SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT CRITERIA FOR PROJECTS AND TECHNOLOGIES: JUDGEMENTS OF INDUSTRY MANAGERS

• Main Authors: C. Labuschagne, A.C. Brent
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Stellenbosch University 2012-01-01
• Series: South African Journal of Industrial Engineering
• Online Access: http://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/130
• ISSN: 1012-277X; 2224-7890

<p>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Industries are increasingly under pressure to incorporate the objectives of sustainable development into company policies and decision-making processes. This study introduces a framework of sustainability assessment criteria that are relevant to projects and developments in industry. The study attempts to establish whether the professional exposure and experience of decision-makers at different management levels influence the individual’s perceptions of the relative importance of the three main dimensions of the framework. The study finds that exposure and experience do not influence the weighting values. The study further highlights the importance of distinguishing between internal decision-making within industry and external decision-making where assessments are used for public reporting. That is, the context within which the three dimensions are weighted greatly determines individual and societal perceptions.</p><p>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ’n Volhoubaarheid Koste-Rekeningkunde prosedure (VKR) word voorgestel waarvolgens die impakte van ’n ontwikkelde tegnologie op volhoubaarheid in ’n gemeenskaplike finansiële waarde aangegee kan word. ’n Gevallestudie word hier gebruik om die VKR-prosedure te demonstreer. Die gevallestudie beskryf die konstruksie en bedryf van ’n hipotetiese Gas-tot-Vloeistof brandstofvervaardigingsfasiliteit (GTV) in ‘n spesifieke area van Suid-Afrika. Die VKR-indikators dui aan dat die negatiewe omgewingsimpakte van die GTV tegnologie tot ‘n geringe mate groter is as die interne ekonomiese voordele vir die maatskappy. Die tegnologie het wel oorwegende positiewe sosiale voordele wat besluitnemers in ag moet neem wanneer die globale volhoubaarheid van die tegnologie ge-assesseer word. Sekere beperkinge van die VKR-prosedure word uitgelig en voorstelle word gemaak om dié tipe metodologie verder te ontwikkel.</p>