An investigation into the categorisation of organisations to understand the potential barriers and motivations to certification of an environmental management system: BS EN ISO14001:2004

摘要

An investigation has been undertaken to ascertain the extent of the existingknowledge base regarding publically voluntary instruments capable ofsupporting organisations in developing improvements in environmentalmanagement. The multifaceted nature of the organisations seeking certificationmean a generic approach to implementation is unlikely to deliver the desiredafter results or a resource efficient approach. Furthermore, the diversity ofopinions recorded in the literature is often based on anecdotal evidence andsmall scale research projects. There is a lack of verifiable knowledge andunderstanding of the difficulties and barriers experienced by organisationsattempting to secure certification for existing voluntary instruments forenvironmental management such as ISO 14001.The aim of the Research:ISO 14001 is the fastest growing of the ISO Standards related to EnvironmentalManagement Systems; however existing research has been small scale andanecdotal. This research aims to confirm or dispute the present discussions andassumptions surrounding the motivations and barriers to certification to ISO14001. Through deductive reasoning this research will provide a comprehensiveinvestigation into the barriers and motivations experienced in itsimplementation. It is proposed that more comprehensive opportunities fororganisational categorisation may also be defined.The focus of the research has been to consider: The potential for integration of these voluntary instruments. The effects of the detailed requirements of the standard ISO 14001 on itscertification and implementation processes. The perceived and actual barriers to implementation The opportunities to categorise participating organisations accordingly.An analysis of instruments available to support organisations in improving theirenvironmental management has been undertaken. A complex and diverse arrayof instruments have been reviewed beyond the most regularly discussed ISO 14001. Considerable overlaps were identified in the requirements of the variousinstruments, suggesting opportunities for integration and resource efficiencies inimplementation which have not previously been investigated.A detailed review of the certification processes of over 850 organisationscertified to ISO 14001 was undertaken. This highlighted patterns in the barriersto implementation that have not previously been observed and which, in somecases, contradict existing literature.It has been shown that existing categorisation of originations was often only onthe basis of whether an organisation was an SME or NON SME. However, itwas proposed that this method lacked discrimination, with SME encompassing99.8% of private sector businesses in the UK. This research has elicitedsignificant motivations and barriers to EMS implementation and used these toprovide an objective basis to categorise organisations.The outcome of this research has been: A novel assessment of integration opportunities for 13 instruments. An objective review of the certification and implementation processes forISO 14001. The development of taxonomies that encompasses multiple criteria thatexhibit significant variability that could provide a method of classificationfor organisations.