Title: Understanding environment management systems performance: an expanded empirical study

Authors: Santosh Kumar Mahapatra, Steven A. Melnyk, Roger J. Calantone

Addresses: 311 Bertrand H. Snell Hall, School of Business, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY 13676, USA. ' Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824–1122, USA. ' Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, The Eli Broad Graduate School of Management, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824–1122, USA

Abstract: Successful implementation of Environment Management System (EMS) poses a dilemma for many managers and researchers. On one hand, there have been notable successes in the implementation of EMS systems. Yet, in spite of these successes, many firms have been unable to realise similar benefits. To address this dilemma, past studies have identified several factors contributing to the success of EMS implementation. This study builds upon these studies by presenting an expanded and integrated view of the factors that affect EMS success. Using data provided by large study into EMS implementation, the study shows that successful EMS implementation is influenced by the interaction of various factors such as scale of operation, uncertainty in the business environment, past experience of Quality Management efforts and the status of a formal EMS. The investigation improves our understanding of successful implementation of EMS and its relation with various contextual factors.

Keywords: environment management systems; EMS; quality management systems; QMS; business context; performance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2007.012450

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2007 Vol.2 No.3, pp.263 - 286

Published online: 14 Feb 2007 *

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