Identifying and Prioritizing the Indicators for the Establishment and Maintenance of Green Management at the University of Gonabad

Okhravi, Amirhosein; Nazari, Amin

doi:10.30473/ee.2024.69587.2684

Identifying and Prioritizing the Indicators for the Establishment and Maintenance of Green Management at the University of Gonabad

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Amirhosein Okhravi ¹
Amin Nazari ²

¹ Associate Professor. Department of Management, University of Gonabad, Gonabad, Iran

² Master student of Industrial Management, Mazandaran University

10.30473/ee.2024.69587.2684

Abstract

In recent decades, the risk of neglecting the environment has become evident, and environmental concerns have emerged as one of the most critical issues of the global community. Higher education institutions, as the heart of knowledge development worldwide, play a significant role in environmental improvement. They need to reduce the consumption of resources, materials, energy, and organizational costs; control and eliminate environmental pollutants; train green-minded human resources; and cultivate an environmental culture. Therefore, this research was carried out with the aim of identifying and prioritizing the indicators for establishing and maintaining Green Management at the University of Gonabad. This study employed the qualitative method of Meta-Synthesis and the quantitative method of fuzzy decision-making techniques. The data collection tool for this research was past documents in this field. In this regard, 50 articles were identified, and after filtering and quality control of the texts, seven articles were selected for coding and analysis, and indicators were extracted from them. To adapt these indicators to the studied university, the opinions and collective agreement of university experts were obtained in the form of a decision-making team composed of university administrators. In this process, 44 indicators were identified across six categories. In the next step, using group-fuzzy AHP and with the participation of experts, the importance of each component and sub-component was determined. The inconsistency rate for all comparison tables was found to be less than 0.1. To determine the best scenarios, the IPA-G-FGAHP technique was applied. After determining the importance of the factors and calculating their deviation from the optimal state, the balanced gap was calculated. Based on the university's ability to implement each of these indicators, the final priorities were established.According to the findings, material and spiritual attention to environmental development was given the highest priority. The next priorities included water absorption and storage, utilizing roof space for rainwater collection, smart building technologies, and surface water management.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Environmental Educationand Development Planning

References

Allahyari, E., Mazari Moghaddam, N. S., & Nasseh, N. (2022). “Green University: The Strategies of Resource Management and Sustainable Development at Birjand University of Medical Sciences”. Green Management and Development, 1(1), 93–116. doi: 10.22077/jgmd.2022.5844.101. [In Persian]

Anwar, N., Mahmood, N. H. N., Yusliza, M. Y., Ramayah, T., Faezah, J. N., & Khalid, W. (2020). “Green Human Resource Management for organisational citizenship behaviour towards the environment and environmental performance on a university campus”. Journal of cleaner production, 256, 120401. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120401.

Avaj, A., Ebrahimpour, H., Mirzaei Daryani, S., Rasouli, E., & Fatourehchi, Z. (2023). “Case study: infrastructure communications company”. Political Sociology of Iran, 5(11), 2955–2968. doi:10.30510/psi.2022.303435.2266. [In Persian]

Ávila, L. V., Leal Filho, W., Brandli, L., Macgregor, C. J., Molthan–Hill, P., Özuyar, P. G., & Moreira, R. M. (2017). “Barriers to innovation and sustainability at universities around the world”. Journal of cleaner production, 164(16), 1268–1278. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.025.

Azizi, M. M., & Khosravani nezhad, S. (2022). “Content analysis and comparative study of urban planning programs in the world and Iran with a sustainable development approach, with emphasis on master's courses”. Motaleate Shahri, 11(41), 3–16. doi: 10.34785/J011.2022.462.

Bukhari, S. A. A., Hashim, F., & Amran, A. (2022). “Pathways towards Green Banking adoption: moderating role of top management commitment”. International Journal of Ethics and Systems, 38(2), 286-415. doi: 10.1108/IJOES-05-2021-0110.

Bukhari, S. S., Said, H., & Mohamad Nor, F. (2020). “Conceptual Understanding of Sustainability Among Academic Administrators of Pakistan Public Universities”. The Qualitative Report, 25(1), 28–59. doi:10.46743/2160-3715/2020.3235.

Dehbozorgi, M., Nikoomaram, H., & Miri Lavasani, S. M. (2023). “Development of a Model to Implement, Operate and Measure Process Safety Culture in Process Industries”. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 25(3), 75–90. doi:10.30495/jest.2023.72326.5818. [In Persian]

Esmaeili, H., Salehi, L., & Monavvarifard, F. (2022). “Green Management at Razi University: What are the Drivers?”. Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 11(1), 21–43. doi:10.30473/ee.2022.60534.2412. [In Persian]

Esmaeili, H., Salehi, L., & Monavvarifard, F. (2023). “Identifying and Selecting Appropriate Strategies for Integrating Green Management into the Structure of Razi University: A Mixed Sequential Exploratory Study”. Quarterly Journal of Research and Planning in Higher Education, 29(3), 73-94. doi:10.61838/irphe.29.3.5. [In Persian]

Esmaili, M., & Hashemi, H. (2023). “The impact of climatic, environmental and weather changes on national security: Case study of the Islamic Republic of Iran”. International Relations Researches, 13(1), 311–339. doi:10.22034/irr.2023.383485.2345. [In Persian]

Feyzi, S., Abedinzadeh, N., & Panahandeh, M. (2023). “Comparing the Scenarios of Current Conditions and the Development Plan for the Waste Management System in Rasht County Using the Life Cycle Approach”. Geography and Environmental Sustainability, 13(3), 89–103. doi:10.22126/ges.2023.9101.2657. [In Persian]

Fissi, S., Romolini, A., Gori, E., & Contri, M. (2020). “The path toward a sustainable green university: The case of the University of Florence”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279,123655.

Haden, S. S. P., Oyler, J. D., & Humphreys, J. H. (2021). “Historical, Practical, and Theoretical Perspectives on Green Management”. Management Decision, 47(7), 1041–1055. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123655.

Heravi, G., Aryanpour, D., & Rostami, M. (2021). “Developing a green university framework using statistical techniques: Case study of the University of Tehran”. Journal of building engineering, 42(1), 102798. doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2021.102798.

Hosseinian, S. M., G. A. Sabouri, A., & Karimipoor, M. (2024). “Analysis of blue and grey water footprints of traditional construction with emphasis on different climatic regions of Iran: a comparative study”. Sharif Journal of Civil Engineering, 39(4), 53-64. doi:10.24200/j30.2023.61517.3177. [In Persian]

Jalalian Larki, R., bavarsad, B., & Alizadeh, S. (2022). “Investigating the relationship between green management and sustainable performance of active companies in the petrochemical industry”. Journal of Development & Evolution Mnagement, 13(47), 95–103. [In Persian]

Khoramaraie, M., Nazarpour, M., & Norouzian–Maleki, S. (2022). “Landscape Design Solutions for achieving the goals of Green University(Case Study: Shahid Beheshti University Campus)”. Environmental Researches, 13(25), 337–360. doi:10.22034/eiap.2022.158595. [In Persian]

Khosravipour, B., Salarvand, Z., & Monavarifard, F. (2017). “Identification of the Factors Influencing Awareness of High School Teachers about Environmental Protection”. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 19(4), 583–591. doi:10.22034/jest.2017.10759. [In Persian]

Kolahi, M. (2020). “Administrative Organizational Structures towards General Environmental Policies”. Quarterly Journal of The Macro and Strategic Policies, 8(31), 510–534. doi:10.30507/jmsp.2020.102564. [In Persian]

Leal Filho, W.,Will, M., Salvia, A., & Adombent, M. (2019). “The role of green and Sustainability Offices in fostering sustainability efforts at higher education institutions”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 232, 1394–2022. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.273.

Leung, T. C. H., Guan, J., & Lau, Y. Y. (2023). “Exploring environmental sustainability and green management practices: evidence from logistics service providers”. Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, 14(3), 461–489. doi:10.1108/SAMPJ-03-2022-0133.

Marques, C., Bachega, S. J., & Tavares, D. M. (2019). “Framework proposal. for the environ mental impact assessment of universities in the context of Green IT”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 241, 118346. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118346.

Marrone, P., Orsini, F., Asdrubali, F., & Guattari, C. (2018). “Environmental performance of universities: Proposal for implementing campus urban morphology as an evaluation parameter in Green Metric”. Sustainable Cities and Society, 42, 226–239. doi:10.1016/j.scs.2018.07.012.

Mazaheritehrani, M., Alvani, M., Vaezi, R., Zahedi, S., & Qorbanizadeh, V. (2023). “The Model Of Green Management for Iranian public organizations”. Iranian journal of management sciences, 17(68), 1–43. [In Persian]

Minaei, N., Pourkiani, M., & Zayandehroody, M. (2022). “Presenting A Model Based on Green Management, Social Corporate Responsibility, and Accountability towards Implementing Policies and Strategic Plans of Iran’s Sustainable Development (Case Studies: Executive Organizations of Tehran, Kerman, and South Khorasan)”. Political Sociology of Iran, 5(7), 1126–1152. doi:10.30510/psi.2022.323714.2939. [In Persian]

Mohammadi Galangash, M., & Ghasemi Zolpirani, R. (2022). “Development of Renewable Energies Based on GreenMetric Index (Comparive study: Guilan and Szeged Hungary Universities)”. Sustainable Development & Geographic Environment, 4(6), 94–109. doi:10.52547/sdge.4.6.94. [In Persian]

MoradiDehkordi, R., & Barrani, B. (2022). “Modeling the structural equations of the effects of green management tools on sustainable behavior in the hotel industry”. Journal of value creating in Business Management, 2(1), 90–113. doi:10.22034/jbme.2022.362476.1037. [In Persian]

Moradi, G., Soleimani, N., & Shafie Zadeh, H. (2021). “Green Management Strategies in Higher Education Institutions based on Environmental General Policies”. Quarterly Journal of The Macro and Strategic Policies, 9(35), 474–495. doi:10.30507/jmsp.2021.270494.2191. [In Persian]

Najjari, R., & Darvish, M. (2022). “Analysis of the Content of Iran's Fourth–Grade Textbooks Based on the Level of Attention to Green Management Components”. Environmental Education and Sustainable Development, 10(4), 147–155. doi:10.30473/ee.2022.64960.2553. [In Persian]

Nazemi, Sh., Kazemi, M., & Okhravi, A. (2012). A conceptual model for recognition of improvement priorities: integrating performance gap and fuzzy group-AHP. Journal of Modeling in Engineering, 9(27), 1-12. doi:10.22075/jme.2017.1598. [In Persian]

Niyaz Azari, K., & Taghvaee Yazdi, M. (2016). “Organizational culture in the third millennium”. Tehran: Publication of Method. [In Persian]

Okhravi, A. (2014). “Realistic Solution for Prioritizing Different Problems: A Synthesis of IPA–G–FGAHP and Grace–Capabilities Matrix”. Journal of Operational Research and Its Applications. 10(4), 85–96. [In Persian]

Peng, Y. S., & Lin, S. S. (2022). “Local Responsiveness Pressure, Subsidiary Resources, Green Management Adoption, and Subsidiaries’ Performance: Evidence from Taiwanese Manufacturers”. Journal of Business Ethics, 79(1), 199–212. doi:10.1007/s10551-007-9382-8.

Phrophayak, J., Techarungruengsakul, R., Khotdee, M., Thuangchon, S., Ngamsert, R., Prasanchum, H., ... & Kangrang, A. (2024). “Enhancing Green University Practices through Effective Waste Management Strategies”. Sustainability, 16(8), 3346. doi:10.3390/su16083346.

Pouramini, Z., & Bashokouh, M. (2024). “Green University component modeling for higher education (Case study: Mohaghegh Ardabili University)”. Journal of Natural Environment, 76(4), 715-729. doi:10.22059/jne.2023.358668.2550.

Puertas, R., & Marti, L. (2019). “Sustainability in universities: DEA–Greenmetric”. Sustainability, 11(14), 3766. doi:10.3390/su11143766.

Rad, S. E., & jabari, A. (2022). “Designing a Framework for Identifying and Categorizing the Components of Green University in Farhangian University”. Educational and Scholastic studies, 11(2), 165–193. [In Persian]

Rayner, J., & Morgan, D. (2018). “An empirical study of ‘green’workplace behaviors: ability, motivation and opportunity”. Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 56(1), 56–78. doi:10.11648/j.ajtab.20241002.11.

Rostami Nezhad, M., Izadi, M., & Obeidi, N. (2016). “Green evaluation, the most logicalbut ignored executive step for making a green university in procedural aspect”. A Paper Presented in the First National Conference of Green University, Persian Gulf UniversityBoushehr, Iran. [In Persian]

Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2006). “Handbook for synthesizing qualitative research”, New York: Springer publishing company, 1-79.

Suwartha, N., & Sari, R. F. (2013). “Evaluating UI GreenMetric as a tool to support green universities development: assessment of the year 2011 ranking”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 61(12), 46–53. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.02.034.

Taghvaee Yazdi, M., & Kelij, M. (2022). “Modeling the promotion of organizational vitality and university environmental performance by implementation of green management in Islamic Azad University in Mazandaran Province”. Journal of Green Management, 1(4), 61-85.

Tavana, Z. (2020). “Designing and explaining the green university model with an emphasis on green human resources management in Shiraz University”. Master's thesis. Department of Management, Payam Noor center of Shiraz. [In Persian]

Yuan, X., Zuo, J., & Huisingh, D. (2013). “Green Universities in China – what matters?”. Journal of Cleaner Product, 61(16), 36–45. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.12.030.

Yue, X., Huo, B., & Ye, Y. (2023). “The impact of coercive pressure and ethical responsibility on cross–functional green management and firm performance”. Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, 38(5), 1015-1028. doi:10.1108/JBIM-09-2021-0446.

Tolabi, Z., Poorashraf, Y., & Zalaghe, H. (2020). “Offer a Model for Upgrade EnvironmentalCitizen Behavior of Staff (Case Study, Public University Ilam)”. Environmental Researches, 11(21), 287-298. [In Persian]

Zsóka, Á., Szerényi, Z. M., Széchy, A., & Kocsis, T. (2013). “Greening due to environmental education? Environmental knowledge, attitudes, consumer behavior and everyday pro environmental activities of Hungarian high school and university students”. Journal of Cleaner Production, 48, 126–138. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.11.030.