Implementing an environmental management system

The September, 1996 introduction of ISO 14000 standards for Environmental Management Systems marked a major shift in the global communities' approach to environmental protection. After years of focusing upon compliance with government regulations as a measure of an organization's environmental achievement, the ISO 14000 Standards provide a framework for effectively managing the transfer of environmental responsibility from the environmental engineering function to all employees within the organization. The end result is an organization within which environmental awareness becomes an integral part of the corporate culture.; Part A of this report outlines the development of the ISO 14000 standards with a focus upon ISO 14001 "Environmental Management Systems-Specifications with Guidance for Use". The ISO 14001 standard specifies the elements of an environmental management system that organizations are required to conform to if they seek certification. A detailed discussion of the requirements of ISO 14001 and the process involved in implementing each of the required elements is presented.; In Part B, the organizational implications of establishing a Management by Objectives (MBO) program are discussed. MBO theory is discussed and a MBO program failure analysis based upon existing research is presented.