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Demetriadi, Marilena (2005) Gaining Business Advantage From Climate Change. [Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)] (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Over the last decade there has been much debate over the impact of climate change. The water industry in England and Wales could be significantly impacted, radically altering the availability of its natural resources and testing the resilience of the present infrastructure. This is likely to result in the provision of water and wastewater services to customers in the future becoming ever more challenging. It is likely that this will require a shift in business strategy to react or take advantage of the effects of climate change. Some form of intervention is necessary but climate change could also provide new offerings catapulting the organisation into diverse profitable ventures.

However, whatever options are selected, organisations must be capable of swiftly adapting their routines and behaviours to remain competitive. Most companies like Anglian Water Services (AWS) have started from the position of complying with regulations. What is not understood is the organisations future strategic intent and overall adaptive capacity in coping with this change.

To investigate these issues the following research questions have been used:

- What should AWS strategic actions be in relation to climate change?

- How successful are AWS at implementing change?

The study explores AWS strategic actions in relation to climate change by forming a focus group of key professionals within the organisation. In addition, AWS adaptive capacity is evaluated via the use of a semi-structured survey to elicit whether the key success factors for change were exhibited for a recent change event.

A technologically-commercial approach was revealed as AWS proposed strategic response but considered conventional in form, remaining largely co-operative and compliant but wishing to be more proactive. Whereas the survey illustrated significant inflexibility within the organisation to adapt, highlighting specific difficulties translating

change and institutionalising learning. A number of organisational improvements are proposed which would enable AWS to survive the change, and also a set of measures it could consider if it wished to truly lead the industry. Underpinning this is the development of core competencies in change management and organisational learning.

Item Type:	Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)
Keywords:	climate change strategy
Depositing User:	EP, Services
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2006
Last Modified:	25 Dec 2017 23:54
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/20119

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