Environment, Innovation, and Business Strategies - Presentation Transcript
Environment, Innovation, and Business Strategies Ian Miles http:///les1.man.ac.uk/cric/Ian_Miles
The Bramble Bush 1
There was a man in our town, and he was wonderous wise; he jumped into a bramble bush, and pricked out both his eyes!
Male Urbanised Scientific “wisdom” Rash action Raw nature Blinded
The Bramble Bush 2
And when he saw what he had done, with all his might and main he jumped right in the bramble bush and scratched them on again!
Late and contradictory realisarion? Much effort required Resolve the problem by using the same tools
Why Clean Technology ?
Pressure on Resources (ecosystems more than exhaustion)
Pollution and Waste - health and QOL
Styles of Production
Styles of Consumption
Hard to change LEVELS of production, consumption
Scope for changing METHODS of production, consumption
New technologies in products and processes
Clean and Cleaner: Technology for Sustainability
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
CLEAN-UP / END OF PIPE
CLEANER / PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
Clean and Cleaner:
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
CLEAN-UP / END OF PIPE
CLEANER / Proc. Imp.
INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
Optimise existing process; adjust machines, rmaintain them; regulate use of materials
;
change use of raw materials, consumables
adjust process to reduce input requirements and/or discharges; recycle wastes
remove pollutants from discharge; clean and filter, washing systems; remove dust and grease
Environmental Concerns
Very long historry of concerns about air and water quality - laws in UK 500 years ago; during industrialisation, “traditional pressure groups” with interests in nature conservation, wilderness, parks, access to country, etc
;
Environmental Concerns
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
Pesticides, agrochemicals - SILENT SRING - pollution as widespread but local ecological hazard
UN Rio Conf 92 -> “Sustainable development”. Style of growth; biodiversity, habitats...
Institutionalisation (EPA, DoE 1970) - UNCED Stockholm 1972); LIMITS TO GROWTH 1972; new pressure groups; but economic crises, oil shock, neoconservativism
Population explosion - GROWTH as problem GLOBAL problems, associated with (numerous) specific practices, pollutants GROWTH as problematic; splitting of green concerns New problems recognised - BSE and other health threats; pseudoestrogens, etc - and much controversy
Environmental Concerns
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s 2000s...
;
Env concerns are VERY diverse, experienced differentially, evolving
Patterns of emphasis and possible solutions are changing
Misleading to suggest that concern is merely product of affluence
Environment as Externality, as Commodity
POLLUTION OF:
air
land
water
organisms
POLLUTION BY:
gases
liquids
particulates
chemicals
heat
radiation
noise
DEPLETION OF:
raw materials
arable land
energy resources
biological resources
nature/wilderness
Environment NOT regarded as value in itself CONSEQUENCES: local and global problems impacting biosphere, ecosystems, human welfare, economies
Some key concepts for analysis of clean(er) technology are TECHNOLOGICAL :
INNOVATIONS
TRAJECTORIES
REGIMES
REVOLUTIONS
Innovation Research Innovation studies are Not greatly connected yet with new environmental economics; nor into related policy discourse e.g. on eco-taxes
Tech-Fix? Panacea?
Only part of solution?
Tech development not so easy to shape - “technology paradigms”
UNEVEN INFLUENCE from SPECIFIC actors:
stocks of acquired knowledge drawn upon (inc. meta-knowledge)
inbuilt occupational structures, professional qualifications
company accounting, reporting practices
contexts of technology use: physical arrangements, supply chains, regulations, infrastructures
…
Substantial change is liable to involve shift on many of these dimensions; considerable time to consolidate. Most innovations incremental within established paradigms.
Technological revolutions can induce paradigm shift. Can greening?
Drivers for Clean(er) Technological Choices
PRESSURES:
regulatory
tax regimes
consumer
community
other stakeholders; management philosophies
Source: based on Alan Irwin & Paul Hooper, 1992, “Clean Technology, Successful Innovation & the greening of industry” Business Strategy and The Environment
COMMERCIAL CALCULATION:
improving production processes
saving materials
saving energy
reducing costs for waste disposal/treatment
new market opportunities (product & process)
Prospects for Clean(er) Technologies
INNOVATIVE SUPPLY:
Technological opportunities
Market and social demand
Appropiability
Source: Rene Kemp et al
INNOVATIVE DIFFUSION:
Price and quality of products
Knowledge & information
Risk and uncertainty
But are incremental changes enough - even lots of them?
Creating a new trajectory?
Will enough practice accumulate to form new routines?
New generic technologies?
Change in Trajectory
Innovations continue to improve in specific performance features: this is a reinforcing feature
In this case, reduced use of resources, less pollution & waste
Less liable to be offset by change in demand and by subsequent innovations
How is change in Technological Regime toward Cleaner Technologies happening - if it is? How can it be further facilitated?
“ Clean” Technology
One-off, discrete changes versus continual change along trajectory
Responses to specific pressures rather than embodiments of new criteria
R&D following established lines and methods rather than being substantially reoriented
Lamp Posts and Keys Technological Development driven by regimes, paradigms - even when solutions to problems sought, these may be developed withi the perspective of such opportunities - thus IT, biotech, etc. ?
Changing Technological Regimes
Change organisational structures of R&D
Change methods and practices of R&D
Change Knowledge Base used in Product and Process Development
Industrial Evolution OSTRICHES CHICKEN LICKENS PALE GREEN HORNETS BRIGHT GREEN HORNETS ROBIN HOODS GREEN GIANTS
Industrial Evolution 1 OSTRICHES CHICKEN LICKENS PALE GREEN HORNETS BRIGHT GREEN HORNETS ROBIN HOODS GREEN GIANTS Hostile to environmental concerns, activists Keen to argue, contest Declines to take action (might be “scientificaly correct”, but at odds with public/regulatory perceptions)
Industrial Evolution 2 OSTRICHES CHICKEN LICKENS Reactive, regulatory response (sometimes, market-driven response) resulting in minor technical changes; environment seen as threatening, compliance dominates
Industrial Evolution 3 OSTRICHES CHICKEN LICKENS PALE GREEN HORNETS Reactive, but environment seen as offering some opportunities, not just as a cost. Compliance dominates, but more foresight involved.
Industrial Evolution 4 OSTRICHES CHICKEN LICKENS PALE GREEN HORNETS BRIGHT GREEN HORNETS More attention to underlying technologies, seeing these as providing competitive opportunities.
Industrial Evolution 5 OSTRICHES CHICKEN LICKENS PALE GREEN HORNETS BRIGHT GREEN HORNETS ROBIN HOODS New technological directions actively sought, seen as providing radical alternatives to existing product lines, possibly completely new businesses.
Industrial Evolution 6 OSTRICHES CHICKEN LICKENS PALE GREEN HORNETS BRIGHT GREEN HORNETS ROBIN HOODS GREEN GIANTS Cleaner technological regimes promoted. Firms products challenge other product systems or industrial sectors, providing similar final functionality but avoiding major processes causing environmental damage (e.g. nonCFC / CFC substitute refrigeration, telecomms instead of business travel).
Where does the impetus come from?
Compliance still dominates.
Litigation important, esp USA.
In few sectors, new customer concerns, markets.
Saving costs - esp. energy.
Technological opportunities - esp. biotech and IT.
Changing Technological Trajectories
Variety of Firm-specific procedures and routines - e.g. ban use of Hg, institute choice algorithms around mass, radiation, etc.
Contested applications of bioscience.
Energy conservation, CHP, and clean energy production systems very generic.
“ Social technology” - env. management?
Environmental Management
Much analysis of policies and views - case studies, surveys
Innovations frequently mentioned… but...
Little attention to R&D in EM guides
Little theorisation of innovation processes
Environmental Management: Programmatic Choices
Structure For Env Policy
Mechanisms to review, monitor env perf.
Incentives, controls to encourage env ach.
Guidelines, tools for env investments
Methods, tools for env decision-making
Guidelines for comm. with stakeholders
source: Sandra Rothenberg, James Maxwell, Alfred Marcus 1992, “Issues in the Implementation of Proactive Environmental Strategies” Business Strategy & the Environment vol 1 pt 4
Environmental Management: Programmatic Choices
Structure For Env Policy
Mechanisms to review, monitor env perf.
Incentives, controls to encourage env ach.
Guidelines, tools for env investments
Methods, tools for env decision-making
Guidelines for comm. with stakeholders
To internalise & meet regulatory and PROACTIVE environment goals. Should allocate env. Responsibility, specify flows of information (int. & ext.), offer guidelines on meeting goals
Environmental Management: Programmatic Choices
Structure For Env Policy
Mechanisms to review, monitor env perf.
Incentives, controls to encourage env ach.
Guidelines, tools for env investments
Methods, tools for env decision-making
Guidelines for comm. with stakeholders
Close monitoring may well be required to avert potentially severe consequences. Main methods are liab;le to be direct reporting of env activity, env auditing
Environmental Audits
Full Management Commitment
Audit Team: Objectivity, Competence
Defined & Systematic Procedures
Documented & Written Reportage
Quality Maintenance of Auditing System
Active Implementation & Follow Up
International Chamber of Commerce/ Environment Protection Agency list of essential elements source: A Zich, 1991, “Keeping Tabs on Risky Business” Tomorrow vol 1 no 2 pp 24-29 Moves toward national & international auditing standards - e.g. BS7750 Courses running, curricula developed Software for decision support re compliance
Traditional accounting methods may even fail to identify short-term financial paybacks, let alone long-term savings and avoided costs; new tools for financial evaluation may be needed
Environmental Management: Programmatic Choices
Structure For Env Policy
Mechanisms to review, monitor env perf.
Incentives, controls to encourage env ach.
Guidelines, tools for env investments
Methods, tools for env decision-making
Guidelines for comm. with stakeholders
Tools to evaluate env impacts of decision making about production and products ( & R&D!); to record company activities & risks. Guidance for employees, decision support for managers confronting uncertainty
Environmental Management: Programmatic Choices
Structure For Env Policy
Mechanisms to review, monitor env perf.
Incentives, controls to encourage env ach.
Guidelines, tools for env investments
Methods, tools for env decision-making
Guidelines for comm. with stakeholders
To internalise & Aimed at gaining external (and internal) support. Methods may include participation in env debates and fora, financial support of env activities in communities, etc
Changing Trajectories
Changing Knowledge Base
Changing Decision Criteria
New Perceptions liable to follow, with environment moving from constraint to opportunity
… and will it be enough?
World population and economic growth: how can everybody have decent living standards?
Can improving QOL be decoupled from increasing material consumption?
0 comments
Post a comment