| This dissertation investigated how to improve organizations' environmental risk management. Three combined approaches were used to do this. First, a thorough literature review was conducted. Second, mental models—“simplified representation[s] of the world that allow one to interpret observations, generate novel inferences, and solve problems” (Kempton, Boster, & Hartley, 1995, pg. 11)—of general managers' and environmental managers' views of environmental risks and their management were developed. Climate change and loss of biological diversity were used as examples of environmental risk. Third, the mental models that a group of “experts” in sustainable development and environmental management hold regarding how to manage environmental risks were determined. These mental models were developed from interviews and the qualitative research approaches associated with grounded theory.; Insight from the environmental and general manager mental models was then used to develop a theoretical framework for explaining and predicting how environmental risks and their management are viewed. Within the framework, nine factors were found to be important in influencing how managers see environmental risks. Four factors were determined to be important in appraising the threat of environmental risk: (1) salience, (2) emotional connection with nature, (3) knowledge of the topic, and (4) perceived resilience of nature. Additionally, four factors were determined to be important for determining how appealing various response strategies to environmental risk are seen to be: (1) avoidability, (2) perceived costs and benefits, (3) fairness and equity, and (4) response effectiveness. The time horizon for decision making was seen as being important in both portions of the mental model.; Ideas and insight from the experts' mental model, coupled with knowledge acquired from the literature was then used to illustrate a series of 20 options for improving environmental risk management. These options were presented to show how they might most influence each factor within the theoretical framework. |
