Search results

This study aims to investigate the association between a motivated and prepared workforce and environmental performance.

Self-administered surveys were used to collect data for the study from 300 organisations operating in Australia. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the robustness of the various measurement models, and structural equation modelling was used to test the two propositions for this study.

The results identify significant associations between affective commitment, employee performance process and training and enhanced environmental performance, which is mediated through the value-creating processes, work practices, process improvement and innovation process. Also, there is a set of sequential associations between work practices and process improvement and well as process improvement and innovation process.

The study has identified specific management practices that enhance environmental performance. The findings add to the body of knowledge because previous studies focused on general conceptual rather than actual management practices. The implications for practice are that organisations should enhance organisational affective commitment to their environmental strategy, tailor employee performance processes and provide regular, specific training to employees to improve processes that lead to better environmental performance.

Results, mentioned in findings above, provide some specificity to associations that had been illustrated and explained previously in an abstract or conceptual framework. A framework of identified associations provides a basis for future research and for practical application to assist with organisational environmental performance as part of a corporate sustainability strategy.

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of integrating the social, environmental and innovation processes within the four-perspective sustainability balanced scorecard (SBSC) model by determining the extent of linkages between and within the four SBSC perspectives.

A survey collected responses from senior management and middle management of large Australian companies.

The findings support several positive significant associations. Direct associations are found between value-creating processes within the internal process perspective. These results support the feasibility of integrating environmental, social and innovation-orientated value-creating process into the internal process of the four-perspective SBSC model. The results also provide evidence about the extent to which direct or indirect associations exist between the four SBSC perspectives: first, direct association of human capital (learning and growth perspective) with value-creating processes (internal processes perspective); second, direct association of value-creating (internal processes perspective) with customer value (customer perspective); and third, direct and indirect associations of value-creating (internal processes perspective) with financial performance (FP; financial perspective).

Several limitations are acknowledged related to cross-sectional data, senior and middle managers’ perceptions and assumptions underpinning structural equation modelling.

The implications for practice from this study concern how organisational management should relate to their stakeholders while providing value in their FP.

These associations reflect the influence of stakeholders’ recognised needs on process and product innovation. These needs highlight the benefits of focusing on future-orientated environmental budgets and ongoing employee training that lead to customer value and FP.

This is an initial in-depth study of a four-perspective SBSC model that provides an effective means of integrating social, environmental and innovation processes within the traditional four SBSC perspectives.