Amidst a more involved approach for sustainability governance, civil society stakeholders (CSS) arise as a third player between governments and private firms in tackling the climate challenge. This study analyzes the role CSSs play in influencing managerial decisions within the context of water, wastewater, and sludge treatment facilities. Through a systematic literature review using the PRISMA methodology, 22 journal articles out of an initial 5598 articles were analyzed. The study identifies five emerging themes from these 22 articles that describe the relationship between CSSs and decision-makers. The analysis reveals that while many studies presume the significant influence of CSSs in decision-making processes, this assumption is often not rigorously tested against other influential factors like regulatory or economic pressures. The studies predominantly suggest managerial decisions based on stakeholders’ preferences without extensively evaluating the direct impact of these preferences on the final decisions. The study highlights gaps in current literature regarding the quantification of CSSs' influence and calls for more nuanced, evidence-based approaches to understand the true extent of their impact on managerial decisions in water management sectors. To address this gap, the thesis proposes a hypothetical study that would more concretely assess the influence of these stakeholders. The hypothetical study posits a scenario in a water treatment utility where various decision-making influences are clearly defined and analyzed. This includes not only the input from CSSs like users, farmers, and direct households, but also factors like shareholders’ interests, operational economic constraints, and regulatory or effluent constraints. The decision-maker, in this case, would provide a weighted justification for their choices, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of the decision-making process. The findings emphasize the need for more detailed studies that not only acknowledge the role of CSSs but also critically assess their influence relative to other decision-making factors. This approach would help in developing more effective and inclusive water management strategies that genuinely reflect the preferences and needs of all stakeholders involved.
Questo studio presenta un'analisi del ruolo degli stakeholder della società civile nell'influenzare le decisioni manageriali nel contesto degli impianti di trattamento delle acque, delle acque reflue e dei fanghi. Attraverso una revisione sistematica della letteratura che utilizza la metodologia PRISMA, sono stati analizzati 22 articoli di riviste su un totale iniziale di 5598 articoli. Lo studio identifica cinque temi emergenti da questi 22 articoli che descrivono il rapporto tra gli stakeholder della società civile e i decisori. L'analisi rivela che, sebbene molti studi presuppongano un'influenza significativa degli stakeholder della società civile nei processi decisionali, questa ipotesi spesso non viene rigorosamente testata rispetto ad altri fattori influenti come le pressioni normative o economiche. Gli studi suggeriscono prevalentemente decisioni manageriali basate sulle preferenze degli stakeholder senza valutare in modo approfondito l'impatto diretto di queste preferenze sulle decisioni finali. Lo studio evidenzia le lacune della letteratura attuale per quanto riguarda la quantificazione dell'influenza degli stakeholder della società civile e richiede approcci più sfumati e basati sull'evidenza per comprendere la reale portata del loro impatto sulle decisioni manageriali nei settori della gestione dell'acqua. Per colmare questa lacuna, la tesi propone uno studio ipotetico per valutare più concretamente l'influenza di questi stakeholder. Lo studio ipotetico prevede uno scenario in un'azienda di trattamento delle acque in cui le varie influenze decisionali sono chiaramente definite e analizzate. Ciò include non solo i contributi degli stakeholder della società civile, come gli utenti, gli agricoltori e le famiglie dirette, ma anche fattori come gli interessi degli azionisti, i vincoli economici operativi e i vincoli normativi o relativi agli effluenti. Il decisore, in questo caso, dovrebbe fornire una giustificazione ponderata delle proprie scelte, riconoscendo la natura multiforme del processo decisionale. I risultati sottolineano la necessità di studi più dettagliati che non solo riconoscano il ruolo degli stakeholder della società civile, ma valutino anche criticamente la loro influenza rispetto ad altri fattori decisionali. Questo approccio aiuterebbe a sviluppare strategie di gestione dell'acqua più efficaci e inclusive, che riflettano realmente le preferenze e le esigenze di tutti gli stakeholder coinvolti.
A systematic literature review on the influence civil society stakeholders exert on shaping managerial decisions taken in water, wastewater, and sludge treatment facilities
ABOUTALEB, MAHMOUD HAZEM HAMED
2022/2023
Abstract
Amidst a more involved approach for sustainability governance, civil society stakeholders (CSS) arise as a third player between governments and private firms in tackling the climate challenge. This study analyzes the role CSSs play in influencing managerial decisions within the context of water, wastewater, and sludge treatment facilities. Through a systematic literature review using the PRISMA methodology, 22 journal articles out of an initial 5598 articles were analyzed. The study identifies five emerging themes from these 22 articles that describe the relationship between CSSs and decision-makers. The analysis reveals that while many studies presume the significant influence of CSSs in decision-making processes, this assumption is often not rigorously tested against other influential factors like regulatory or economic pressures. The studies predominantly suggest managerial decisions based on stakeholders’ preferences without extensively evaluating the direct impact of these preferences on the final decisions. The study highlights gaps in current literature regarding the quantification of CSSs' influence and calls for more nuanced, evidence-based approaches to understand the true extent of their impact on managerial decisions in water management sectors. To address this gap, the thesis proposes a hypothetical study that would more concretely assess the influence of these stakeholders. The hypothetical study posits a scenario in a water treatment utility where various decision-making influences are clearly defined and analyzed. This includes not only the input from CSSs like users, farmers, and direct households, but also factors like shareholders’ interests, operational economic constraints, and regulatory or effluent constraints. The decision-maker, in this case, would provide a weighted justification for their choices, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of the decision-making process. The findings emphasize the need for more detailed studies that not only acknowledge the role of CSSs but also critically assess their influence relative to other decision-making factors. This approach would help in developing more effective and inclusive water management strategies that genuinely reflect the preferences and needs of all stakeholders involved.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/215409