Purpose-The ISO 14001 is already a global meta-standard for implementing Environmental Management Systems. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the influence of the sources of motivation that lead companies to adopt this global standard for its perceived benefits. Design/methodology/approach-An extensive review of the academic literature published on ISO 14001, motivations, and benefits has been carried out in order to establish the working hypotheses that are analyzed based on the information obtained from 214 Spanish companies that participated in a survey. Findings-The internal drivers to implement and certify the ISO 14001 standard have a degree of influence on the benefits that is significantly higher than external ones, irrespective of the size of the company and the sector of activity. Practical implications-The findings help to characterize ISO 14001 certified firms and anticipate benefits of the implementation and certification of the standard. Originality/value-The article sheds light on the relationship among the motivational factors and the benefits of the process of implementing and certifying ISO 14001 in the country in the world that has experienced the greatest intensity of certification. A typology of integration level from Boiral and Boiral and Roy is empirically analyzed for ISO 14001 for the first time in the literature.

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Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to analyse which are the motivations for implementing two of the most important models for Quality Management practice popularized in recent years-ISO 9000 and EFQM models. Design/methodology/approach-This paper provides a qualitative survey carried out using the Delphi methodology, triangulated with the results of other surveys carried out previously, as well as with the information gathered by means of several in-depth interviews carried out with the experts that participated in the Delphi-panel. Findings-The paper finds strong consensus among experts of different backgrounds that external factors cause companies to implement the ISO 9000 standard. On the other hand, reasons for implementing TQM systems seem to be more varied. Research limitations/implications-The research in this paper is limited to Spain; studies in other countries should be conducted to compare the results obtained. Practical implications-In this paper there is a greater understanding of the motivation to implement ISO 9000 and EFQM based on the opinion of managers, consultants, academic specialists and members of institutions. Originality/value-The paper finds a new methodology for examining the motivation to implement ISO 9000 and EFQM.

Purpose -This paper aims to analyse and show the influence on European companies' performance of the two most important models for quality management (QM) practice popularised in recent years: the ISO 9000 and the European Foundation for Quality Management models. Design/methodology/approach -The methodology is a qualitative survey carried out in Spain using the Delphi method, based on previous research work. The results of this research were analysed and triangulated with the results of other surveys carried out previously, as well as with information gathered during several in-depth interviews of the experts that participated in the Delphi panel.Findings -In the opinion of the panel of experts, the implementation of QM models in the studied region has had a positive influence on company results, mainly through the improvement of operations, efficiency and the costs of companies' internal activities. Originality/value -This is one of the first papers that show us the different impact of this kind of QM model in Europe.

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Developing understanding of the economic value that communities ascribe to improved operations and maintenance (O&M) services has emerged as a key factor in achieving financial sustainability for rural water systems. The present study elicits household willingness to pay (WTP) for improved O&M services in eight gravity-fed water schemes in Idjwi Island (Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC). A contingent valuation survey was implemented through an open-ended format questionnaire to 1105 heads of household and a log-linear regression model was employed to assess the factors influencing higher values. Findings show an average willingness to pay of 327 Congolese Francs (CDF) per month and 36 CDF per bucket. Results also indicate a significant WTP differential among studied schemes. The analysis of the conditioning factors reveals that the level of excludability, the participation in management meetings and the time employed in fetching water from an improved source are contingent with their WTP. The findings of this study are important for development agents trying to establish acceptable, affordable and practicable tariffs that help finance reliable rural water systems in Idjwi.