Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Edgar A. Jordan

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) managers deal with increased costs while facing declining budgets to meet treated water standards. Biological disinfection processes comprise 65% of a typical WWTP's energy use and are of significant concern to WWTP managers. Grounded in the resource-based view theory and Six Sigma DMAIC approach as the conceptual framework, the purpose of this qualitative embedded single case study was to explore strategies WWTP managers use to lower water disinfection costs. Data were collected using semistructured interviews with four plant managers of the same organization in the central region municipalities of Florida who successfully implemented strategies to lower costs in wastewater disinfection. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and organizational policies, and financial documents. Four key themes emerged from the three-phase thematic analysis (a) managers’ role in lowering cost, (b) automation with continuous monitoring, (c) improvement and control, and (d) communication. A key recommendation is for WWTP managers to analyze and document used strategy methods to help future researchers and practitioners understand which parts of the methodology best suit their wastewater disinfection to benefit the service-receiving public and environmental sectors. The implications for positive social change include the opportunity for enhancing WWTP managers’ use of strategy to reduce costs in water disinfection further and improve the relationship between WWTP managers and customers by lowering tax rates.

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