Benefits Of Certification Research Articles

How do Wisconsin environmental educators perceive a potential, professional certification for individual environmental educators?

The North American Association for Environmental Education encourages state environmental education associations to develop professional certifications for individual environmental educators. To understand perceptions in Wisconsin, the authors distributed an online survey. Survey questions encompassed participant demographics; certification benefits and challenges; perceived need for certification; leadership of the certification process; and components, costs, and timing of certification and recertification. Results were mixed on the need for a professional certification. However, if developed, respondents suggested certification should focus on professional development opportunities, fit within the educator’s career path at any time, take less than 80 h to complete, and cost $51–100.

THE EFFECT OF CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT TO TEACHER COMPETENCE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON STUDENT LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT

Certification means to improve the quality of teacher competence. Certification allowances still raise questions about low teacher competency and student learning achievement. Based on this, a study was conducted on the effect of certification (x) benefits on teacher competency (y) and their implications for student learning achievement (z). The research aims: 1) Effect of certification benefits on teacher competence. 2) Effect of teacher competence on student learning achievement. 3) Efforts need to be made to improve teacher competency and student learning achievement. Research uses descriptive methods with quantitative approache. The sampling technique used is saturated sampling technique. The sample consisted of 33 teachers. Samples were selected with nonprobability sampling technique. Data collection using questionnaires, interviews, and student test results. Validity test using product moment formula, and reliability testing using the alpha coefficient formula. Data analysis techniques used product moment correlation, path analysis and t test with SPSS version 21. Research results: 1) Teacher certification allowance (x) has a positive effect on teacher competence (y). This is evidenced by the results of the correlation coefficient (r) of 0.586 and the strength of the influence of 0.443. 2) Teacher competency (y) has a positive effect on student learning achievement (z). This is proven by the results of the correlation coefficient (r) is 0.708 and the power of influence is 0.501

Costs and benefits of certification of independent oil palm smallholders in Indonesia

Sustainable certification schemes have surged in recent years. The introduction of these schemes poses serious challenges to smallholders. One such certification scheme is the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which uses certification to increase equitable and sustainable production of palm oil. This study calculates upfront and recurrent costs and monetary benefits of RSPO certification for the Amanah Independent Oil Palm Smallholders Association in Ukui District, Indonesia. Survey and interview data was collected between 2013 and 2015. Results show that upfront costs of certification were 86 euro per hectare. Furthermore, despite generating up to 21% higher revenues from sales, certification created up to an 8% loss of net income per hectare on average per smallholder in the first year after certification, compared to the situation prior to certification. To motivate smallholders for RSPO certification, the economic performance of certified oil palm smallholders should be improved. This can result from further yield increases, a guaranteed premium price or the sales of GreenPalm certificates to provide additional income.

Manfaat Ekonomi Sertifikasi Organik pada Usaha Tani Mete di Desa Dukuh, Kecamatan Kubu, Kabupaten Karangasem

The Economic Benefits of Organic Certification on Cashew Farming in the Dukuh Village, Kubu Sub-District of Karangasem Regency
 Demand for organic cashew nuts in the international market is very high. The existence of organic certificate gives positive impact for cashew farmers, especially in increasing the selling price. Subak Abian Buana Kusuma is one of subak abian in Karangasem regency which conducts certified organic farming from certification institution of International Institute for Marketecology (IMO) Switzerland. Organic cashew certification is done by international certification agency IMO (Institute for Marketecology) Switzerland with the support of PT. PMA (Profil Mitra Abadi) and Dinas Kehutanan dan Perkebunan Kabupaten Karangasem to Subak Abian Buana Kusuma which is technically certified by ICS (Internal Control System). Revenue per hectare of certified organic farmers is Rp. 28,111,004,74 and non-organic farmers is Rp. 12,560,166.20, with a percentage of 119% greater income per hectare of organic farmers while the income per kg of organic farmers is Rp. 21,238.16 and non-organic farmers is Rp. 11,721.14 / kg with a percentage of 81% larger per kilogram of organic farmers. Premium price received by farmers is Rp.9000,00 with the cost of certification per kg is Rp. 163.00. Organic premium received by farmers is Rp. 9,517,02 / kg. The RC ratio of Subak Abian Buana Kusuma and Pandan Sari were 4.69 and 2.87 respectively, and the Profit Rate was 369% and 187%, compared to 5% for 5% said to be very worthy to be cultivated. The value of t arithmetic> t table (2.34> 2.05), means that the income per hectare of organic cashew farms is greater than non-organic cashew nut production.

Exploratory Research of ISO 14001:2015 Transition among Portuguese Organizations

The purpose of this paper is the assessment of the ISO 14001:2015 transition process among Portuguese ISO 14001 certified organizations, including those that successfully have already achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification. A considerable number of the surveyed companies proceeded with the transition to the ISO 14001:2015 by introducing slight adjustments and were supported by external consultants. Nearly all of the respondent companies (97%) intend to transition until 15th September 2018. The highest ranked reported benefit is the “integrated approach with other management sub-systems” with a well-consolidated perception from the surveyed companies. This is aligned with the ISO 14001:2015 goal of improving the compatibility of management standards supported on the Annex SL. “Alignment with business strategy”, “improved top management commitment” and “improved internal and external communication” are also perceived to obtain significant benefits from ISO 14001:2015. The statistical tests carried out (Kruskal–Wallis) confirmed that the perception of some achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification benefits is dependent on the size of the organization. Concerning the motivations to proceed with certification, results suggest that there is not a particular company profile that is compelled to certify their EMS based on a specific type of motivation (Internal or External). Due to ISO 14001:2015 novelty, these exploratory results should be subjected to additional research confirmation.

Social responsibility as a management system

Purpose: The aims of this research was to demonstrate what IQNet SR10 certification of a Social Responsibility management system means to companies. From the wide range of existing certifications, we identified the added value of having the IQNet SR10 standard by showing a specific company’s situation before and after certification. Design/methodology/approach: We used an exploratory study of items of Social Responsibility management system certification (IQNet SR10) to develop a qualitative questionnaire. The questionnaire was then administered to the company under study to determine the added value to companies of holding this certification. Findings and originality/value: The study describes how social responsibility (SR) management system certification benefits a company, what way of doing things it identifies in a company, and what effort is required to maintain the certification. It also highlights a way of managing companies that is focused on their survival, as management systems must provide economic, social and environmental added value for companies to have a future in an internationalised world that requires credentials to prove it. Research limitations/implications: The main limitation of this study is that it is based on the results of just one company, because few companies currently have this certification. To continue with this area of research in the future, we hope to obtain information about IQNet SR10 certification from other companies. Practical implications: The study demonstrates the need for certifications in the field of Social Responsibility in today's business world, to be in line with the normal dynamics of economy activity in different sectors, and for companies of assorted sizes to enjoy an added value that makes them more competitive. Social implications: The study identifies a new business management system, in line with the necessary Social Responsibility of companies today. This system must be integrated into business models to facilitate current business dynamics at international level, with appropriate certifications that show companies’ good economic, social and environmental behaviour. Originality/value: The study identifies a business management system that continuously organises and improves the performances of a company in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility, through audited certification that enhances the competitivity of companies that hold the international standard. The study also demonstrates the need for a management system to integrate into business models.

Corporate Biodiversity Management through Certifiable Standards

AbstractThis article analyzes the motivations, internalization challenges and outcomes of implementing certifiable standards for corporate biodiversity management. For this purpose, a qualitative study based on interviews with 39 environmental managers, auditors, consultants and other experts in the field was conducted. The findings show that the adoption of new standards for biodiversity management is essentially driven by the need to improve the social acceptability of activities that can have a significant impact on natural habitats. The possible benefits of certification, particularly in terms of stakeholder relationships, and the difficulty of measuring the intangible aspects of biodiversity issues are also discussed. The study contributes to the emerging literature on organizational biodiversity management and to the debates on the symbolic versus substantial adoption of certifiable environmental standards. Managerial implications for organizations interested in biodiversity management are also discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

IMPLEMENTATION OF A QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IN RURAL ACCOMMODATIONS: PERCEIVED BENEFITS

The aim of the research is to analyze the impact of the perceived benefits of implementation and subsequent certification of a Quality Management System on the implementation level of the critical quality factors and results obtained. The empirical study was conducted in 100 of the 227 rural accommodations certified in Spain. The methodology consists of a descriptive analysis of the benefits perceived by the establishments and conducting a factor analysis, in order to determine the structure of the benefits and lastly, the hypotheses are contrasted and verified using a cluster analysis. The results obtained show that the benefits in this sector are grouped into two clusters; internal and external benefits, and it has been confirmed that the higher the benefit levels arising from the implementation and certification, the higher the implementation levels of the critical factors and results obtained.Keywords: Quality Management; Q for Tourist Quality; Benefits; Critical Factors; Results; Tourist Accommodation.

What's the Benefit of Certification?

What's the Benefit of Certification?

Efectos de la certificación Florverde Sustainable Flowers en las empresas floricultoras afiliadas a Asocolflores

<p>Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar las diferencias entre las empresas floricultoras certificadas con el esquema Florverde Sustainable Flowers (FSF) y las que no lo están, con respecto a sus prácticas sociales y ambientales en el marco de la responsabilidad social (RS). Con base en las prácticas de RS incluidas en FSF se aplica una encuesta de opinión a los directivos y se realizan entrevistas a los trabajadores. La identificación de diferencias entre las empresas certificadas y no certificadas permite establecer los efectos de la certificación FSF en las empresas estudiadas. Se encuentran diferencias en la implementación de prácticas de RS para 41 de las 74 variables analizadas en las categorías de medio ambiente, prácticas laborales y asuntos de consumidores. Los beneficios de la certificación FSF se analizan desde dos perspectivas; desde la perspectiva interna, FSF contribuye a la producción de flores con un enfoque sostenible, a organizar los procesos internos y a cumplir con la legislación aplicable. Desde la perspectiva externa, FSF mejora la imagen de las empresas ante el mercado internacional, los trabajadores y la comunidad. Las empresas del sector tienen en el esquema FSF una valiosa herramienta para aplicar las materias fundamentales y los asuntos de la RS en sus operaciones.</p>

Management system certification benefits: where do we stand?

Purpose: The implementation and certification of Management Systems International Standards, such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, achieved a high international recognition, with more than 1 million organizations with their Quality Management Systems certified worldwide. Researchers have been paying considerable attention to this theme and the number of published articles has robustly growth. Although, on an overall basis, the research results support the existence of positive impacts on the use and certification of these International Standards, there are various inconsistency and contradictory results, leading to some controversy over its impacts for organizations. This study aims to bring a longitudinal time perspective to this area of research, analyzing the articles published since 1996, on the benefits of Management Systems Certification. A longitudinal perspective of countries of authors origin, keywords and journals is presented, complemented with an evaluation of the research results.Design/methodology/approach: The research was supported with a Bibliometric Study, with data collected from Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Research Gate data bases. Following the detailed analysis of the journal titles, articles abstracts and their full content, an evaluation scale was applied to access if the results support the existence of a positive relationship between MSC and economic, financial or stakeholder results.Findings: The results evidence a steep increase in the number of publications addressing Management Systems Certification benefits, that mainly originate from Europe (48%) and East Asia and Pacific (23%), with Spain as the clear leading country accounting (43% of the total number of articles published between 1996 and April 2017). Journal of Cleaner Production (EMSC) and Total Quality Management and Business Excellence journal (QMSC) are the leading journals for disseminating the research and the most used keywords are “Quality/Environment”, “ISO 9001/14001”, “Performance”, “Management Systems” and “Certification”. There are also insights that the research is now open to other Management Systems either than Quality and Environment. The systematic review of the selected papers shows that the Management Systems adoption and certification brings fairly positives benefits (average 2,34 in a 1 to 5 Likert type scale) for the certified organizations, although some variations are observed. Some avenues for future research should consider the reliability and validation of measures; sampling and biases errors; the use of control, moderating and mediating variables; the consideration of time and situational contingencies; and the search for explanations for cause and effect relationships.The results of this research support the view that the investigation of Management Systems Certification benefits is indeed an issue of high academic and practitioners interest. This research, although subject to some subjective evaluation of the authors, and acknowledging that the research articles are not always comparable, aims to give some insights for this continuous research field. Research limitations/implications: Although the authors took measures to reduce subjectivity, it should be noted that the evaluation could be subject to the authors own interpretation and the research articles are not always comparable.Originality/value: This research makes a longitudinal and comprehensive evaluation of the articles published since 1996 on the benefits of Management System Certification. It highlights trends and gives contribution for future research, on a field of intense academic and practitioners interest.

The financial benefits of forest certification: Case studies of acacia growers and a furniture company in Central Vietnam

The demand for forest products is growing and plantation forests are supplying an increasing proportion of wood to industry. There are also increasing market requirements to demonstrate the sustainability of timber supply. Vietnam has some 3.9Mha of plantation forests, 44% of which is on short-rotations managed by smallholders. More than 80 percent of the harvested volume from the plantation forests is used for woodchip production to serve domestic and international markets. The Vietnam Government has goals to increase the domestic supply of suitable wood for furniture production to international markets by increasing the supply of larger logs grown in plantations and the supply of certified wood to industry. However, it is not clear that these objectives will necessarily benefit growers and processors. This study compared financial returns from certified and non-certified forest products for: (1) growers with 10-year rotation acacia plantations; and (2) a furniture processing business (battens for chair and table) in Quang Tri Province, Central Vietnam. The data were collected from smallholder tree growers and a sawmilling company, triangulated with and supplemented by formal and informal interviews with other stakeholders. Currently, much of the cost of certification is met by external aid donors. Results showed that net returns from both certified and non-certified timber products are positive for both actors and are higher from certified timber production than non-certified timber production. When the full costs of certification are included, the benefits to growers of certification are much reduced and potentially negative unless the fixed costs can be spread over a large group of growers. A minimum of group with 3000ha may be required to make certification cost effective. In recent years, the price difference between the certified and non-certified logs is narrowing and this may discourage farmers from attaining certification. For the sawmiller, the benefit of certified timber production is greater. It would be in their interests to increase prices paid to growers for certified logs. Government policy measures to support certification should include consideration of who bears the cost, support for aggregation of smallholder growers and improved communication in timber supply chains.

Managing Political Risk: Multilateral Development Banks in Infrastructure Projects

Although partnerships with powerful non-market elites can buffer firms’ investments against political risk, this advantage can dissipate when political, institutional, or economic changes lower the elites’ power. We focus on firms’ partnerships with international organizations, particularly multilateral development banks (MDBs), that can both constrain sovereign governments and influence the actions of firms. In the context of private investment in infrastructure projects, we examine how MDBs partner with firms to lower the likelihood of project distress caused by ex-post re- contracting between States and firms. We argue that MDBs provide operational assistance to projects, certification benefits, and political assistance. These factors enable firms and states to better manage evolving or changing conditions. We expect the effect of MDBs to be stronger in countries with weak institutional development and where MDBs have greater leverage. Support for these hypotheses is presented using a sample of 2117 in...

Factors affecting the adoption and implementation of ISO 14001/EMS in Oman: a study of SME sectors

This study intends to observe and examine the various external and internal influences, which are affecting the small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Oman to accept ISO14001 or reject Environment Management System (EMS). The concept of implementing quality accreditation by small firms is relatively small as compared to bigger firms. Market in general is cynical about the long-term benefits of this quality certification in relation with the costs incurred by the SMEs. The SMEs in Oman are typically focused on a few sectors namely transportation, chemicals, construction, automobile, manufacturing, storage, textiles and food & beverage. This research is an effort to identify and provide solutions and recommendations for successful implementation of ISO 14001 for Omani SMEs.

Certificazione forestale in Calabria: attitudini, preferenze e disponibilità a pagare delle imprese di seconda trasformazione del legno

Abstract: Forest certification was born in the early 90s of the twentieth century in order to protect tropical and sub-tropical forests against a progressive deforestation and degradation. Forest certification is a valuable instrument for environmental protection and a useful tool of green marketing for forest-wood chain enterprises. In the last decades, in developed countries there has been increased consumer awareness of environmental protection and environmentally friendly wood products. This consumers’ attitude is related to the consumers’ willingness to pay a premium price for environmentally friendly wood products. In the international literature, some studies have investigated the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for several certified wood products with different prices, while few studies have analyzed the willingness to pay of manufactures and enterprises of forest-wood chain for certified wood products. In addition, in the international literature there is a knowledge gap concerning the manufactures or consumers’ willingness to pay for local wood products compared to equivalent products from other geographical areas. Starting from these considerations, the main aims of this study are: (1) to analyze the wood manufactures’ willingness to pay a premium price for certified wood products; (2) to investigate the wood manufactures’ attitudes and willingness to pay for regional/local wood products. The study was conducted as part of the “Ambi.Tec.Fil.Legno” project involving 127 manufactures and enterprises of forest-wood chain located in Calabria region. At the end of the questionnaire survey, the information provided by 40 manufactures and enterprises of forest-wood chain were processed and analyzed (response rate 31.5%). The results show that the main factors that influence the purchase decisions of enterprises are the trust in the seller and the durability of the product. Concerning the manufactures’ willingness to pay for certified wood products, 40% of sample of manufactures is willing to pay a premium price with a mean value of 1.55%. A similar percentage of wood manufactures and enterprises (40%) are willing to pay a premium price to purchase local wood material with a mean value equal to 3.25%. The results of this study can support the decision makers in the definition of new strategies to enhance the forest sector in Calabria highlighting the potential benefits of forest certification and use of local wood at regional level.

To Be or Not to Be Board Certified? A Question of Quality and Identification for Psychologists

Achieving board certification in psychology is an important step in a psychologist's professional development. Board certification serves as a quality indicator for consumers, employers, and other stakeholders while providing enhanced opportunities for psychologists who complete the peer-review process that leads to it. This commentary provides an update on trends in board certification in psychology and explores the roles and benefits of board certification as well as barriers to pursuing board certification. Board certification is an important issue to consider because more mental and physical healthcare clinicians and researchers are now embracing the biopsychosocial model. Board certification could well help with maximizing reimbursement or clinical opportunities, as well as produce a greater understanding of the biobehavioral underpinnings of comorbid mental and physical disorders. Specialist data from the American Board of Professional Psychology and membership data from the American Psychological Association were reviewed across specialty areas. The work was archival and involved no human subjects, and therefore, this study was exempt from review by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Minnesota. There are currently 4,198 board certifications across the 15 boards of the American Board of Professional Psychology. These represent a relatively small proportion (less than 4%) of U.S. licensed psychologists. The numbers correlate positively with membership levels in corresponding APA divisions. Between 2011 and 2015, there was a 25.8% increase in the number of board-certified psychologists. Board certification appears to be undergoing a period of rapid growth among psychologists. This trend appears to reflect multiple factors, including an increased number of boards representing expanding areas of specialization in the field, a growing interest in board certification as part of increasing quality emphasis within healthcare, and psychologists' desire to distinguish themselves in a competitive marketplace. Board certification in diverse areas, including clinical health psychology, affords various professionally and personally rewarding linkages and opportunities.

MOTIVES AND BENEFITS OF ISO 9001 QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF INDIAN SMEs

The present study aims to investigate the motives and benefits of certification to ISO 9001 among Indian SMEs of manufacturing and service sectors. The main objective of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on SMEs’ motivation to pursue ISO 9001 quality management system (QMS) and the benefits they receive from being certified to ISO 9001. First, several studies about the benefits and motivations of QMS in various countries are reviewed, and then a questionnaire is sent to 800 ISO 9001 certified SMEs, representing both manufacturing and service sectors in India. Only 115 valid responses are processed and analysed. The survey findings indicate that majority of the SMEs meet the purpose and spirit of ISO 9001 for which it was designed and developed to bring the quality practices and culture into the organization and improve the operational and financial results of the organisations. However, the motives and benefits of certification have reported very weak association across SMEs of manufacturing and service sectors. In addition, ISO 9001 certification, widely regarded as a tool that improves the profits and motivates organisations to pursue it has found significant difference across manufacturing and service sectors SMEs.

Using conservation auctions informed by environmental performance models to reduce agricultural nutrient flows into Lake Erie

Abstract Cost-effectively mitigating agricultural nutrient export requires an understanding of the biophysical characteristics of cropland as well as the behavioral and economic factors that drive land management decisions. Conservation auctions informed by models that simulate environmental outcomes have the potential to allocate conservation payments cost-effectively by funding practices that provide high predicted environmental benefits per dollar spent. This research tested two forms of conservation auctions. First, experimental auctions were used to analyze farmer preferences for different types of financial incentives for voluntary conservation, including direct payments, insurance, tax credits, and stewardship certification benefits. Second, conservation auctions were conducted in two Ohio counties to evaluate performance under real-world conditions. Supporting both types of auctions, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) predicted reductions in phosphorus exported as a function of the type of conservation practice and farm location. Results of the experimental auctions showed direct payments and tax credits to be the most cost-effective incentives to mitigate phosphorus export. The real auctions yielded two important lessons: 1) participation was very low, due to perceived transaction costs of participation—especially on rented fields and for group bids, and 2) the cost-effectiveness ranking of bids was highly sensitive to the parameters for soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations in the SWAT model. Future socio-economic research into payment for environmental services programs should seek cost-effective mechanisms with lower transaction costs for participants. Future biophysical research should strengthen our understanding of the factors governing soluble reactive phosphorus movement, so that models like SWAT can be more reliably parameterized.

Assessing professional benefits of GIS certification

ABSTRACTThe certification of geographic information system (GIS) professionals remains a contentious topic. After more than 25 years, the GIS community remains divided over the need to formally recognize GIS professionals who maintain standards of professional competency and conduct. Unfortunately, few studies have examined individuals who have become certified or the professional benefits of certification. This study explores GIS certification through a survey of 1731 geospatial professionals who became geographic information systems professionals (GISPs) between 2003 and 2014. A web-based questionnaire asked GISPs about the certification process, its influence on their compensation and advancement, and other issues. Quantitative and qualitative findings suggest that perceptions about certification fall along a wide spectrum with GISPs employed in private industry seeing fewer benefits compared with those employed in government or not-for-profit organizations. While a large number of respondents conveyed pride in completing the certification process, others expressed frustration over the program’s lack of visibility, standards that have enabled less qualified peers to become certified, and the slow progress at which GIS certification has achieved respect compared with programs administered in other fields such as engineering and planning.

Assessing the potential additionality of certification by the Round table on Responsible Soybeans and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil

Multi-stakeholder roundtables offering certification programs are promising voluntary governance mechanisms to address sustainability issues associated with international agricultural supply chains. Yet, little is known about whether roundtable certifications confer additionality, the benefits of certification beyond what would be expected from policies and practices currently in place. Here, we examine the potential additionality of the Round table on Responsible Soybeans (RTRS) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in mitigating conversion of native vegetation to cropland. We develop a metric of additionality based on business as usual land cover change dynamics and roundtable standard stringency relative to existing policies. We apply this metric to all countries with RTRS (n = 8) and RSPO (n = 12) certified production in 2013–2014, as well as countries that have no certified production but are among the top ten global producers in terms of soy (n = 2) and oil palm (n = 2). We find RSPO and RTRS both have substantially higher levels of stringency than existing national policies except in Brazil and Uruguay. In regions where these certification standards are adopted, the mean estimated rate of tree cover conversion to the target crop is similar for both standards. RTRS has higher mean relative stringency than the RSPO, yet RSPO countries have slightly higher enforcement levels. Therefore, mean potential additionality of RTRS and RSPO is similar across regions. Notably, countries with the highest levels of additionality have some adoption. However, with extremely low adoption rates (0.41% of 2014 global harvested area), RTRS likely has lower impact than RSPO (14%). Like most certification programs, neither roundtable is effectively targeting smallholder producers. To improve natural ecosystem protection, roundtables could target adoption to regions with low levels of environmental governance and high rates of forest-to-cropland conversion.