Sustainable decision-making : a case study

Sammanfattning: Decision making processes are at the core of an organization’s capacity to achieve defined sustainability goals. Decision making processes on the other hand, are highly dependent on individuals‟ actions and biases. Therefore, to achieve defined goals, there must be alignment between organization’s sustainability visions and individual´s actions. On the basis of this insight and assumption, this thesis explores factors that influence the way people act within a decision making process. To gain deep and contextual knowledge, this issue is explored in a case study setting. In this case study setting, the aim of the thesis is to identify the most important elements which have had an effect on individuals´ ability to act accordingly to sustainability goals and principles. The case study concerns a decision to renew a high risk water distribution main, in a water utility company, South East Water (SEW), operating in Melbourne, Australia. The Chapel Street decision-making process is significant from the point of view that it is characterized by uncertainty, high risks and limited regarding what constitutes a sustainable solution. The main challenges and difficulties in this case study are not linked to any individual or group. Instead, it is the collective ability to deal with uncertainty, risks and ambiguity, when aligning action with sustainability visions and principles that influences the organization’s capacity to achieve sustainability. Challenges are linked to the organizational culture; developed over time in interaction between members of the organization, and thus creating a collective approach of dealing with the characteristics of Chapel Street case.