Next step
April 2, 2008 by Gabor Harangozo and | Filed under: What Should Be Measured and Why? [1,3]
Dear All,
Thanks for your comments on my initiative post. You already covered partly my first concern, regarding “what to measure?”, i.e. what do we regard as environmental performance, as some aspects were indirectly already formulated as follows:
- Level of emissions, pollution (Mason)
- Legal compliance (Mason)
- Environmental initiatives (Lauren)
- “Greenness” of supply chain (Lauren)
Information on all these aspects are important to get a complete view on the environmental performance of a corporation (there might be some more…) In many cases these aspects support each other, but not necessarily at all. Just consider a company going beyond regulation (as it is too loose, or missing regarding a special pollutant), we cannot say it would perform well, if pollution records are high. Or as another example, taking a company with high environmental load (pollution), partly because of industry characteristics, we cannot state, that its performance is for sure bad, if it launches at the same time lots of initiatives to control emissions and tries to cooperate also along the supply chain in this respect.
What you both address (whether 10 or 20 tons of emissions is good – Mason, or what metrics we should use – Lauren) is already focusing on a next step (how to measure? – and whether it is possible to establish a standardized metrics for that purpose) but this is relevant when we already agreed on what to measure? (and why?)
What I would recommend is to complete this list with some more aspects (if you find relevant ones). A good starting point can be to scan the suggested indicator systems of some environmental performance measurement systems. This will provide hint also on how to measure? But indirectly, we can also see what fields they recommend to measure. These systems can be for instance:
- Indicators ISO 14031 standard (the whole standard might not be available on the internet, but the indicator system should be in many places),
- Indicators of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) – http://www.globalreporting.org , (it is a guideline on sustainability reporting, but the suggested environmental indicators might suggest us what to measure!)
- Methodology of Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes – http://www.sustainability-index.com - Measuring eco-efficiency – for example http://www.wbcsd.org
- etc.
So what we might do now is a sort of literature review based on these sources. These also can provide information on our second and third concerns (why to measure and examples for commercial benefits of good env. perf.).
For further quality readings (also to Lauren’s question) I can recommend databases like ABI/Inform Global or EBSCO if these are subscribed by RIT, but almost all management or business databases should contain relevant material.
If you have any questions or comments pls feel free to put them
Gábor
Ps: on Lauren’s question regarding final product on the workshop I can copy Professor Morelli’s information on the role of this discussion now.
- “Based on their findings, the students will have to identify and describe goals for the workshops to be held at the Symposium and post their findings on the EnvironmentalManager.org website.
- Then other students in the class will review the posting and participate in discussions to further flesh out and develop the topic.
- The deliverable will be due Monday, April 28th and will include workshop goals (note: these may be long term goals), objectives, and strategies for the workshop.
- The assigned grad students will participate in the workshops and keep notes on the discussion.”
Frankly saying I do not have exact information on the format of our “product” but I will forward this question to Professor Morelli.
Thanks Gábor. Hi Lauren and Mason.
Let me add some thoughts. Each workshop session will be 1-1/2 hours long,and probably should begin with the moderator introducing the topic and the objectives for the workshop. The intended outcome of the workshop could be viewed in two ways: 1. What, if anything, can we determine in this period of time; and 2. What is a longer term goal that we want to contribute to by this effort. Accomplishments in this second category may continue as discussion items after the symposium at RIT and may be continued at the symposium in Budapest in June.
For example, using the examples from the discussion above, a short term objective might be to identify and provide a rationale for a meaningful list of measurement parameters that makes sense in our current situation. A longer term objective might be to explore whether there are better questions that could be asked that would drive us toward a more sustainable future.
For example: A company may replace its fleet of vehicles with new vehicles that get more miles per gallon of gasoline/petrol. This decision may improve its ranking as a green company. But, the company is still using non-renewable resources, so how should this be factored into the measurement?
Another example having to do with social responsibility: A company adjusts its compensation management plan to ensure that women are paid the same wages as men. This might improve its ranking as a socially responsible company. But suppose that the salaries are at the poverty level — how will this be considered in the equation?
Remember that in every workshop, our ultimate goal is to formulate positions, philosophies, approaches, etc. that reflect a concensus understanding of environmental managers. But in the process of acheiving this goal, it is essential that we cultivate deeper, reflective thought that will consider the future as well as the present.
Haha! I am thinking that my help does not make your job any easier. But I will be pleased to continue the discussion with you.