cassidy. These results are used as input in the development of infrastructure or basic Information Systems Security Management Center Information Government to realize the use of ICT in a safe and convenient administration. The results of this research is used as input or recommendation in the development of the Government Information Security Incident Response Center to actualize the use of ICT in government that is safe and comfortable

do strategic plans and self-report align?

Funding information: Authors also would like to thanks all the HIE that answered the questionnaire. Author contributions : Conceptualization, M.D., S.C., C.S.F, A.M., M.R., C.R., J.S.; literature review, S.C., J.S.; methodology, M.D., S.C., C.S.F, A.M., M.R., C.R., J.S.; validation and data analysis, M.D., C.S.F, M.R., C.R.; writing – original draft preparation, M.D., S.C., C.S.F, M.R., C.R., J.S.; writing – review and editing, M.D., S.C., C.S.F, A.M, M.R., C.R., J.S. Conflicts of interest : The authors declare no conflict of interest. Publisher Copyright: © 2023, Marina Duarte, Sandra Sofia Caeiro, Carla Sofia Farinha, Ana Moreira, Margarida Santos-Reis, Constança Rigueiro and João Simão.Purpose: This study aims to explore the alignment between strategic plans of the Portuguese public higher education institutions (HEIs) and their perception of the integration of sustainability in education and curricula. Design/methodology/approach: The strategic plans from 15 institutions were selected for content analysis; data about the integration of sustainability in education and curricula, from these HEI, were collected with an online questionnaire (self-report survey). Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed. Findings: Strategic plans of the Portuguese public HEIs seem to not be sufficiently aligned with self-assessment integration of sustainability in education and curricula. Research limitations/implications: The classifications used in the content analysis were constructed and revised by the authors to reduce coder interpretation issues and subsequent bias in the results. However, some subjectivity could remain. The analysis of strategic plans and self-report surveys answered by top management, or a technician, does not assess the practices and sustainability implementation in education and curricula. Practical implications: This study allows the self-report of already-implemented practices to be compared to the planned strategy of HEI governance in Portugal as stated in their strategic plans. Originality/value: An analysis and respective insights on the lack of connection between strategic planning and self-report practices about sustainability implementation, using Portugal as a case study.publishersversionpublishe

e‐Maintenance Framework for Strategic Asset Management in Tertiary Institutions

Tertiary institutions require buildings such as its senate building, classrooms, laboratories, administrative rooms, hostels and other offices in order to function. Providing and maintaining these buildings require a lot of planning and capital investment. The study examined the prospects of using e‐ Maintenance platform for strategic asset management in tertiary institutions. This study noted that adequate maintenance of the building infrastructural base of tertiary institutions is crucial for sustainability in the face of dwindling funds in the education sector. In order to automate the e‐ Maintenance process for strategic maintenance of the institution’s building maintenance, a use case diagram, system block diagram, sequence diagram and activity diagram were designed and presented in this study. Three (3) main users are essential in the sequence of operation of the e‐Maintenance platform. These users represent the building occupants, the facility manager and the management personnel; for effective oversite and performance monitoring. The methodology of this research includes using the combination of HTML, CSS and the C‐Sharp programming language for the interface design and server side scripting while MySQL was the database platform used for storing and retrieving the data used for the application. In conclusion, the study developed an e‐Maintenance framework for strategic asset management in tertiary institutions. Keywords Asset management Automation Construction industr

Farm SMEs sustainability assessment based on Bellagio Principles. The case of Messinian Region, Greece

Purpose: Sufficient support of the sustainability of farm products embedded in a region (such as Products of Designated Origin / PDOs) to overcome significant obstacles to access domestic and remote markets. Main research question is how to overcome such inherent difficulties and transform them into challenges and opportunities to the new market environment. Design/methodology /approach: Combination of simplicity with the complicated issue of sustainability for awareness of small farmers SMEs and their collective representatives. Improve the understanding of the Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM), to facilitate sustainability through use of the ‘Bellagio Principles’ for assessing sustainability of local farm products and facilitating further enhancement. Use of certain PDOs farm products of the Messinian region of Greece, such as local Sfela Feta cheese, olive oil, olives and raisins, to assess sustainability and improvement. Formation of a conceptual constructive action R&D framework of broader use in building-up and performing implementation of holistic supply chain strategy. Expected Findings: Providing better understanding of the SSCM. Insights on how SMEs co-operatives can collectively apply holistic strategies concerning local farm PDOs to fulfil competitiveness and sustainability requirements, under variant product and market conditions. Originality / Value : Improving the know-how, focusing on the sustainability of regional, traditional products and its effects upon supply chain performance and market access. Practical implications for regional-based farm SMEs in the design of holistic value creation strategies to produce sustainable competitive advantage. Interactive cause and effect dynamic implications of sustainable development on social, economic and physical environment

Sustainability appraisal and public examination of a regional spatial strategy

UK spatial planning guidance now recognises the importance of engaging stakeholders in appraisal processes at an early stage in the plan-making process. Regional Planning Authorities are required to consult proactively with a wide range of stakeholders on both the development of planning policy and the sustainability appraisal of that policy. However, there is no clear indication as to how they might go about this process, other than to confront the various stakeholders with a Sustainability Appraisal Report. Participation in Sustainability Appraisal therefore still relies on reaction to a technical appraisal of an existing plan – and in this situation stakeholders might lack the incentive to participate. More thoughtful ways need to be devised to involve people in the sustainability debate – so that spatial policy more accurately reflects their knowledge and aspirations. The focus of this paper is to investigate ways in which Sustainability Appraisal of spatial plans can be made more accessible and transparent within the context of wider governance mechanisms. Of particular interest is the Public Examination of a Regional Spatial Strategy. The following research questions attempt to address the gaps in knowledge: 1. How can the quality and extent of engagement of stakeholders be improved, so that policy approaches delivered via Sustainability Appraisal more effectively reflect their ambitions, whilst continuing to meet the objectives for sustainability ? 2. How can the sustainability issues that might form the basis of discussions in a proactive engagement of interests be identified, and how can these issues be framed within a contextual setting that is meaningful to a range of stakeholders ? 3. What mediatory techniques can be identified to accommodate the various frames of reference that arise in potentially conflict situations