Adoption of sustainable business practices in the private club industry from GMs and COOs’ perspectives

Abstract

This study applied the theoretical framework of innovation adoption and concept of board support, relevant to private club’s sustainable business practices (SBPs). The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors influencing the adoption of SBPs in the private club industry. The adoption of SBPs has not been addressed extensively in academic research for private club, especially from leaders’ perspectives. The data were collected from 221 general managers and chief operation officers, using an online survey. Three-step hierarchical regression analyses were used to find perceived innovation characteristics and board support on the outcome variable. Board support, perceived by club GMs and COOs, was found to have the biggest influence on adoption intention of SBPs, in addition to significant influences of relative advantage, complexity (ease of use), and compatibility. This study highlighted an important role of board support on GMs’ and COOs’ intention to adopt SBPs, emphasizing the unique structure of private club governance. Understanding what the motivating factors are for club executives to adopt SBPs will enable them to engage in SBPs more effectively in the private club industry. Implications and opportunities for future research were addressed.