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CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
The problem identified requiring research is that many solid waste reduction projects fail (Holmes, 1984; Yap, 1999) or do not progress beyond the planning boards of governments, businesses or non-governmental organisations. This is prevalent in developing countries and the question that arises is; what is the single most important factor that will augment (initiate) these projects and at the same time guarantee success. In other words, this research endeavours to find a solution to the incapacity of countries, including developing countries, of being able to solve their mounting solid waste problems and move towards sustainable development.
It is the objective of this research to identify the motivational factors of social capital including management processes, leadership and people management that would augment solid waste reduction management (SWRM) projects that are deteriorating or lethargic at starting, to achieve sustainability, with special reference to developing countries.
The goal of this work is to apply the results of the research objective in the creation of a model or road map that can be used by managers and leaders, especially in developing countries, to augment sustainable development of solid waste reduction projects. Models are developed in chapter 7 to create the road map.
Hypotheses, conceptualisation, definitions and key variables
The methodology adopted for this research is illustrated by figure 3 which is a diagrammatical presentation of the research process being followed. This will be used to finally arrive at the model or road map that could be used by management to implement successful solid waste reduction management projects. The aim of the research is contained in the top part of figure 3. The lower sections of the same diagram identify the research routes required to attain the goal. The research is guided by defining specific research problems, raising questions and then formulating and testing hypotheses.
The method of approach is very similar to Checkland (1981: 163) which outlines a proposed model for dealing with real world problems utilising a seven-stage process. These stages are as follows:
Stage 1:Defining the problem situation,
Stage 2: Expressing the problem situation,
Stage 3: Root definitions of the relevant systems,
Stage 4:Creating conceptual models which consist of formal systems concepts and other systems thinking,
Stage 5: Comparison of stages 4 with 2 (conceptual models with the expressed problem),
Stage 6:Defining feasible and desirable changes,
Stage 7:The action required to improve the problem situation.
Stage 5 above is generally not included in hard system methodology. It is indicated that this is not a cookery book recipe, and that systems thinkers often work at various stages in an iterative process. People are involved in the real world activities, which are stages 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7. Stages 3 and 4 are systems thinking activities, which require individual studies and expression. This research on SWRM follows similar steps to find answers to the identified problem.
Thompson & Strickland (1999) proposes a mechanistic strategic planning model using the systems approach. Their model follows a structured plan of setting the goals of the subject followed by scanning of the environment, both internally and externally, which results in the critical strategic factors to be addressed. This strategic planning model is generally used by business management when doing their strategic planning. Parts of this model are also used to construct the approach to this research. The goals are set and environmental scanning is done by means of the literature searches as per chapters 2, 3 and 4. Evaluating the environmental scanning results takes place during the constructs K and L research parts of the process as per figure 3. The critical strategic factors requiring attention are reflected in the final model constructed, chapter 6, to act as a guideline for future SWRM planning.
The initial steps of this research are to define the research problem, objective and goal as indicated by figure 1 followed by the research methodology as outlined by figures 2 and 3. Thereafter, with reference to the bottom part of figure 3, literature surveys are done and analysed as per chapters 2, 3 and 4 and used to identify the environmental management issues requiring opinion ratings. These issues are the factors that would augment a SWRM programme as well as highlighting the most important aspect in question. The approaches for evaluating the identified augmenting factors are two-fold and divided into construct-K and construct-L. Construct-K on the bottom left of figure 3 indicates the independent variables or imperatives of environmental friendliness, economical feasibility and social acceptability being evaluated, whilst on the bottom right, construct-L provides an insight into the process followed to obtain opinions and ranking of 14 identified management issues as per chapters 2, 3 and 4. The collection of data is done by means descriptive surveys using questionnaires sent to all the participants and then analysed using statistical techniques. Quantitative research methodologies are used for researching the objectives by evaluating the beliefs and practices of industry managers and environmental specialists in South Africa. This is empirical research using normative surveys. The knowledge obtained from the research done through the two constructs, K and L, is then utilised to create construct-M, which is the Strategy-benchmarking-model for augmenting SWRM projects.
Sustainable development lies at the heart of ecosystem management and being topical, in an environmental sense, is constantly under review. The world is under threat of environmental degradation (chapter 2) and idealists promote sustainable ways of reducing solid waste generated. For example burning waste rids the community of the waste but in the process pollutes the environment and creates other long term problems. Burning is therefore not a sustainable option. This runs hand-in-hand with the Triple Bottom Line, presently being adopted by some businesses as a principle for responsible sustainable management and reporting. Belief systems, which include values, experiences and attitudes play a major role in the activities of man and require measurement to gauge present insight. The research instrument in the format of a structured questionnaire is sent out to obtain the opinions of managers and experts in the field of SWRM. Identified variables which include idealism, realism and failure of SWRM projects are also evaluated in terms of 3rd and 1st world practices using hypotheses. The three imperatives relating to social, environmental and economic factors are treated (assumed) as independent variables as dependency relations would complicate this research extensively. A total of 14 management and leadership processes are identified and used under construct-L to rank them in terms of priority augmenting SWRM projects. Constructs K and L, figure 3, form the basis of construct-M in designing the Strategy-benchmarking-model.
The design of this research centres on an empirical study and ultimately requires analytic philosophy exploring possible answers to the problem raised. The importance or otherwise of management and leadership factors towards sustainable SWRM development need to be identified. Hypotheses are tested using statistical techniques to support the theories on the aspects of management processes that would augment (progress) sustainable ecosystem management at an accelerated pace compared to past efforts in environmental management.
Successful sustainable development for a country (Blignaut & de Wit, 2004) is a realistic and practical focus on the choice between economic efficiency, social development and environmental sustainability in the context of political leadership and approach to policy instruments and implementation. The lack of proper economic supportive infrastructure and markets (Johnson, 2000) within developing countries remain the major stumbling blocks in the path of sustainable waste management. There are however, indications (Yap, 1999) that certain projects are succeeding within poor nations. There might be other socio-economic factors, which require identification, to assist and clarify the augmenting factor(s) that would spark off a sustainable waste management programme within, especially, 3rd world countries.
The Triple bottom line (Klee, 2002) guides companies towards sustainable development and refers to the implementation of successful economic, social and environmental imperatives within the company. The three imperatives all need to be in place for a company or operation to comply with the Triple Bottom Line concept. This is the ideal being striven towards. By implication this also applies to any organisation, be it private or governmental, endeavouring to install sustainable SWRM projects. The problem of distinguishing between realism and idealism arises in the quest to find a solution to the incapacity of countries, to be able to solve their mounting solid waste problems and move towards sustainable development. Causality is in this instance important. Dealing with and understanding the reality of the forces at play might lead to better formulation of ideal processes contributing to sustainable development.
The overall methodology or approach of this research is to review the literature available surrounding sustainable solid waste reduction management (SSWRM) in an effort to identify augmenting (motivational) factors that would progress the SWRM process. This research also requires literature searches to identify the reasons for SWRM projects that are launched and fail or do not progress beyond the planning stage. This research reviews the broad spectrum of literature identified that can bear light on the motivational factors towards SSWRM. The literature review starts with chapter 2 and deals with the environmental issues surrounding SWM and assists in building an understanding of SWRM. Tools used to analyse management processes surrounding this subject are also referenced. Chapter 3 is an evaluation of the ethics and social issues relating to SWM. It deals with the motivation within belief systems and leadership of individuals and corporate managers towards SWRM. A focus is placed on the belief systems of man in an endeavour to identify certain traits that would motivate managers and leaders towards sustainable SWRM. The findings are that few positive aspects are indicated by previous research work. Issues such as education and starting with the young are some of the positive issues available. Chapter 4 is a review of the literature on the economics surrounding the subject of SWRM and includes socio-economics as the two disciplines that cannot in general be segregated. The various main socio-economic factors that are deemed important during the design or implementation of SWRM projects are also identified. The literature explored as per chapters 2, 3 and 4 does not assist in identifying a single major contributor that would augment (instigate) the process of sustainable SWRM. Therefore, other opinions are to be obtained before combining the important references at the end of this research. Propositions are formulated for empirical testing as hypotheses in support of defining these important management processes. An analytical philosophical, empirical approach is used to research the SWRM issues relating to the problem statement herein and is a conceptual analyses, which tests the concepts using hypotheses. Support or otherwise for these theories has to be found by means of field data collection using a questionnaire as research instrument. The results of this should then provide the directives for creating the final model (construct-M) as a proposal to answer the objectives of this research. These models will incorporate the literature reviews done in chapters 2, 3 and 4 through constructs K and L.
Much of this research also requires a philosophical approach in addition to the pure statistical analyses. The reason for this is the magnitude of independency between the three imperatives referred to within sustainability or Triple Bottom Line concepts. It is outside the scope of this research to evaluate the linkages between the three imperatives. Creating a proposition requires a philosophical approach in addressing the three imperatives in a single logical argument. The branches of philosophy (Britannica Student Encyclopedia, 2004) that apply are epistemology, ethics and logic. Epistemology deals with the logic or theory of knowledge. Knowledge consists of two parts which are what one sees, hears, touches, tastes and smells, and the organisation of these perceptions in the mind to form ideas and concepts. The understanding of the relationship of the mind (knowledge) to the rest of reality is the essence. The beliefs and actions of people towards SWRM as dealt within chapter 3, bears testimony to this approach. This research aims to distinguish reality from the idealistic. The concept of sustainability is based on idealism as that is what environmentalists strive towards. The underlying essence of this research engages the search for the augmenting elements that would form practical and realistic motivating factors for man towards the idealistic goal of sustainability. In other words, is it not possible to identify the augmenting elements that would move reality closer to idealism?
QUOTATIONS
ABSTRACT
KEYWORDS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LIST OF TABLES
LIST OF FIGURES
1. CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1. Idea development and motivation for the study
1.2. The research topic derived from preliminary reading
1.3. The research problem, question or hypotheses
1.4. Research design and methodology
1.5. Outline of remainder of thesis
2. CHAPTER 2: ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF WASTE
2.1. Universal waste management perspectives
2.2. Waste management analysis systems
CHAPTER 3: SOCIAL CAPITAL AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
3.1. Social capital
3.2. Belief systems: beliefs, attitudes and values
3.3. Waste management and leadership
4. CHAPTER 4: ECONOMICS AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
4.1. Fundamental environmental economic processes
4.2. Business and the waste management environment
4.3. Environmental resource economics
4.4. Consumer buying behaviour
4.5. Social concern and business economics
4.6. Legislation, standards and waste economics
4.7. Environmental levies and taxes
4.8. Developing countries and the economics surrounding waste
4.9. Summary of socio-economics within waste management
5. CHAPTER 5: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
5.1. Hypotheses, conceptualisation, definitions and key variables
5.2. Measuring instrument
5.3. Sample design and sampling methods
5.4. Data collection methods and field work practice
5.5. Data capturing and data editing
5.6. Data analysis and model construction
5.7. Assumptions and limitations of chosen procedure
6. CHAPTER 6: RESULTS; PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSIONS
6.1. Profile of unit of sample’s demographics
6.2. Validity of survey instrument
6.3. Reliability of the survey instrument
6.4. Presentation of results
6.5. Discussion of statistical results by hypothesis and theme
7. CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
7.1. Summary and interpretation of results in terms of literature and theory
7.2. Gaps, anomalies and deviations in the data
7.3. Larger significance of results
7.4. Policy and other recommendations
REFERENCES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
GET THE COMPLETE PROJECT
SOLID WASTE REDUCTION MANAGEMENT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
