Translation Process and Organizational Change: ISO 14001 Implementation

Investigating the role of environmental management systems standards and management systems software in enhancing organizational learning

“…According to wording in the standard, the development of the EMS and the improvement in environmental performance is intended to lead to improved protection of the environment and the prevention of pollution (ISO 14001:2004). The standard attempts to achieve its goals by focusing on management commitment, continuous improvement, the training of staff, establishing preventive and corrective actions (Liyin, Hong, & Griffith, 2006;Montabon et al, 2000;Reverdy, 2007) and a host of other elements. The standard is said to enable the organization to integrate environmental issues with the daily activities of the organization (Reverdy, 2007).…”

“…Furthermore, an environmental management system is said to bring to bear a few of the attributes found in a learning organization such as "making people (managers and non-management) accountable and responsible for their actions; providing support to the development of knowledge, capabilities and skills including through training; and stressing the need for commitment to the performance objectives by everyone" (Petts et al, 1998, p. 717). The implementation of the standard also helps facilitate the creation and distribution of knowledge as well as facilitate the coordination between the environmental department and other departments within the organization (Reverdy, 2007). The position that the ISO 14001 environmental management systems standard can serve as a learning mechanism for organizations is also supported by the description for an organizational learning mechanism (OLM) as "institutionalized structural and procedural arrangements that allow organizations to systematically collect, analyze, store, disseminate, and use information that is relevant to the effectiveness of the organization" (Lipshitz, Popper, & Oz, 1996, p. 293).…”

Antecedents of Environmental Management: The Influence of Organizational Design and Its Mediating Role Between Quality Management and Environmental Management

“…Thus, specialization helps increase expertise and knowledge that may lead to solve environmental problems. In this regard, addressing an environmental problem may engage several employees from different departments who are specialized in different tasks, because environmental problems are usually solved through the involvement of many workers, and not only the environmental manager Reverdy, 2006). Therefore, environmental management not only needs job specialization, but also organizational link mechanisms, like cross-functional work groups.…”

“…Another relevant organizational design variable is formalization, that is, the degree to which rules, procedures, instructions, and communication are formalized or written down (Khandwalla, 1977). According to Reverdy (2006), to reduce pollution and resource use, an organization should share knowledge and coordination throughout the firm. Formalization may promote this coordination and a flow of knowledge about environmental practices.…”

“…Together with formal coordination mechanisms (for example, cross-functional teams and formalization), informal interactions can also play an important role in environmental management (Reverdy, 2006). Informal interactions are based on oral transfer of information.…”