Environmental management systems: costs, benefits and an activity theory approach to understanding their knowledge-generating capabilities

White, Gareth; Lomax, M

Abstract

This paper outlines the approach taken by a UK, non-profit, rural small-to-medium sized enterprise (SME), to develop an environmental management system (EMS). A discussion of the problems encountered and solutions employed is presented along with the tangible and intangible benefits.
The paper also reviews the salient knowledge management literature and outlines the approach taken to understand the knowledge generating capabilities of the process of developing an EMS. It finds that organisational relationships are the most prominent inhibitors to knowledge generating activities yet rely upon social events that lie beyond the locus of control of the organisation.

Citation

White, G., & Lomax, M. (2010). Environmental management systems: costs, benefits and an activity theory approach to understanding their knowledge-generating capabilities

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 14, 2010
• Deposit Date: Nov 24, 2010
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 17, 2016
• Journal: The Environmentalist
• Print ISSN: 1472-7625
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 100
• Pages: 12-16
• Keywords: environmental management system, knowledge, activity theory
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/978119
• Publisher URL: http://www.iema.net/emedia/envonline?mag=environmentalist&issue=issue100&aid=2943&mfunc=article