Corporate Perceptions of Web Based Environmental Communication: An Exploratory Study into Companies in the Australian Minerals Industry

This study seeks the views of environmental and communication managers in three mining companies on the use of the World Wide Web (Web from this point onwards) for environmental communication. Prior literature on web based environmental communication has a primary emphasis on the content of environmental disclosure on websites. It is highlighted in this paper that one must move beyond merely analysing websites for environmental information in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the practice of web based environmental communication. However, very few studies to date have sought the opinions of corporate executives on the web based environmental communication practice of their companies. This study addresses this gap in the literature by obtaining “first hand knowledge” of web based environmental communication in Australia’s minerals industry thorough its interviews

Corporate Environmental Reporting on the WWW by Australian Corporations: an application of stakeholder-accountability framework

This paper documents a research study on World Wide Web (WWW) environmental reporting in Australia. The research focuses on the concept of accountability to all stakeholders and suggests how the WWW could be used to facilitate this. Accordingly, a theoretical framework entitled “stakeholder accountability” is developed and applied in the context of WWW environmental reporting. Embedded within this framework are the notions of provision of an account (transparency and attestation) and being held to account (stakeholder engagement and regulatory intervention). The research then applies the notion of stakeholder-accountability to WWW environmental reporting in Australia. This involves an analysis of the WWW reporting practices of those companies in Australia that prepare a public environmental report. It is found that companies are not using the full potential of the WWW to extend accountability to numerous external stakeholders. Reasons for this status quo are ascertained and future research directions are postulated

The World Wide Web and Environmental Communication: A study into current practices in the Australian Minerals Industry

This thesis explores the factors that influence the extent to which the World Wide Web is utilised by corporations in an environmentally sensitive industry to communicate with their stakeholders in relation to environmental issues. The study initially establishes, in theory, the communication potential of the web and possible factors which can impact on the extent to which this potential is utilised for environmental communication. Subsequently, it examines the use of the web by specific companies in the Australian minerals industry for communicating environmental issues to their stakeholders over time. Explanations for current practices are established through an analysis of the impact of the factors established in theory on web based environmental communication in the Australian minerals industry.¶ ..

The World Wide Web and its potential for corporate environmental communication : a study into present practices in the Australian minerals industry

This study considers the use of the web for corporate environmental communication, which involves engagement with stakeholders in addiction to environmental disclosure. It is highlighted that the web provides numerous benefits for communication of environmental information. These benefits have been conceptualised througth Media Richness Theory and operationalised through a study into de web based environmental communication practice of companies in an environmentally sensitive industry, the Australian Minerals Industry. The findings of this research indicate that currently, the potencial of the web not extensively utilised by companies for environmental communication.Este estudio considera el uso de una página web para la comunicación ambiental corporativa, lo que supone el compromiso con los inversores, además de una divulgación ambiental. Se ha destacado que la web aporta numerosos beneficios para este tipo de comunicación. Estos beneficios se han conceptualizados a través de la teoría de la riqueza de los medios, y se han aplicado mediante un estudio sobre la web, basado en la práctica de la comunicación ambiental de las compañías en una industria sensible ambientalmente: la industria minera australiana. Los hallazgos de esta investigación indican que actualmente, el potencial de la web no se utiliza extensivamente por empresas para comunicación ambiental

Ex-ante and Ex-post Ecommerce Evaluation: current status and directions for future research

After the recent “dotcom meltdown”, many organisations now appear to be re-evaluating their e-Commerce ventures. Similarly, some firms are exhibiting healthy business operations. E-Commerce evaluation remains an important but difficult issue. The application of these evaluation methods may assist in correcting system behaviour and improving future performance. These methods receive considerable attention in the literature, and debate surrounding their efficacy continues. This paper argues that, despite the apparent differences between conventional information systems and newer e-Commerce systems, e-Commerce evaluation should fall within the context of more traditional IS evaluation. However, this evaluation may be best conducted before and after system adoption. The paper discusses perspectives for undertaking such evaluation, and proposes valuable avenues for further research in the area

Appraising offsets as a tool for integrated environmental planning and management

© 2018 Elsevier Ltd The steady growth in major development projects suggests that firms will increasingly need to respond to more stringent environmental determinations and project approvals. Accordingly, this article positions offsets as a mechanism for integrated environmental planning and management in response to development impacts. The study uses a stakeholder analysis methodology to identify and explicate the environmental planning and management practices that can be delivered by offsets, while demonstrating how firms and governments may use offsets as a tool to plan and manage environmental conservation and protection. However, despite our positive expectations, the research found that the current framework of offsets rules, regulations and supporting infrastructure requires changes if effective planning and management of the environment is to be facilitated through the offsets mechanism

Regulatory pluralism: positing priority actions in waste and recycling management

© 2020 Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand Inc. The annual management of 67 million tonnes of waste and recycling streams poses significant environmental pollution and regulatory challenges to Australian governments. While the Australian government has carriage of waste and recycling policy and coordination, operational aspects rest with state-territory and local governments. This research examined stakeholder perspectives and, while lacking in individual and community client data inputs, exposed regulatory limitations, waste and recycling problems and issues, and forward trajectories for waste policies and programs. Regulatory pluralism theory served as the study’s lens, showing that the rapid rise in waste production and reduced waste transfers to China will require a composite of improved waste regulations, landfill and waste handling management practices; additional recycling behaviour modification incentives; and domestic and international waste and recyclate markets development. In addition, the analysis highlighted the important leadership role for the federal tier of waste governance in product stewardship reform, and the advancement of waste and recycling infrastructure development under new national cabinet and federal reform arrangements. Importantly, from the theory perspective, the research built into the cumulative tradition of pluralistic regulatory systems development

Appraising offsets as a tool for integrated environmental planning and management

The steady growth in major development projects suggests that firms will increasingly need to respond to more stringent environmental determinations and project approvals. Accordingly, this article positions offsets as a mechanism for integrated environmental planning and management in response to development impacts. The study uses a stakeholder analysis methodology to identify and explicate the environmental planning and management practices that can be delivered by offsets, while demonstrating how firms and governments may use offsets as a tool to plan and manage environmental conservation and protection. However, despite our positive expectations, the research found that the current framework of offsets rules, regulations and supporting infrastructure requires changes if effective planning and management of the environment is to be facilitated through the offsets mechanism

The Management, Reporting and Assurance of the Sustainable Development Goals in Local Government - An Australian Case Study

peer reviewe

Influences on Sustainability Reporting Practices in Selected South Australian Local Councils: An Explanatory Case study

Purpose: - This research aims to understand the factors driving sustainability reporting practices in selected South Australian local councils and to investigate what these councils are reporting as sustainability issues, in the absence of any mandatory reporting guidelines. Research Design: - The study is orientated towards a qualitative research approach aligning with the case study method and uses new institutional theory as the theoretical framework. The research focuses on four selected South Australian local councils (i.e. metropolitan, metropolitan fringe, regional and rural council) and uses interviews and content analysis of 2010-11 annual reports to explore the sustainability reporting practice in these councils. Findings:- The South Australian state strategic plan is the most influencing factor (quasi-coercive isomorphism) that drives most councils to adopt sustainability reporting practices. In addition, evidence of normative isomorphism and mimetic isomorphism factors are also identified in the study. The study showed presently there is no separate or standalone sustainability reports published by any council but elements of sustainability issues are reported in the annual report and in all cases these disclosures are comparable with the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Sector Supplement for Public Agencies (SSPA) guidelines