Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Sustainability, Green IT and Education Strategies in the Twenty-first Century pp 243–281Cite as

Sustainability in Organizations: Bhutan’s Perspective

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1178 Accesses

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Sustainability and sustainable development are two buzzwords gaining significance globally because of glaring challenges that are threatening the sustainability of the earth in the form of climate change, shortage of energy resources, food security, global warming, etc. Unlike conventional sustainability that considers only the environmental perspective, the modern view of sustainability is three-dimensional comprising of social values, stewardship of the natural environment, and economic benefits. This study examines the factors influencing the behavior of organizations in Bhutan towards sustainability explicated in terms of opportunities and risks in order to understand Bhutan’s perspective on sustainability or sustainable development. A deductive approach and quantitative online survey method were used in this study. One hundred and seventeen eligible respondents from various public organizations in Bhutan responded to the online survey questionnaires. Email was used as the main source of dissemination of the survey. Factor analysis was performed to discover underlying unobserved factors that are impacting on the observed variables. The results indicated that Bhutan places relatively high importance on the protection of the environment and reduction of health hazards, and also believes that sustainable practices in organizations can satisfy stakeholders’ expectations and improve business performance. On the other hand, the study also found that Bhutan apparently feels that integrating sustainability practices in organizations’ business models might increase fraud and environmental responsibility, which could escalate cost and investment, increase the number of regulations. In a nutshell, it can be concluded that Bhutan is aware of sustainability but its perception regarding sustainability is inclined more towards the environmental elements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Adams CA, Muir S, Hoque Z (2014) Measurement of sustainability performance in the public sector. Sustain Acc Manage Policy J 5(1):46–67. doi:10.1108/SAMPJ-04-2012-0018

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ahi P, Searcy C (2015) Assessing sustainability in the supply chain: a triple bottom line approach. Appl Math Model 39(10–11):2882–2896. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apm.2014.10.055

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  3. Amran A, Haniffa R (2011) Evidence in development of sustainability reporting: a case of a developing country. Bus Strat Environ 20(3):141–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Asian Development Bank (2013) Vietnam environment and climate change assessment

    Google Scholar 

  5. National Statistical Bureau Bhutan (2015) Bhutan at a glance

    Google Scholar 

  6. Planning Commission of Bhutan (2007) Bhutan Millennium Development Goals Need Assessment and Costing Report 2006–2015

    Google Scholar 

  7. National Statistical Bureau of Bhutan and World Bank (2014) Bhutan Poverty Assessment 2014

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bhutan, in pursuit of sustainable development (2012) United Nation. http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/articles/2012/09/12/bhutan-s-gross-national-happiness.html. Accessed 29 Nov 2015

  9. National Environment Commission of Bhutan (2012) Bhutan: in pursuit of sustainable development. National Report for the United Nation Conference on Sustainable Development 2012

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bonn I, Fisher J (2011) Sustainability: the missing ingredient in strategy. J Bus Strat 32(1):5–14. doi:10.1108/02756661111100274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Brundtland GH (1987) Report of the world commission on environment and development: our common future. UN, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  12. Chou DC, Chou AY (2012) Awareness of Green IT and its value model. Comput Stand Interfaces 34(5):447–451. doi:10.1016/j.csi.2012.03.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gross National Happiness Commission (2013) Eleventh Five Year Plan Document. Royal Government of Bhutan 1(0)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Fonseca LM (2015) Strategic drivers for implementing sustainability programs in Portuguese organizations-let’s listen to Aristotle: from triple to quadruple bottom line. Sustain J Rec 8(3):136–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Galpin T, Whitttington JL, Bell G (2015) Is your sustainability strategy sustainable? Creating a culture of sustainability. Corp Gov 15(1):1–17. doi:10.1108/CG-01-2013-0004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Gliem JA, Gliem RR (2003) Calculating, interpreting, and reporting Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient for Likert-type scales. In: Midwest Research-to-Practice Conference in Adult, Continuing, and Community Education

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gobble MM (2012) Innovation and sustainability. Res Technol Manag 55(5):64–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Grace D, O’Cass A (2004) Examining service experiences and post-consumption evaluations. J Serv Mark 18(6):450–461. doi:10.1108/08876040410557230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Günerergin M, Penbek Ş, Zaptçıoğlu D (2012) Exploring the problems and advantages of Turkish SMEs for sustainability. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 58:244–251. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.09.998

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Gunter B, Nicholas D, Huntington P, Williams P (2002) Online versus offline research: implications for evaluating digital media. Aslib Proc 54(4):229–239. doi:10.1108/00012530210443339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Hair JFJ, Babin B, Money AH, Samouel P (2003) Essentials of business research methods. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hayward R, Lee J, Keeble J, McNamara R, Hall C, Cruse S, Gupta P, Robinson E (2013) The UN global compact-accenture CEO study on sustainability 2013. UN Global Compact Rep 5(3):1–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Heinberg R (2010) What is sustainability? The Post Carbon Reader11–19

    Google Scholar 

  24. Hoen KM, Tan T, Fransoo JC, van Houtum GJ (2014) Effect of carbon emission regulations on transport mode selection under stochastic demand. Flex Serv Manuf J 26(1–2):170–195. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10696-012-9151-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. James ML (2015) The benefits of sustainability and integrated reporting: an investigation of accounting majors’ perceptions. J Leg Ethical Regul Issues 18(1):1–20

    Google Scholar 

  26. Joseph C (2013) Understanding sustainable development concept in Malaysia. Soc Responsib J 9(3):441–453. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-03-2012-0024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Kandachar P (2014) Chapter 7 – materials and social sustainability. In: Rognoli EKP (ed) Materials experience. Butterworth-Heinemann, Boston, pp 91–103. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-099359-1.00007-2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  28. Kaygusuz K (2012) Energy for sustainable development: a case of developing countries. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 16(2):1116–1126. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.11.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Knife K, Haughton A, Dixon E (2014) Measuring sustainability and effectiveness of social value creation by social sector actors/social enterprises, within developing countries. Acad Entrepreneurship J 20(1):1–22

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kuhlman T, Farrington J (2010) What is sustainability? Sustainability 2(11):3436–3448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Kumar M (2007) Mixed methodology research design in educational technology. Alberta J Educ Res 53(1):34–44

    Google Scholar 

  32. Law KM (2010) Factors affecting sustainability development: high-tech manufacturing firms in Taiwan. Asia Pac Manag Rev 15(4):619–633

    Google Scholar 

  33. Lele SM (1991) Sustainable development: a critical review. World Dev 19(6):607–621

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Lu W, Chen C, Su M, Chen B, Cai Y, Xing T (2013) Urban energy consumption and related carbon emission estimation: a study at the sector scale. Front Earth Sci 7(4):480–486. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11707-013-0363-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Mebratu D (1998) Sustainability and sustainable development: historical and conceptual review. Environ Impact Assess Rev 18(6):493–520

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Mitcham C (1995) The concept of sustainable development: its origins and ambivalence. Technol Soc 17(3):311–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Nastanski M, Baglione SL (2014) Sustainability: benefits of social responsibility to brand value & profit. J Int Manag Stud 9(2):164–173

    Google Scholar 

  38. O’Rourke N, Psych R, Hatcher L (2013) A step-by-step approach to using SAS for factor analysis and structural equation modeling, 2 edn. SAS Institute, Cary

    Google Scholar 

  39. Page RA, Collins KA (2010) The green MBA: a competing values matrix. Competit Rev 20(1):62–71. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10595421011019984

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Petraşcu D, Tieanu A (2014) The role of internal audit in fraud prevention and detection. Procedia Econ Finance 16:489–497. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(14)00829-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Pett MA, Lackey NR, Sullivan JJ (2003) Interpreting factors and generating factor scores. In: Pett MA, Lackey NR, Sullivan JJ (eds) Making sense of factor analysis. SAGE, Thousand Oaks, pp 17–226. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412984898.n7

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  42. Rahut DB, Behera B, Ali A (2016) Household energy choice and consumption intensity: empirical evidence from Bhutan. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 53:993–1009. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.09.019

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Ravi F (2012) Sustainable globalization and implications for strategic corporate and national sustainability. Corp Gov 12(4):579–589. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14720701211267883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Román M (2011) Carbon capture and storage in developing countries: a comparison of Brazil, South Africa and India. Global Environ Change 21(2):391–401. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.01.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Siebert SF, Belsky JM (2015) Managed fuelwood harvesting for energy, income and conservation: an opportunity for Bhutan. Biomass Bioenergy 74:220–223. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.01.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Sneddon C, Howarth RB, Norgaard RB (2006) Sustainable development in a post-Brundtland world. Ecol Econ 57(2):253–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Social Watch (2012) Unsustainability: causes and consequences. http://www.socialwatch.org/node/14008. Accessed 30 May 2016

  48. Solomon JF, Solomon A, Norton SD, Joseph NL (2011) Private climate change reporting: an emerging discourse of risk and opportunity? Acc Audit Account J 24(8):1119–1148. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09513571111184788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Sustainable Development (2015) Helping stakeholders shape new gloab goals for humanity’s future. http://www.sustainabledevelopment2015.org/index.php/intergovernmental-processes/sustainable-development-goals. Accessed 29 Nov 2015

  50. Tan Y, Ochoa JJ, Langston C, Shen L (2015) An empirical study on the relationship between sustainability performance and business competitiveness of international construction contractors. J Clean Prod 93:273–278. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.01.034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Tavakol M, Dennick R (2011) Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. Int J Med Educ 2:53–55. doi:10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Uddin SN, Taplin R, Yu X (2007) Energy, environment and development in Bhutan. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 11(9):2083–2103. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2006.03.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. United Nations Conference on Climate Change (2015) http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/. Accessed 29 Nov 2015

  54. Virakul B (2015) Global challenges, sustainable development, and their implications for organizational performance. Eur Bus Rev 27(4):430–446. doi:10.1108/EBR-02-2014-0018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Walsh PR (2011) Creating a “values” chain for sustainable development in developing nations: where maslow meets porter. Environ Dev Sustain 13(4):789–805. doi:http://dx.doi.org/dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/10.1007/s10668-011-9291-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Yong AG, Pearce S (2013) A beginner’s guide to factor analysis: focusing on exploratory factor analysis. Tutor Quant Methods Psychol 9(2):79–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  57. Zachary Woodruff J, Brenner P, Buccellato APC, Go DB (2014) Environmentally opportunistic computing: a distributed waste heat reutilization approach to energy-efficient buildings and data centers. Energy Build 69:41–50. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.09.036

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Information Systems, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Sonam Delma

Authors
  1. Sonam Delma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonam Delma .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Curtin University, Perth, West Australia, Australia

    Tomayess Issa

  2. Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane St Lucia, Queensland, Australia

    Pedro Isaias

  3. CBS - School of Management, Curtin University, Perth, West Australia, Australia

    Theodora Issa

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Delma, S. (2017). Sustainability in Organizations: Bhutan’s Perspective. In: Issa, T., Isaias, P., Issa, T. (eds) Sustainability, Green IT and Education Strategies in the Twenty-first Century. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57070-9_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57070-9_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-57068-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57070-9

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation