INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - A REVIEW

Abstract

The Organizations of the 21st century had evidenced that Management Systems and Standards have become a key aspect for their sustainable development and a prerequisite for their existence. In this recent decade, the Systems for Quality (ISO 9001:2008), Environment (ISO 14001:2004), Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS 18001:2007), Corporate Social Responsibility (SA 8000:2008 and ISO 26000:2010) and Risk Management (ISO 31000:2009) form the core pillars of the Organization, supplementing the Financial Accounting. High global competition, intense pressure and increasing demand from different stakeholders lead the organization to adopt different Management Systems and Standards (MSS). However, to derive the maximum benefits from implementation and subsequent maintenance of these Systems, it is only a viable and rational attempt that the existing MSS be integrated into a Single Management System. Integrated Management System (IMS) for Quality, Environment, Safety, risk and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the call of the hour as it can result in considerable benefits including simplified procedures, cost saving and reduction in use of valuable organizational resources. Identification of the key factors affecting IMS, the drivers/motives for IMS implementation and the benefits of integration is a focus of interest for researchers, practitioners, industry and regulatory agencies; paradoxically the literature on IMS is scarce. This paper explores the contents of the literature and reviews on IMS for a better understanding of the content, context and the process of IMS, discusses about the key strategies in IMS design and implementation and briefs on the critical success factors in IMS implementation. This paper also focuses on the organizational drivers/motives for adopting IMS and also the difficulties and challenges in integration.