A General Evolutionary Methodology for Sustainable Development

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dc.contributor.authorHwang, Sang Wonen
dc.contributor.committeechairDyck, Robert G.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRash, J. E.en
dc.contributor.committeememberRandolph, Johnen
dc.contributor.committeememberBudic, Zorica D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberAllen, Katherine R.en
dc.contributor.departmentEnvironmental Design and Planningen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:22:37Zen
dc.date.adate1998-09-04en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:22:37Zen
dc.date.issued1998-05-27en
dc.date.rdate1998-09-04en
dc.date.sdate1998-05-27en
dc.description.abstractIn order to determine the dynamic factors inducing the evolution of environmental management strategies in the context of sustainable development, I draw upon theory from the field of general evolutionary sciences (including chaos theory, complexity science, and nonlinear thermodynamics). I translate this emerging theoretical worldview to a general evolutionary methodology for the analysis of sustainable development strategies. Application of the methodology to selected case studies indicates that sustainable development strategies co-evolve in response to organizational values, technology, and organizational structure inside the firm, and to the environmental management field outside the firm. Competing notions of sustainable development influence the politicization process that limits the types of sustainable development strategies chosen and implemented. The evidence also indicates that new pathways of efficiency are emerging in sustainable development based on market driven strategies, institutional partnerships, and the formation of new industries. The dissertation is based on case study analysis of three sustainable development projects of three different environmental organizations, the International Institute for Energy Conservation, the Environmental Law Institute, and Sanders International. The results have implications for sustainable development theory and practical implications for policy analysts and sustainable development advocates, as well as for a subtler and deeper personal understanding of our place in the world.en
dc.description.degreePh. D.en
dc.identifier.otheretd-8398-14166en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-8398-14166/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/30735en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.hasparthwang.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectGeneral Evolutionary Methodologyen
dc.subjectOrganizational Transformationen
dc.subjectEnvironmental Planningen
dc.subjectComplex Systemsen
dc.subjectSustainable Developmenten
dc.titleA General Evolutionary Methodology for Sustainable Developmenten
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Design and Planningen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.namePh. D.en

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