Institutional Environment, Managerial Attitudes and Environmental Sustainability Orientation of Small Firms
Journal of Business Ethics 111 (4):461-476 (2012)
| Abstract | This study examines the direct impact of three dimensions of the institutional environment on managerial attitudes toward the natural environment and the direct influence of the latter on the environmental sustainability orientation (ESO) of small firms. We contend that when the institutional environment is perceived by owner–managers as supportive of sound natural environment management practices, they are more likely to develop a positive attitude toward natural environment issues and concerns. Such owner–manager attitudes are likely to lead to a positive and proactive orientation of their firms toward environmental sustainability. The study uses survey data from 166 small manufacturing firms located in three Philippine cities. First, the study develops and tests the measurement models to examine the validity of the constructs representing the firm’s institutional environment, managerial attitudes toward the natural environment and the ESO of firms. Second, the study develops and tests the structural models examining the institutional environment–managerial attitudes–ESO linkages. Multi-sample invariance structural model analysis shows the mediating role of managerial attitudes in the institutional environment–ESO nexus. The findings show that ESO is a construct comprising three dimensions: knowledge of environmental issues, sustainable practices and commitment toward environmental sustainability. The cognitive, regulatory and normative elements of the institutional environment are strongly linked to positive managerial attitudes toward environmental sustainability, which in turn, positively influences the firm’s overall ESO. Managerial attitudes play a mediating role in the institutional environment–ESO linkages. The managerial, practical, research and policy implications of the research findings are discussed. | |||||||||
| Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) | |||||||||
| Categories | ||||||||||
| Options |
|
|||||||||
Download options| PhilPapers Archive |
Upload a copy of this paper Check publisher's policy on self-archival Papers currently archived: 5,875 |
| External links |
 |
| Through your library | Configure |
Similar books and articlesRobert Rutherfoord (2000). Small Business and the Environment in the UK and the Netherlands. Business Ethics Quarterly 10 (4):945-965.
Sanjay Sharma (2009). Drivers of Sustainability Strategy in Family Firms. Proceedings of the International Association for Business and Society 20:194-205.
Gerald E. Fryxell & Carlos W. H. Lo (2003). The Influence of Environmental Knowledge and Values on Managerial Behaviours on Behalf of the Environment: An Empirical Examination of Managers in China. Journal of Business Ethics 46 (1):45 - 69.
Jan E. Stets & Chris F. Biga (2003). Bringing Identity Theory Into Environmental Sociology. Sociological Theory 21 (4):398-423.
María Dolores López-Gamero, Enrique Claver-Cortés & José Francisco Molina-Azorín (2008). Complementary Resources and Capabilities for an Ethical and Environmental Management: A Qual/Quan Study. Journal of Business Ethics 82 (3):701 - 732.
Khaled Elsayed (2006). Reexamining the Expected Effect of Available Resources and Firm Size on Firm Environmental Orientation: An Empirical Study of UK Firms. Journal of Business Ethics 65 (3):297 - 308.
M. Haque (2000). Environmental Discourse and Sustainable Development Linkages and Limitations. Ethics and the Environment 5 (1):3-21.
P. Aarne Vesilind (1996). There is No Such Thing as Environmental Ethics. Science and Engineering Ethics 2 (3).
Elena Fraj-Andrés, Eva Martinez-Salinas & Jorge Matute-Vallejo (2009). A Multidimensional Approach to the Influence of Environmental Marketing and Orientation on the Firm's Organizational Performance. Journal of Business Ethics 88 (2):263 - 286.
Frederik Dahlmann & Stephen Brammer (2008). The Longitudinal Development of Corporate Environmental Strategy in the U.S. Proceedings of the International Association for Business and Society 19:343-359.
Viet Ha Hoang (2006). Securities Market and Corporate Governance of Privatised Firms. International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics 2 (s 3-4):254-279.
Thomas Heyd (2005). Sustainability, Culture and Ethics: Models From Latin America. Ethics, Place and Environment 8 (2):223 – 234.
Minna Halme (1995). Environmental Issues in Product Development Processes. Business Ethics Quarterly 5 (4):713-733.
Rosa Chun (2009). Ethical Values and Environmentalism in China: Comparing Employees From State-Owned and Private Firms. Journal of Business Ethics 84:341 - 348.
Maria J. Montes-Sancho (2011). An Institutional Perspective on the Diffusion of International Management System Standards. Business Ethics Quarterly 21 (1):103-132.
Analytics
Monthly downloads |
Added to index2012-01-26Total downloads7 ( #134,900 of 556,837 )Recent downloads (6 months)2 ( #39,010 of 556,837 )How can I increase my downloads? |
My notes
Discussion
