American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, UAE.
Environ Manage. 2019 Apr;63(4):495-506. doi: 10.1007/s00267-017-0958-5. Epub 2017 Nov 13.
Worldwide, ISO 14001 certification for organizations has become the norm, but the Arab world accounts for an insignificant portion of all the certified organizations. There is a dearth of research on environmental management systems (EMS) in Arab and emerging countries and in public organizations. The objectives of this research are to: (1) examine the key drivers and challenges related to implementation of ISO 14001 certified EMS in the United Arab Emirates, an emerging Arab country and (2) compare and contrast these drivers and challenges between private and public organizations. We adopt an explorative, qualitative methodology, using semi-structured interviews with environmental managers in 11 organizations (6 private and 5 public) from different industrial sectors. Drivers of EMS certification were mostly similar between private and public organizations, with some differences. Compliance with regulations and standards, and increasing environmental performance were the main drivers for ISO 14001 certification in both private and public organizations. Commitment to sustainability was more important for public organizations. Cost reduction, competitors, leadership commitment and customers' demands were shared drivers, but more stressed by private organizations. Local community and employees' pressures were reported by private organizations only. The challenges to ISO 14001 implementation were similar for private and public organizations. They were: a lack of qualified human resources, practical challenges associated with implementation, a lack of regulations, a lack of support from management, and high costs. Our findings have implications for managers, academics, consultants, and policy makers in the UAE and other emerging markets.
在全球范围内，组织获得 ISO 14001 认证已成为常态，但阿拉伯世界在所有获得认证的组织中所占比例微不足道。关于阿拉伯和新兴国家以及公共组织的环境管理体系 (EMS) 的研究很少。本研究的目的是：(1) 检查与在阿拉伯联合酋长国（一个新兴的阿拉伯国家）实施经 ISO 14001 认证的 EMS 相关的主要驱动因素和挑战；(2) 比较和对比私营和公共组织之间的这些驱动因素和挑战。我们采用探索性的定性方法，对来自不同工业部门的 11 家组织（6 家私营组织和 5 家公共组织）的环境经理进行了半结构化访谈。私营和公共组织的 EMS 认证驱动因素大多相似，但也存在一些差异。遵守法规和标准以及提高环境绩效是私营和公共组织 ISO 14001 认证的主要驱动因素。对可持续性的承诺对公共组织更为重要。降低成本、竞争对手、领导层承诺和客户需求是私营组织更为强调的共同驱动因素，但也是公共组织的共同驱动因素。私营组织报告了当地社区和员工的压力。私营和公共组织在实施 ISO 14001 方面面临的挑战相似。它们包括：缺乏合格的人力资源、与实施相关的实际挑战、缺乏法规、缺乏管理层的支持以及成本高。我们的研究结果对阿联酋和其他新兴市场的经理、学者、顾问和政策制定者具有启示意义。
