Comparative Analysis of Sustainable Practices …
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• the actual level of events which take place independent of our experiences
• the real level of tendencies and mechanisms which have not been exercised and
are therefore beyond our knowledge (Sayer 2000; Benton and Craib 2001).
Of interest to this paper is morphogenesis theory (Archer 1995, 2003); which is
an analytical theory which draws from critical realism philosophy. Critical realism
regards society as consisting of two theoretically distinct elements of structure and
agency, that is, social institutions and the creative individual (agent) (Archer 2003).
Social structures are the rules and resources which are both the medium and the
outcome of social action (duality) while agency is the capability of doing things
(Giddens cited in Weik 2006). Archer (1995) argues that reality is stratified into levels
which cannot be reduced to one another. Structure and agency can be analytically
distinguished as separate strata of reality, as the bearers of quite different properties
and powers (Archer 2003). This makes it necessary to study social strata separately so
as to be able to examine how the properties and powers that people possess causally
interlink with those of parts (Archer 1995). Explanation must attend to both structure
and agency as any explanation that excludes one of these may be inadequate (Archer
et al. 1999). Based on the structure and agency theory, the influence of structure
versus that of agency in implementation of sustainability initiatives was established.
Interviews were used to generate qualitative the data. Gillham (2000) outlined
how interviews are one of the qualitative data collection methods that are primarily
employed in case studies. They are also an appropriate technique which aligns well
with critical realist research. The interviewees (and respondents) were personnel
from the Facilities Management Department at the respective universities who were
purposively selected based on the offices they occupy as managers in the department. They were deemed knowledgeable of the kind of information the research was
seeking.
The staff interviewed at the University of Pretoria were from various departments
and faculties. Staff interviewed were from the Facilities Management Department
which includes an Environmental and Waste Manager, Landscape and Water Manager, and the Energy Manager as they are well versed with the different sustainability
practices being implemented in their areas. Faculty members, research students in
the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering were
also interviewed to provide insight on research based initiatives at the University of
Pretoria.
At the University of Venda, staff members interviewed include members of the
Infrastructure Monitoring Unit, the Electrical Engineer and Waste Manager. An outside contractor was also interviewed with respect to the University of Venda as outside
firms conducted feasibility studies for some initiatives such as green building design
and grey water reclamation. The interviews also extended to management in the university in order to properly understand their influence on sustainability within the
universities.
Table 1 shows the list of people interviewed at the two Universities.
Data was also collected through review of environmental management documents
including reports and plans from each of the two universities. The purpose was to
591
• the actual level of events which take place independent of our experiences
• the real level of tendencies and mechanisms which have not been exercised and
are therefore beyond our knowledge (Sayer 2000; Benton and Craib 2001).
Of interest to this paper is morphogenesis theory (Archer 1995, 2003); which is
an analytical theory which draws from critical realism philosophy. Critical realism
regards society as consisting of two theoretically distinct elements of structure and
agency, that is, social institutions and the creative individual (agent) (Archer 2003).
Social structures are the rules and resources which are both the medium and the
outcome of social action (duality) while agency is the capability of doing things
(Giddens cited in Weik 2006). Archer (1995) argues that reality is stratified into levels
which cannot be reduced to one another. Structure and agency can be analytically
distinguished as separate strata of reality, as the bearers of quite different properties
and powers (Archer 2003). This makes it necessary to study social strata separately so
as to be able to examine how the properties and powers that people possess causally
interlink with those of parts (Archer 1995). Explanation must attend to both structure
and agency as any explanation that excludes one of these may be inadequate (Archer
et al. 1999). Based on the structure and agency theory, the influence of structure
versus that of agency in implementation of sustainability initiatives was established.
Interviews were used to generate qualitative the data. Gillham (2000) outlined
how interviews are one of the qualitative data collection methods that are primarily
employed in case studies. They are also an appropriate technique which aligns well
with critical realist research. The interviewees (and respondents) were personnel
from the Facilities Management Department at the respective universities who were
purposively selected based on the offices they occupy as managers in the department. They were deemed knowledgeable of the kind of information the research was
seeking.
The staff interviewed at the University of Pretoria were from various departments
and faculties. Staff interviewed were from the Facilities Management Department
which includes an Environmental and Waste Manager, Landscape and Water Manager, and the Energy Manager as they are well versed with the different sustainability
practices being implemented in their areas. Faculty members, research students in
the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering were
also interviewed to provide insight on research based initiatives at the University of
Pretoria.
At the University of Venda, staff members interviewed include members of the
Infrastructure Monitoring Unit, the Electrical Engineer and Waste Manager. An outside contractor was also interviewed with respect to the University of Venda as outside
firms conducted feasibility studies for some initiatives such as green building design
and grey water reclamation. The interviews also extended to management in the university in order to properly understand their influence on sustainability within the
universities.
Table 1 shows the list of people interviewed at the two Universities.
Data was also collected through review of environmental management documents
including reports and plans from each of the two universities. The purpose was to