Sustainability in complex environments: making sense of the Katrina lawsuits
| Published date | 29 July 2014 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-07-2014-0014 |
| Date | 29 July 2014 |
| Pages | 162-169 |
| Author | Catalin Ratiu,Beverlee B. Anderson |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Sustainability in complex
environments: making sense
of the Katrina lawsuits
Catalin Ratiu
Department of Management, California State University San Marcos,
San Marcos, California, USA, and
Beverlee B. Anderson
Department of Marketing, California State University San Marcos,
San Marcos, California, USA
Abstract
Purpose – The meaning of sustainability continues to be debated by scholars and professionals alike.
But how do individuals, who are expected to contribute to implementing sustainability actions,
perceive this important concept? The purpose of this pap er is to explore how individuals relate to the
multidimensionality of sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a qualitative design to learn how individuals
understand and prioritise the various dimensions of sustainability. Respondents were asked to react in
essay form to a narrative that weaves social, environmental, economic and legal issues and offer
a recommended course of action.
Findings – The findings are mixed, showing that sustainability is yet to mature as a concept in the
minds of the general public. Encouragingly, the paper finds evidence that most respondents are aware
of the primary dimensions of sustainability.
Research limitations/implications – The research is limited by the convenience sample used,
which may offer a skewed distribution.
Practical implications – While defining sustainability conceptually continuesto preoccupy scholars
and policy makers, educating the general public on these advancements should also be prioritised, given the
high reliance on individuals to implement the many sustainability initiatives and innovations in existence.
Originality/value – The study uses an innovative methodology to learn how individuals perceive
a very complex topic.
Keywords Sustainability, Sustainable development, Multidimensionality of sustainability,
Sustainability initiatives, Innovations in existence, Implementing sustainability
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The meanings of sustainability and sustainable development continue to be debated by
scholars and professionals alike. There continues to be increased interest in the topic,
yet we are not any closer to a unifying definition.
In a recent paper, Ratiu and Anderson (2013) survey how academics, governments,
trade professionals and the general public view sustainable development and show
that, while most of these actors set priorities around various salient dimensions, there
is little convergence around how to formulate and implement strategies in this area.
Furthermore, despite decades of interest, they show that the general public is yet to be
fully educated on the triple bottom-line dimensions of sustainability.
We build on prior work in the area of sustainable development dimensions and ask
how do individuals, who are expected to contribute to implementing sustainability
actions, perceive this important concept? Further more, are individuals able to stay
focused on the triple bottom-line when confronted with a complex c hoice that includes
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
WorldJour nal of Science, Technology
and Sustainable Development
Vol. 11 No. 3, 2014
pp. 162-169
rEmeraldGroup PublishingLimited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/W JSTSD-07-2014-0014
162
WJSTSD
11,3
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