organisational context
Strategies for Sustainability Management
(ENVR E-105)
Organization and its Context
(Week 2)
Sustainability and the Organization
It should be clear that it is possible to succinctly define sustainability from the perspective of an organization. There are also widely available definitions available and a typology for characterizing organizations (Pojasek, 2013). Organizations usually operate within a defined structure and have a socialization process that is determined in large part by the governance of that organization. Understanding an organization depends on knowing how and where individuals participate (Seiler & Beall, 2010). Organizations play a significant role in our lives.
They involve most everything we do. Most of us belong to several organizations starting with the family. As presented last week, we are looking at organizations at the community level.
A better working definition of an organization was provided by Edgar H. Schein, a behavioral scientist who specialized in the study of organizations;
“An organization is the rational coordination of the activities of a number of people for the achievement of some common explicit purpose or goal, through division of labor and function, and through a hierarchy of authority and responsibility.” (Schein, 1965)
Sustainability cannot be applied in the same manner by every organization. Since we have defined the practice of sustainability as having three responsibilities, it is important to view each organization in the context within which it operated. Responsibilities must address the various operational risks posed by these contexts. Recently, recognition of the organization and its contexts by the International Organization for Standardization has led to a requirement that all of the international management systems be revised to help address this need (Pojasek, 2013).
Understanding Context
An organization’s context involves its “operating environment.” The context must be
(ENVR E-105)
Organization and its Context
(Week 2)
Sustainability and the Organization
It should be clear that it is possible to succinctly define sustainability from the perspective of an organization. There are also widely available definitions available and a typology for characterizing organizations (Pojasek, 2013). Organizations usually operate within a defined structure and have a socialization process that is determined in large part by the governance of that organization. Understanding an organization depends on knowing how and where individuals participate (Seiler & Beall, 2010). Organizations play a significant role in our lives.
They involve most everything we do. Most of us belong to several organizations starting with the family. As presented last week, we are looking at organizations at the community level.
A better working definition of an organization was provided by Edgar H. Schein, a behavioral scientist who specialized in the study of organizations;
“An organization is the rational coordination of the activities of a number of people for the achievement of some common explicit purpose or goal, through division of labor and function, and through a hierarchy of authority and responsibility.” (Schein, 1965)
Sustainability cannot be applied in the same manner by every organization. Since we have defined the practice of sustainability as having three responsibilities, it is important to view each organization in the context within which it operated. Responsibilities must address the various operational risks posed by these contexts. Recently, recognition of the organization and its contexts by the International Organization for Standardization has led to a requirement that all of the international management systems be revised to help address this need (Pojasek, 2013).
Understanding Context
An organization’s context involves its “operating environment.” The context must be
References: British Standards (2011). Guidance for Community Sustainable Development. London: British Standards Institute. Cockpit Arts (n.d.). PEST Analysis Template. Retrieved on February 8, 2013 from http://cockpitarts.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/pest-analysis-template.pdf Global Reporting Initiative (2011). Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Version G3.2. Learn Marketing.Net (n.d.). Retrieved on February 8, 2013 from http://www.learnmarketing.net/microenvironment.htm NIST (2013). Criteria for Performance Excellence 2013-2014. Gaithersburg, MD: US Department of Commerce and Government Printing Office. Pojasek, Robert (2013). Organizations and their Contexts: Where Risk Management .quickmba.com/strategy/pest Quick MBA (n.d.). PEST Analysis. Retrieved on February 8, 2013 from http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/pest Roseland, Mark (2012). Toward Sustainable Communities. 4th Edition. Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada: New Society Publishers. Schein, E.H. (1965). Organizational Psychology. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. Seiler, W.J. & Beall, M.L. (2010). Communication: Making Connections. “Connecting in the Organizational Context” - Chapter 18Old Tappan, New Jersey: Pearson Longman Publishers.