title: Environmental sustainability and family businesses

authors: Kariyapperuma, Kariyapperuma Athukoralage Nishanthi Renuka

subjects: Environmental sustainability

abstract: For centuries, individuals, businesses, and countries have attempted to preserve nature, yet despite their efforts, environmental issues persist. Family businesses (FBs) are a key player in the global economy, and cumulatively, their impact on environmental sustainability (ES) is significant. FBs also provide a unique organisational context to study the influence of family, founding owners, and the next generation in relation to ES in family firms. This is a thesis with publications positioned at the intersection of ES and the family business (FB). The research adopts a two-phase design. The first phase addresses the research question: How and why do family firms vary in their engagement with ES? The second phase considers how family firms can continue an environmental values legacy. 
The thesis includes three research papers. Manuscript 1 presents a structured literature review (135 research papers published during the last 20 years) that evaluates the body of knowledge at the intersection of ES and FBs.  Manuscript 2 reports on the results from a qualitative content analysis of information on ES and family narratives disclosed in the corporate websites of 72 FBs.  Manuscript 3 is based on two qualitative methods - a qualitative content analysis and multiple case studies regarding the socialisation context of the founding and the next generation family members.  The context for the empirical studies is family businesses operating in New Zealand’s wine industry. Most of the firms in the industry are owned and operated by small to medium-sized FBs. The theory of family logic and familiness was applied in the first two manuscripts, while the theory of multi-layered socialisation was used in the third manuscript.
The three manuscripts complement each other. Manuscript 1 uses the extant literature to show how family logics (e.g., socioemotional wealth) and family resources (e.g., social capital) influence ES in family firms. Manuscript 2 empirically investigates the above association and identifies family values, founding values, and nonfinancial goals of the family as dominant family logics that could influence FB engagement with ES. Manuscript 3 develops this idea further and explores how families develop an ongoing environmental values legacy in FBs. 
The results show that the family itself is the primary source of heterogeneities among FBs in their approach to ES. Family logics and familiness act as a frame of reference for the dominant coalition in their behaviour towards ES. A conceptual model was developed that linked the variables (family logic, familiness, family firms, and ES) and provided a holistic view of how and why heterogeneities exist in family firms. Three typologies of family firms were developed: Family-First, Business-First, and Upstart. 
Regarding environmental values formation and transmission in FBs, it was found that early childhood is the most critical age of developing environmental values. Early childhood exposure to FB and nature interaction has also been identified as part of the primary socialisation. Three categories of environmental values were developed related to economic, social, and emotional needs that the founding or the next generation family members attempted to satisfy through engagement with ES. There is evidence for resocialisation of values, and a dyadic transmission of environmental values exist between parents and children. Implications of the multi-layered socialisation process are discussed.
The first contribution of this thesis is to theoretically and empirically review the “family behind the family firm” to explain how variations in the family variables influence heterogeneities among family firms in their approach to ES. The second contribution of this thesis is to develop the existing knowledge in the intersection of family business and ES, regarding the continuity of environmental values in FBs.
At the conclusion of the thesis, the original contributions of the thesis are highlighted. Limitations of the research and future research directions are also outlined.

text: Environmental sustainability and family businesses For centuries, individuals, businesses, and countries have attempted to preserve nature, yet despite their efforts, environmental issues persist. Family businesses (FBs) are a key player in the global economy, and cumulatively, their impact on environmental sustainability (ES) is significant. FBs also provide a unique organisational context to study the influence of family, founding owners, and the next generation in relation to ES in family firms. This is a thesis with publications positioned at the intersection of ES and the family business (FB). The research adopts a two-phase design. The first phase addresses the research question: How and why do family firms vary in their engagement with ES? The second phase considers how family firms can continue an environmental values legacy. 
The thesis includes three research papers. Manuscript 1 presents a structured literature review (135 research papers published during the last 20 years) that evaluates the body of knowledge at the intersection of ES and FBs.  Manuscript 2 reports on the results from a qualitative content analysis of information on ES and family narratives disclosed in the corporate websites of 72 FBs.  Manuscript 3 is based on two qualitative methods - a qualitative content analysis and multiple case studies regarding the socialisation context of the founding and the next generation family members.  The context for the empirical studies is family businesses operating in New Zealand’s wine industry. Most of the firms in the industry are owned and operated by small to medium-sized FBs. The theory of family logic and familiness was applied in the first two manuscripts, while the theory of multi-layered socialisation was used in the third manuscript.
The three manuscripts complement each other. Manuscript 1 uses the extant literature to show how family logics (e.g., socioemotional wealth) and family resources (e.g., social capital) influence ES in family firms. Manuscript 2 empirically investigates the above association and identifies family values, founding values, and nonfinancial goals of the family as dominant family logics that could influence FB engagement with ES. Manuscript 3 develops this idea further and explores how families develop an ongoing environmental values legacy in FBs. 
The results show that the family itself is the primary source of heterogeneities among FBs in their approach to ES. Family logics and familiness act as a frame of reference for the dominant coalition in their behaviour towards ES. A conceptual model was developed that linked the variables (family logic, familiness, family firms, and ES) and provided a holistic view of how and why heterogeneities exist in family firms. Three typologies of family firms were developed: Family-First, Business-First, and Upstart. 
Regarding environmental values formation and transmission in FBs, it was found that early childhood is the most critical age of developing environmental values. Early childhood exposure to FB and nature interaction has also been identified as part of the primary socialisation. Three categories of environmental values were developed related to economic, social, and emotional needs that the founding or the next generation family members attempted to satisfy through engagement with ES. There is evidence for resocialisation of values, and a dyadic transmission of environmental values exist between parents and children. Implications of the multi-layered socialisation process are discussed.
The first contribution of this thesis is to theoretically and empirically review the “family behind the family firm” to explain how variations in the family variables influence heterogeneities among family firms in their approach to ES. The second contribution of this thesis is to develop the existing knowledge in the intersection of family business and ES, regarding the continuity of environmental values in FBs.
At the conclusion of the thesis, the original contributions of the thesis are highlighted. Limitations of the research and future research directions are also outlined.

year: 2021

title: Water relations and carbon dioxide exchange of epiphytic lichens in the Namib fog desert

authors: Lange, Otto L.

subjects: dew

abstract: Although there is only negligible rainfall, frequent nocturnal fog, dew and high air humidity support a luxurious lichen vegetation in the coastal zone of the central NamibDesert (Namibia). In earlier publications, we have studied ecophysiological performance of a series of epilithic and terrestrial lichens. Here, we have extended this work to three epiphytic species (Heterodermia namaquana, Ramalina lacera, and Xanthoria turbinata) that inhabit the sparse perennial shrubs growing in this area. Our intention, monitoring lichen CO₂ exchange, their waterrelations and microclimate conditions, was to determine the functional mechanisms that allow these epiphytes to exist under the special conditions of a fogdesert. Measurements were conducted mainly during the spring season.
The epiphyticlichens showed response patterns very similar to the epilithic and epigaeic species at the same site. Their metabolism was activated through moistening by dew and/or fog during the night and, in the very early morning, they exhibited the typical brief peak of net photosynthesis (NP) between sunrise and desiccation. The thalli were almost completely dry for the remainder of the day. Average duration of the positive NP during the morning peak was about 3 h. Dew condensation, alone, resulted in activation that provided 58–63% of integrated carbon income (ΣNP) as compared to fog (plus dew). In the late afternoon, there was a tendency for hydration to increase again, due to water vapour uptake at higher air humidity, and this allowed on some days a brief additional period of very low rates of photosynthesis shortly before sunset.
Light response of photosynthesis showed “sun-plant” characteristics with saturation around 1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD). Light compensation point (LCP) of CO2exchange after sunrise was highly dependent on actual water content (WC) for X. turbinata: at low hydration it was ca. 10 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD whilst, at high WC, it was almost 80 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD. In contrast, LCP of R. lacera was almost independent of WC. This phenomenon was probably due to differences in thallus structure.
Maximal attained NP and daily ΣNP both showed a saturation-type response to previous maximal nocturnal WC. Neither parameter was increased substantially when higher maximal thallus WCs were produced by experimental moistening in the night. All three species, despite their different morphologies, performed optimally at the highest nocturnal moistening achieved by natural fog and were not able to make use of higher hydration.
The three studied epiphytes were similar in their chlorophyll-related rates of NP. Due to lower chlorophyll content, dry weight and carbon-related NP of X. turbinata was only about one-third of that of the other two species. The average carbon income on days with fog and/or dew hydration during the spring season amounted to 2.4 and 2.1 mgC (gC)⁻¹ day⁻¹ (related to thallus carbon content) for H. namaquana and R. lacera, respectively. This primary production was of similar magnitude to those found for the terrestrial species at the same site.

text: Water relations and carbon dioxide exchange of epiphytic lichens in the Namib fog desert Although there is only negligible rainfall, frequent nocturnal fog, dew and high air humidity support a luxurious lichen vegetation in the coastal zone of the central NamibDesert (Namibia). In earlier publications, we have studied ecophysiological performance of a series of epilithic and terrestrial lichens. Here, we have extended this work to three epiphytic species (Heterodermia namaquana, Ramalina lacera, and Xanthoria turbinata) that inhabit the sparse perennial shrubs growing in this area. Our intention, monitoring lichen CO₂ exchange, their waterrelations and microclimate conditions, was to determine the functional mechanisms that allow these epiphytes to exist under the special conditions of a fogdesert. Measurements were conducted mainly during the spring season.
The epiphyticlichens showed response patterns very similar to the epilithic and epigaeic species at the same site. Their metabolism was activated through moistening by dew and/or fog during the night and, in the very early morning, they exhibited the typical brief peak of net photosynthesis (NP) between sunrise and desiccation. The thalli were almost completely dry for the remainder of the day. Average duration of the positive NP during the morning peak was about 3 h. Dew condensation, alone, resulted in activation that provided 58–63% of integrated carbon income (ΣNP) as compared to fog (plus dew). In the late afternoon, there was a tendency for hydration to increase again, due to water vapour uptake at higher air humidity, and this allowed on some days a brief additional period of very low rates of photosynthesis shortly before sunset.
Light response of photosynthesis showed “sun-plant” characteristics with saturation around 1000 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ photosynthetically active photon flux density (PPFD). Light compensation point (LCP) of CO2exchange after sunrise was highly dependent on actual water content (WC) for X. turbinata: at low hydration it was ca. 10 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD whilst, at high WC, it was almost 80 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD. In contrast, LCP of R. lacera was almost independent of WC. This phenomenon was probably due to differences in thallus structure.
Maximal attained NP and daily ΣNP both showed a saturation-type response to previous maximal nocturnal WC. Neither parameter was increased substantially when higher maximal thallus WCs were produced by experimental moistening in the night. All three species, despite their different morphologies, performed optimally at the highest nocturnal moistening achieved by natural fog and were not able to make use of higher hydration.
The three studied epiphytes were similar in their chlorophyll-related rates of NP. Due to lower chlorophyll content, dry weight and carbon-related NP of X. turbinata was only about one-third of that of the other two species. The average carbon income on days with fog and/or dew hydration during the spring season amounted to 2.4 and 2.1 mgC (gC)⁻¹ day⁻¹ (related to thallus carbon content) for H. namaquana and R. lacera, respectively. This primary production was of similar magnitude to those found for the terrestrial species at the same site.

year: 2007

title: Te Kuranui

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Ko te tūāpapa o tēnei kōrero Te Kuranui he titiro ki te tūāpapa o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti kapa haka. He aha te take i whakatūngia ai tēnei Kuranui e karangatia ana ko Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti? Hai tāhūhū mō tēnei tuhinga raurūtia tēnei kupu whakaari a Te Kōoti Arikirangi; “He Kura hoki ahau”, me tēnei wehenga o te mōteatea nāna; Te Pono ki runga rā, te ara mai o te tika. Tukua mai ki raro nā te maungarongo; te whana i tū ai nā te kotahitanga; te aroha i mau ai. Ana ko te Kupu Whakaari nei; He Kura hoki ahau he wewete i tēnei Kupu Whakaari kia kite i te hōhonu o te tikanga ōna hai whakatamārama i tō Te Kōoti wawata hai kura i tana iwi Ringatū me tā te kaituhi whakaraupapa i ēnei kura ki roto i te whakairotanga i te Kuranui nei.
Ka rua kua tātaritia tēnei wehenga o te mōteatea nei kia rima ōna wāhanga hai taki i tēnei tuhinga epā ana ki te Kuranui nei a Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti. Tuatahi Te Pono ki runga rā, ka titiro ki te kaituhi nei me tōna whakatipuranga i ōna kaumātua me ō rātou kuranga i a ia kia tohenihorau ki tōna ao Māori. He kuranga ēnei hai maungāngākau, maungāhinengaro ki te whakaturuki i te Kuranui a Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti. Te ara mai o te tika, ko te whakatūtanga o te kapa haka nei a Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti te Kuranui,arā te whakapaparanga mai i te kapa i tōna tīmatatanga ki te wā tonu nei. Tukua mai ki raro nā te maungarongo; ko te whakapono tēnei wāhanga, ko te ū o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti ki tēnei kura a Te Kooti Arikirangi. Te whana i tū ai nā te kotahitanga;ko te titiro ki te pouārahi me te whakapau kaha ki te tuitui i ngā whakaaro o te katoa, ko te ranga i te iwi, ko te pupuri i te iwi, i te kapa haka ki tōna, rautaki, whāinga ko te whakakotahitanga i te iwi i raro i te kaupapa o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti. Te aroha i mau ai, ko te aroha ki te iwi, ko te aroha ki te kaupapa, ko te whakaū, whakapūmau i te moemoeā kia whakahokia mai te toheariki ki te iwi kia tū toherauariki a Te Whakatōhea i raro i te korowai o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti.

text: Te Kuranui Ko te tūāpapa o tēnei kōrero Te Kuranui he titiro ki te tūāpapa o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti kapa haka. He aha te take i whakatūngia ai tēnei Kuranui e karangatia ana ko Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti? Hai tāhūhū mō tēnei tuhinga raurūtia tēnei kupu whakaari a Te Kōoti Arikirangi; “He Kura hoki ahau”, me tēnei wehenga o te mōteatea nāna; Te Pono ki runga rā, te ara mai o te tika. Tukua mai ki raro nā te maungarongo; te whana i tū ai nā te kotahitanga; te aroha i mau ai. Ana ko te Kupu Whakaari nei; He Kura hoki ahau he wewete i tēnei Kupu Whakaari kia kite i te hōhonu o te tikanga ōna hai whakatamārama i tō Te Kōoti wawata hai kura i tana iwi Ringatū me tā te kaituhi whakaraupapa i ēnei kura ki roto i te whakairotanga i te Kuranui nei.
Ka rua kua tātaritia tēnei wehenga o te mōteatea nei kia rima ōna wāhanga hai taki i tēnei tuhinga epā ana ki te Kuranui nei a Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti. Tuatahi Te Pono ki runga rā, ka titiro ki te kaituhi nei me tōna whakatipuranga i ōna kaumātua me ō rātou kuranga i a ia kia tohenihorau ki tōna ao Māori. He kuranga ēnei hai maungāngākau, maungāhinengaro ki te whakaturuki i te Kuranui a Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti. Te ara mai o te tika, ko te whakatūtanga o te kapa haka nei a Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti te Kuranui,arā te whakapaparanga mai i te kapa i tōna tīmatatanga ki te wā tonu nei. Tukua mai ki raro nā te maungarongo; ko te whakapono tēnei wāhanga, ko te ū o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti ki tēnei kura a Te Kooti Arikirangi. Te whana i tū ai nā te kotahitanga;ko te titiro ki te pouārahi me te whakapau kaha ki te tuitui i ngā whakaaro o te katoa, ko te ranga i te iwi, ko te pupuri i te iwi, i te kapa haka ki tōna, rautaki, whāinga ko te whakakotahitanga i te iwi i raro i te kaupapa o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti. Te aroha i mau ai, ko te aroha ki te iwi, ko te aroha ki te kaupapa, ko te whakaū, whakapūmau i te moemoeā kia whakahokia mai te toheariki ki te iwi kia tū toherauariki a Te Whakatōhea i raro i te korowai o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti.

year: 2014-09-27