University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Agnes Strauss
(2013):
Lebens- und Arbeitsqualität auf österreichischen Milchviehbetrieben - Ein Beitrag zur Bewertung der sozialen Nachhaltigkeit.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Landtechnik,
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 178.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- The assessment of sustainability is a basic and crucial step in the process of developing sustainable production systems. Integrated assessments in general refer to the economic, environmental and social dimension of sustainability. However, the inclusion of social aspects in the sustainability assessment of farms is least developed. The aim of this study was to describe some core elements of the social sustainability of family-owned dairy farms at the farm level. For this purpose, the focus of the study was on aspects related to quality of life and work such as perceived job satisfaction, wealth of time and work management issues. Thirty-one Austrian dairy farms were selected, representing six different production systems predefined for evaluation. Data were collected by means of a structured interview, using a questionnaire, with the two main actors on the farm. The results showed that the family-specific conditions had a stronger influence on the quality of life and work than the different production conditions. Work overload, generation conflicts and the economic pressure are perceived as the main stressors, which affected work satisfaction and work-life-balance. Farms with a better performance regarding the ´wealth of time´ aspect showed a tendency towards greater work satisfaction. Farms which performed well in the selected criteria showed a moderate to high level of mechanization of dairy production and a comparatively low number of working hours per family-worker. There was no indication derivable, that larger and economically more successful farms have a higher quality of life and work. There is no clear and recognized definition of social sustainability, but this study showed that aspects such as intra-familial relationships play a major role. For sustainability assessments the inclusion of suitable social indicators is essential and helps to understand the complex connections (inside and outside the farm) of family-owned dairy farms.
- Beurteilende(r): Quendler Elisabeth
- 1.Mitwirkender: Hörtenhuber Stefan