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1 – 10 of 349
Article
Publication date: 5 October 2022

Hans Jaich, Sarah Margaretha Jastram and Knut Blind

This study aims to draw on goal contagion theory to examine how organizations shape the pro-environmental behavior of their employees. It extends the scope of analysis beyond…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to draw on goal contagion theory to examine how organizations shape the pro-environmental behavior of their employees. It extends the scope of analysis beyond organizational boundaries and illustrates the external effects of organizational practices that support societal change. The fundamental research question is whether perceived environmental management practices strengthen employees’ public sphere pro-environmental behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the research hypothesis, the authors combined survey and quasi-experimental evidence from two independent field studies. Both studies were carried out in the tourist industry in Germany. In the first study, the authors used a cross-sectional research design with data from 206 employees to examine whether perceived environmental management practices are positively associated with employees’ public sphere pro-environmental behavior. For causal inference, the authors conducted a second study involving a natural pretest-posttest quasi-experiment with a treatment and control group.

Findings

The results of the cross-sectional study revealed that perceived environmental management practices are positively associated with employees’ public sphere pro-environmental behavior. The findings of the natural quasi-experiment confirmed the hypothesized causation and minimized the probability of alternative explanations.

Practical implications

The study has important implications for policymakers, since the support and acceptance of public policies is a prerequisite for the realization of collective political action. By highlighting the potential of organizational practices to strengthen employees’ public sphere pro-environmental behavior, this research illustrates how rules and regulations that oblige firms to intensify their environmental protection practices might not only reduce the ecological footprint of organizations but also help cultivate societal acceptance of and support for environmental protection.

Social implications

This study illustrates how employees that align their normative goals in accordance with the implicit goals of organizational practices can become agents for corresponding societal changes. This perspective highlights the integration of structure and agency and underscores the idea that societal change works across macro-, meso- and micro-social levels.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the investigation is the first that examines the relationship between perceived environmental management practices and employees’ public sphere pro-environmental behavior. Herewith, it sheds light on a thus far overlooked mechanism for how organizations stimulate societal change.

Details

Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-8021

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 April 2021

Małgorzata Budzanowska-Drzewiecka and Marta Tutko

Environmental management researchers stress the need to study the determinants of employee pro-environmental behaviour in different cultural settings. This study focusses on…

Abstract

Purpose

Environmental management researchers stress the need to study the determinants of employee pro-environmental behaviour in different cultural settings. This study focusses on employee voluntary pro-environmental behaviours in Poland. It aims (1) to examine the scope of employee green behaviours in the private and public sphere and (2) to explore the relationship between individual motivation and pro-environmental behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

Self-administered questionnaire was used for collecting data from 325 Polish employees. A structural equation modelling was applied to estimate the effects of individual motivation on pro-environmental behaviours in both private and public sphere. The psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale based on self-determination theory were checked beforehand.

Findings

Polish employees mainly engage in private-sphere pro-environmental behaviours. The engagement of employees in green behaviours is driven by autonomous motivation. Intrinsic motivation is a more important driver in the case of private-sphere pro-environmental behaviours; integrated regulation in the public sphere. The relationship between controlled motivation and employee pro-environmental behaviours in both spheres is unclear.

Research limitations/implications

As the data were gathered amongst Polish employees, the proposed model may be applied in culture-specific conditions in Poland.

Originality/value

This paper explores the extent to which individual motivation may foster pro-environmental behaviour of employees. Moreover, it offers the validation of the Polish version of the Motivation Toward the Environment Scale.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 32 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 April 2012

Joohyung Park and Sejin Ha

This study aims to investigate the differences in underlying psychological aspects regarding pro‐environmental behaviors between two distinct consumer groups: green product…

9348

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the differences in underlying psychological aspects regarding pro‐environmental behaviors between two distinct consumer groups: green product purchasers and green product non‐purchasers. Focusing on pro‐environmental behavior in recycling, it seeks to investigate these psychological aspects: cognitive attitude, affective attitude, social norm, personal norm, and behavioral intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a web‐based survey, a total of 363 responses from US consumers were used for the data analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to check the measurement model, and a multiple regression and MANOVA were performed to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Compared to green product non‐purchasers, green product purchasers exhibited significantly higher levels of cognitive attitude, affective attitude, social norm, personal norm, and recycling intention. Also cognitive attitude, social norm, and personal norm predicted recycling intention.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this study include the self‐reporting questionnaire and the measurement of consumers' recycling intention rather than their actual behavior.

Practical implications

This study will provide useful information to retailers who are developing product/service offerings and operation practices to address sustainable consumption.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence that certain consumer groups in relation to pro‐environmental product shopping behavior (purchasers vs. non‐purchasers) exhibit differences in the psychological formation of another pro‐environmental behavior, recycling.

Details

International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, vol. 40 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-0552

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 February 2022

Minseong Kim and Sae-Mi Lee

Prior research in the human resources management fields focused primarily on one type of employees’ pro-environmental behaviors yet failed to empirically investigate…

1233

Abstract

Purpose

Prior research in the human resources management fields focused primarily on one type of employees’ pro-environmental behaviors yet failed to empirically investigate interrelationships among the distinct dimensions of their pro-environmental behaviors. To build a deeper understanding of the psychological process in becoming an environmental activist in the workplace, this study aims to examine the interrelationships among frontline employees’ green autonomous motivation, green external motivation, environmental concern, self-efficacy and three types of pro-environmental behaviors (i.e. green idea generation behavior, green idea promotion behavior and green idea activist behavior).

Design/methodology/approach

With the survey method, the data were collected from frontline employees working at hospitality enterprises in South Korea. This study analyzed the collected data, including frequency analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling.

Findings

The empirical results showed that autonomous motivation significantly influenced environmental concern, self-efficacy, green idea generation behavior and green idea promotion behavior. Also, external motivation significantly affected environmental concern, self-efficacy and green idea promotion behavior. Furthermore, environmental concern had significant influences on self-efficacy and green idea promotion behavior, and self-efficacy had significant effects on green idea generation behavior and green idea promotion behavior. Finally, green idea activist behavior was significantly influenced by green idea generation behavior and green idea promotion behavior only.

Practical implications

This study proposes managerial implications to hospitality organizations and public policymakers for maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of their green initiatives via frontline employees’ green idea activist behavior.

Originality/value

Based on the empirical findings, this study proposes several theoretical and practical implications for the extant literature and the service industry in the context of frontline employees’ three types of pro-environmental behaviors from their working motivation.

Details

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-6119

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 May 2014

Alemayehu Molla, Ahmad Abareshi and Vanessa Cooper

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the beliefs and attitudinal factors that affect the private sphere pro-environmental behavior of information technology (IT) professionals…

2387

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the beliefs and attitudinal factors that affect the private sphere pro-environmental behavior of information technology (IT) professionals in using personal computers.

Design/methodology/approach

A research framework that draws from the belief-action-outcome (BAO) framework and that consisted of 11 hypotheses was developed. Data were collected from a sample of 322 IT professionals and analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results identify the pro-environmental personal computing actions that IT professionals are taking and how their Green IT beliefs, attitudes, information acquisition capability, and organizational fields influence their behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The sample was limited to Australian respondents. The measurement of IT-specific environmental practices was not exhaustive nor were the measures of macro- and micro-antecedents of Green IT belief and attitude.

Practical implications

National, regional, and international professional associations such as the Association of Information Systems can influence pro-environmental behavior among IT professionals through the creation and dissemination of information that shape both general and IT-specific environmental beliefs.

Originality/value

The novelty of this work lies in: first, proposing and testing a research framework that can be leveraged in future studies; second, establishing how organizational fields and availability of information contribute to the formation of IT professionals’ environmental beliefs and attitudes; third, applying and suggesting potential extension to the BAO framework to evaluate the association between IT practices and environmental sustainability among IT professionals.

Details

Information Technology & People, vol. 27 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0959-3845

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 February 2021

Sameera Mohamed Alzaidi and Shilpa Iyanna

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model based on an integrative approach to better understand voluntary pro-environmental behavior of employees.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model based on an integrative approach to better understand voluntary pro-environmental behavior of employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews theoretical approaches and uses an integrative perspective to develop a model to try to understand voluntary pro-environmental behavior in the workplace.

Findings

The authors developed a conceptual model of voluntary pro-environmental behavior of employees with four main variables: attitude, perceived behavioral control, personal norms and perceived corporate social responsibility. The authors also suggest that habit may have a moderating effect, which has been neglected in previous studies.

Practical implications

Recognition of the importance of voluntary pro-environmental behavior of employees could enable organizations to develop more strategies and polices that strengthen their formal corporate social responsibility programs.

Social implications

Business owners and decision makers who are helping to promote voluntary behavior will contribute to institutions’ environmental performance, saving natural resources and promoting pro-environmental practices.

Originality/value

The proposed model will offer future studies a holistic understanding of the factors that predict voluntary pro-environmental behavior of employees and the extent to which this behavior depends on organizational motivators.

Article
Publication date: 30 September 2020

Sara El-Deeb, Maria Correia and Christian Richter

The purpose of this paper is to investigate what drives people to show a willingness to mitigate the effects of climate change. To accomplish this goal, this research uses the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate what drives people to show a willingness to mitigate the effects of climate change. To accomplish this goal, this research uses the theory of planned behaviour to examine whether attitude towards climate change, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control are potential determinants of a pro-environmental intention and thus a pro-environmental behaviour.

Design/methodology/approach

This explanatory paper applies a Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to identify the key drivers of pro-environmental intention and behaviour. A non-probability convenience sample of 481 Egyptian respondents was collected.

Findings

This study finds that awareness combined with a willingness to pay to mitigate climate change are key drivers of pro-environmental intention. Moreover, personal responsibility and confidence in the ability to mitigate climate change also trigger climate-friendly intentions. Finally, it is found that societal engagement and willingness to take action increase the propensity to exhibit pro-environmental behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

The results of our analysis cannot be generalized to the Egyptian population as a whole as our sample only comprises a sample of Egyptian students.

Originality/value

This paper is novel as it is the first that applies Qualitative Comparative Analysis to the Theory of Planned Behaviour. By doing so, the paper sheds light on the understanding of key cognitive, social-psychological and behavioural factors which lead to environmental actions. Hence, it provides policy-makers with a framework to support a more sustainable society.

Details

International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, vol. 41 no. 7/8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-333X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 January 2020

Azila Jaini, Farzana Quoquab, Jihad Mohammad and Nazimah Hussin

In recent years, consumers are moving toward purchasing green cosmetics instead of chemical one. Plenty of cosmetics products are banned globally due to the usage of poisonous…

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Abstract

Purpose

In recent years, consumers are moving toward purchasing green cosmetics instead of chemical one. Plenty of cosmetics products are banned globally due to the usage of poisonous substances such as triphenyl phosphate and petroleum. As such, it is needed to shift the conventional purchase behavior to green purchase behavior (GPB) to reduce the negative impact on the environment and health. This study aims to investigate the factors that affect GPB in the context of cosmetics products purchase. Additionally, this study examines the moderating role of electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) in influencing such green behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used value-belief-norm (VBN) theory and elaboration likelihood model as a theoretical basis. By using judgmental sampling techniques, a total of 318 usable responses were gathered through online survey. The structural equation modeling approach using partial least square (SmartPLS, version 3.7) technique was used to test the study hypotheses.

Findings

Results reveal that altruistic value and hedonic value both positively affect pro-environmental beliefs, which eventually affect consumers’ personal norms. It is found that hedonic value has a greater influence on pro-environmental belief than altruistic value. Additionally, personal norm also exerts significant influence on GPB. Data also support the mediating role of pro-environmental belief and personal norm. Moreover, the multidimensional eWOM moderates the relationship between personal norm and GPB.

Practical implications

The findings from this study provide valuable insights for marketers, academicians and practitioners about the drivers of consumers’ green cosmetics purchase behavior. It will enable marketers to develop better strategies for the green market segment.

Social implications

The study findings also contribute to the social aspects by understanding consumers’ purchase behavior toward green cosmetics products. It ultimately promotes to consider a healthier lifestyle and to be concerned about environmental well-being.

Originality/value

This study is the first to introduce the eWOM as a moderator in the VBN theory. Moreover, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge in the field by examining few new linkages; more specifically, considering pro-environmental belief as to the mediator between “hedonic value and personal norm,” as well as the mediating effect of personal norm in the relationship between “pro-environmental belief and GPB.” Moreover, this is a pioneer study to consider eWOM as a multidimensional construct rather than unidimensional, which is new in green marketing literature.

Details

International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6123

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 November 2018

Rameshwar Shivadas Ture and M.P. Ganesh

The purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of individual and organisational factors on pro-environmental behaviours of the employees at the workplace.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the influence of individual and organisational factors on pro-environmental behaviours of the employees at the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

A model explaining pro-environmental behaviours at workplace has been proposed based on contemporary literature related to value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, corporate environmentalism framework and norm. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 20 manufacturing organisations in India and 383 useful individual responses were collected. The proposed model has been tested with the help of structural regression analysis.

Findings

The results of the study show that both individual characteristics as well as organisational efforts influence employees’ pro-environmental behaviours. However, the effect varies as per the type of behaviour. Personal norm mediates the relationship between subjective social norm and two types of pro-environmental behaviours.

Research limitations/implications

An individual faces subjective or objective constraints while exhibiting pro-environmental behaviours. The effect of subjective or the objective constraint needs to be explored in future studies.

Originality/value

To explain pro-environmental behaviours at workplace the authors tested VBN theory, as it was overlooked till date in management literature. It also contributes to the VBN literature by extending it to include organisational variables like corporate environmentalism and social psychological variable like social norm.

Details

Benchmarking: An International Journal, vol. 25 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-5771

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 4 February 2022

Mario D'Arco and Vittoria Marino

This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of sustainability app on environmental citizenship behavior on the basis of norm-activation model.

4405

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the moderating effect of sustainability app on environmental citizenship behavior on the basis of norm-activation model.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey, which comprises five variables (i.e. awareness of consequences, ascription of responsibility, personal norms, environmental citizenship behavior in a private sphere and environmental citizenship behavior in a public sphere) measured through 16 items, was conducted in the USA by using Amazon Mechanical Turk. With 549 valid respondents’ answers in hand, the collected data were analyzed applying a multi-group structural equation modelling technique with IBM SPSS AMOS 23 software program.

Findings

The results revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between awareness of consequences, ascription of responsibility, personal norms and environmental citizenship behavior in both private and public sphere. Furthermore, this study attested that sustainability apps utilization has a moderating effect on the predictors of environmental citizenship behaviors.

Originality/value

Past studies have seldom examined the contribution of mobile apps to environmental sustainability. This paper enriches the extant academic literature in the field of technology for behavior change, and bears significant implications on how sustainability apps can be adopted by governments, policymakers, organizations and teacher educators to engage people and stimulate environmental citizenship behaviors.

Details

Transforming Government: People, Process and Policy, vol. 16 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6166

Keywords

1 – 10 of 349