Environmental Orientation Research Articles

National culture and entrepreneurial orientation in a hostile environment: a study of informal enterprises in Nigeria

ABSTRACT This paper synthesizes the framework of national culture and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) in the context of informal enterprises in hostile environments. The study uses quantitative analysis with the partial least square-structural equation model (PLS-SEM) to examine whether six national culture dimensions affect informal enterprises’ EO in hostile environments. The study draws upon a sample of 385 informal enterprises across seven states of Nigeria. The findings show that power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and normative orientation negatively affect EO. In contrast, collectivism, femininity, and indulgence positively affect EO. The results justify the conclusion that high power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, and normative orientation are important cultural factors that constrain EO across informal enterprises and further inflict their prolonged informal status. In contrast, collectivism, femininity, and indulgence support their EO despite their high-power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and cultural rigidity. The study suggests properly formulating and implementing policies and programmes to reduce prevailing inequality, uncertainties, and complexities. This study makes novel contributions to knowledge by helping understand the relationships between the six dimensions of national culture and the EO of informal enterprises in Nigeria’s hostile environments, thereby providing crucial insight into why these enterprises manifest low EO.

Environmental orientations to Innovation Ecosystem: the role of green transition, perceived environmental uncertainty and green transformational leadership

Environmental orientations to Innovation Ecosystem: the role of green transition, perceived environmental uncertainty and green transformational leadership

Have MSMEs in Indonesia Focused on Business Sustainability? The Influence of Environmental Orientation, Technology Implementation, Green Marketing, and Innovation Capability

The aim of this study is to determine the factors that impact MSMEs' sustainability practices and the degree to which they concentrate on business sustainability in Indonesia. This study used a quantitative research approach and collected survey data from MSMEs in Indonesia operating in various industries totaling 350 samples. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for data analysis to assess the relationship between variables. The study discovered that a focus on the environment, the application of technology, and green marketing greatly improve an organization's capacity for innovation, which in turn has a favorable impact on the sustainability of the firm. MSMEs are more likely to develop and maintain their business practices over time if they invest in green marketing techniques, use cutting-edge technologies, and give priority to environmental issues. In order to attain sustainability, MSMEs should include technology, marketing, and environmental initiatives into their fundamental business operations, according to the research. It is recommended that policymakers provide incentives, subsidies, and training programs to MSMEs in order to encourage the adoption of technology and green marketing. Support like this can encourage sustainable practices throughout the industry and close the digital divide. This study offers insightful information about the combined effects of environmental orientation, technology adoption, and green marketing on MSMEs in Indonesia's capacity for innovation and long-term viability of their businesses. It gives helpful suggestions for boosting MSMEs' sustainability and emphasizes the crucial role that innovation plays in converting these elements into sustainable business practices.

Analysis of the structure of Russian acreage within the framework of the concept of sustainable agriculture

The purpose of scientific work is a comprehensive analysis of the impact of changes in the structure of acreage and the land use system on ensuring the sustainability of the agricultural industry in Russia. The results obtained demonstrate that, despite the implementation of a number of legislative initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and environmental orientation of agriculture, a number of unresolved problems remain in the Russian Federation that hinder the transition to a model of sustainable agricultural production. Inefficient use of land resources is a problem faced by many agricultural regions in Russia. Irrational structuring of land, unbalanced distribution of agricultural land, low efficiency of use of modern technologies and resources lead to the loss of land potential. This has a negative impact on the yield and quality of agricultural products. There may be insufficient attention to the environmental aspects of land management: conserving biodiversity, maintaining natural ecosystems, minimizing the ecological footprint of agricultural activities and applying methods that promote soil regeneration. The comprehensive improvement of land management mechanisms in the Russian Federation, taking into account the concept of sustainable agriculture, involves the development and implementation of policies aimed at stimulating sustainable agricultural practices, supporting innovative methods and technologies, as well as training and advising agricultural producers on sustainable agriculture. This approach will significantly improve land use efficiency and ensure the sustainable development of Russia's agricultural sector.

Spirituality in social entrepreneurship: an ethical approach to sustainability

Purpose This study aims to present a sustainability framework that advances the conceptual understanding of the role of spirituality in the context of social entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach Through a systematic literature review of spirituality at both the individual and organisational levels, the triple bottom line framework of sustainability, and business ethics, this study offers a sustainability framework for social entrepreneurship. It explains how spirituality at these levels influences various dimensions of social entrepreneurship and helps achieve social, economic, environmental and ethical outcomes. Findings The study proposed that individuals with spiritual practices are more likely to engage in entrepreneurial, social, ethical and environmental orientations, while organisations with spiritual practices are more likely to engage in employee, market and ethical orientations. Spiritual capability can serve as a strategic advantage and contribute to the sustainable development of social enterprises. Originality/value This study makes three significant contributions. First, it presents an emergent framework for integrating spirituality (at both individual and organisational levels) and sustainability within the social entrepreneurship literature, offering implications for both social entrepreneurs and social enterprises. Second, this study proposes incorporating ethics as the fourth dimension of sustainability and argues that spirituality can act as a catalyst for achieving sustainability in social entrepreneurship. Third, this study identifies seven critical dimensions of social entrepreneurship: spiritual capabilities, entrepreneurial orientation, social orientation, environmental orientation, market orientation, ethical orientation and employee orientation, all of which contribute to ethical and sustainable development.

The food industry supply chain: Synergy of environmental orientation and collaboration in implementing circularity

AbstractCircularity within supply chains can be realized through the seamless integration of ecological concerns into business strategies, coupled with stakeholder collaboration throughout the supply chain. A study of a supply chain aiming for circularity was conducted in a real setting for a renowned multinational company in the food processing industry to explore how environmental orientation shapes collaborative practices. The model was applied to reveal the significance of the circular practices that supply chain members follow within the case company. The interpretive ranking process (IRP) was further applied to rank the stakeholders in the supply chain of this company. Results reveal that raw material suppliers, farmers, customers, and volunteers occupy a significant position in implementing circularity in this supply chain. It is essential to provide incentives to suppliers in order to encourage them to adopt practices that promote circular supply chains. Simultaneously, local communities need to play an active role in implementing effective waste management practices. This case study underscores the critical imperative of nurturing a pro‐environmental mindset while fostering synergetic collaboration among stakeholders, thereby paving the path towards achieving circularity.

Attitudes and preferences of the Swiss population towards noise abatement measures: Results from a nationwide panel survey

As part of the Swiss Environmental Panel (SEP) survey, conducted jointly by ETH Zurich and the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), we aimed at obtaining a representative picture of the Swiss people's attitudes regarding noise and noise sources as well as their opinions and preferences about the currently implemented institutional noise protection measures. Knowledge of people's attitudes in this domain is very useful for policy makers, the public administration and the wider public. Survey topics included: degree of satisfaction with the current state of noise abatement, annoyance by emerging new sources, the attitudes vis à vis speed reductions and other noise abatement measures at source, the reasons one is in favor or against these measures, the sanctioning of excessively loud car enthusiasts ("posers" as they are also called), or the installment of "noise radars" to catch and punish noise offenders. Stratified analyses consider political and environmental orientation, age group, degree of urbanization, and socioeconomic status. Data gathering was carried out between May and August 2023 and involved more than 7000 respondents across whole Switzerland.

Examining the strategic and operation HR competencies as enablers of green human resource management practices: mediating role of perceived environmental orientation

The need to develop an environmentally conscious culture and practice in the organization has become evident over the years. Hinged on the Resource Orchestration Theory (ROT), this study investigates the influence of human resource strategic roles and operational roles on green human resource management (green HRM) through the mediation of perceived environmental orientation. A self-administered questionnaire technique was used, and data were collected from 139 HR professionals from the hospitality industry in Pakistan. The finding from using Smart PLS-SEM 3 shows that the strategic role significantly influences the green HRM; however, the operational role does not influence green HRM. Also, the relationships between strategic role and operational role with environmental orientation were significant. Furthermore, a significant relationship exists between environmental orientation and green HRM. In addition, perceived environmental orientation significantly mediates the relationships between strategic role and operational role with green HRM. The study highlights the mechanisms in which efficient development of green HRM in the hospitality industry can be achieved. Implications and future directions for developing green HRM were discussed.

Nurturing Environmentally Responsible Practices Using Top Management Role on Effective Training and Supplier Orientation to Promote Green Logistics Management Practices

Purpose: This study investigated top management role on effective environmental training, using supplier environmental orientation to promote green logistics management practices. This was a deductive study since the positivist worldview was used to address the query about the relationship between variables. Methodology: The study used a quantitative method, which is consistent with the paradigm that was chosen. Data from the study population, which included Ghanaian manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and extraction companies, was gathered through questionnaires. The target population's size was ascertained using the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) database. The scientists used the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size estimation table. Given the above, a sample size of 300 firms was selected from a total of 1178 respondents. The inclusion of descriptive statistics, such as Mean (x̄) and Standard Deviation (SD), contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the data. The application of SPSS software, version 25, for data analysis underscores a commitment to using reputable tools in the research process. Findings: The conclusion drawn from the results yielded robust reputable evidence in support of the positive relationship between environmental training and green logistics management practices. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy, and Practice: Management should prioritize partnerships with suppliers who align with sustainable practices and contribute to the adoption of green logistics management practices within the supply chain.

Leveraging Lean and Green Supply Chain Practices for Sustainable Supply Chain Performance: The Moderating Role of Environmental Orientation

Abstract This study investigates the impact of lean and green supply chain practices on business process performance and sustainable supply chain performance. The research utilises the resource-based view (RBV) theory to construct a conceptual model wherein lean and green supply chain practices are employed to augment business processes and sustainable performance. Concurrently, dynamic capabilities theory is applied to signify an organisation’s capacity to adapt and evolve in response to internal and external pressures from customers and competitors. The conceptual model is validated using structural equation modelling with a sample of 170 supply chain practitioners from the apparel and textile supply chain in Jordan. Results indicate that lean practices exhibit no direct impact, whereas green practices significantly influence business process performance and indirectly affect sustainable supply chain performance. Business process performance does not mediate the relationship for lean practices, but it does so for green practices. Moreover, the environmental orientation of both competitors and customers negatively moderates the impact of green practices on business processes and sustainable supply chain performance. These findings contribute to existing literature and underscore the crucial role of green supply chain practices in enhancing sustainable supply chain performance in the apparel and textile industry.

SilverCycling: Exploring the Impact of Bike-Based Locomotion on Spatial Orientation for Older Adults in VR

Spatial orientation is essential for people to effectively navigate and interact with the environment in everyday life. With age-related cognitive decline, providing VR locomotion techniques with better spatial orientation performance for older adults becomes important. Such advancements not only make VR more accessible to older adults but also enable them to reap the potential health benefits of VR technology. Natural motion-based locomotion has been shown its effective in enhancing younger users' performance in VR navigation tasks that require spatial orientation. However, there is a lack of understanding regarding the impact of natural motion-based locomotion on spatial orientation for older adults in VR. To address this gap, we selected the SilverCycling system, a VR bike-based locomotion technique that we developed, as a representative of natural motion-based locomotion, guided by findings from our pilot study. We conducted a user study with 16 older adults to compare SilverCycling with the joystick-based controller. The findings suggest SilverCycling potential to significantly enhance spatial orientation in the open-road urban environment for older adults, offering a better user experience. Based on our findings, we identify key factors influencing spatial orientation and propose design recommendations to make VR locomotion more accessible and user-friendly for older adults.

Impact orientation and venture capital financing: The interplay of governmental, social impact and traditional venture capital

In addition to traditional venture capital (VC), governmental VC and social impact VC investors have emerged as alternatives to fund entrepreneurial ventures, especially start-ups that incorporate social and/or environmental objectives into commercial operations. Using a sample of 15,510 VC-backed start-ups, we show that impact-oriented ventures are more likely to receive funding from alternative VCs. Both social and environmental orientations increase the chances that a start-up secures funding from impact VCs while social orientation drives results for government VCs. Importantly, we also show that impact-oriented ventures are more likely to secure investment from traditional VCs when impact and governmental VCs co-invest.

Attention Matters: Time and Environmental Orientation in the Implementation of Sustainable Practices

Attention Matters: Time and Environmental Orientation in the Implementation of Sustainable Practices

Achieving sustainability through green human resource management practices and environmental orientation fit: a multilevel modeling

Achieving sustainability through green human resource management practices and environmental orientation fit: a multilevel modeling

Being a patient in a crowded emergency department: a qualitative service evaluation

BackgroundEmergency department (ED) crowding causes increased mortality. Professionals working in crowded departments feel unable to provide high-quality care and are predisposed to burnout. Awareness of the impact on patients, however,...

Environmental orientations at work: Scientific and embodied environmental knowledge

Based on two qualitative case studies undertaken in Switzerland, this article compares the positioning of Climate Strike activists and construction workers on questions of climate change, so as to analyse the impact of work practices on environmental orientations. Building on a praxeological approach, the article argues that communities of practice in workplaces and educational institutions influence environmental orientations. Everyday practice in schools and universities fosters the scientific environmental knowledge that is central to the orientations of climate activists. By contrast, the practice of construction workers inculcates an embodied environmental knowledge which accompanies an orientation that takes environmental problems as not primarily a question of conservation, but rather as inherently linked to workplace matters. By way of conclusion, the article argues for an expanded notion of environmental concerns, beyond the acceptance of scientific facts on ecological crisis and towards embracing the embodied environmental knowledge more broadly prevalent among manual workers.

Eco‐centric success: Stakeholder approaches to sustainable performance via green improvisation behavior and environmental orientation in the hotel industry

Eco‐centric success: Stakeholder approaches to sustainable performance via green improvisation behavior and environmental orientation in the hotel industry

Envisaging Participatory Management in Protected Areas: Local Response to Proposed Conservation Actions in Relation to Environmental Orientation

Involving local people in natural area management is very important to address the complexity of environmental management issues for the sustainable use of local resources. Participatory methods require the contribution of local stakeholders in decision-making. Mapping the environmental views of local communities allows for the detection of aspects that could facilitate management efforts. This research—in the frame of the Skyros LIFE project and the PAMNATURA project—measures the local acceptability of the conservation actions proposed by the LIFE project in Skyros island (Greece), in relation to recording local people’s environmental orientation using the 15-item revised New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) scale. The research was carried out by means of questionnaires. The LIFE project proposed actions were grouped into three categories according to their theme, i.e., promoting (a) nature protection, (b) agro-pastoralism and (c) ecotourism. The sample seems to largely agree with the LIFE project proposals, while the results showed high scores for most of the NEP scale items, implying pro-environmental beliefs, though there appears to be disagreement or neutrality regarding a few items. The local acceptability of the proposed actions was found to correlate to local people’s environmental concern measured through the NEP scale. Drawing on the results, the implementation of actions related directly or indirectly to economic activities and the preservation of traditional activities, as well as environmental education and interactive informing and consultation, could enhance local participation. Skyros island seems to offer an appropriate social background for applying participatory and adaptive management and implementing conservation programs.

Variability of teaching foreign language aerospace terminology to future engineers

Introduction. The accelerated development of knowledge-intensive industries in the aerospace industries requires an influx of highly professional engineers capable of international professional communication. However, mastering highly specialized terminology in a foreign language when teaching students at an aerospace higher education institution remains a weak link in the chain today. The purpose of the study is the scientific substantiation, development and implementation of educational and methodological material for teaching a foreign language to future aerospace engineers based on variable approaches. Materials and methods. The study involved 87 first-year students of the technical departments of the Moscow Aviation Institute (the Russian Federation). Methods of source analysis, sequential experiment, student selfassessment, repeated questioning, comparative analysis, statistical methods (Fisher criterion) were used. Results. A set of exercises has been developed and tested to enhance mastery of a foreign language engineering and environmental vocabulary of aerospace specialties. It was found that the basic request of students is to master highly specialized terminology as a tool for increasing competitiveness (92%) with recognition of the effectiveness of a variable approach to studying the vocabulary of a specialty (97%). The maximum level of assessment of the need to study highly specialized vocabulary for research work (100%) and increased interest in the study of environmental issues based on mastering foreign language terminology (92%) were identified. The highest average value was obtained in students' assessment of the importance of using authentic texts of engineering and environmental orientation (52%), as well as in the growth of interest in participating in scientific conferences on aerospace issues in a foreign language (48%). However, the level of development of listening skills in terms of understanding highly specialized terms when watching video materials remains low (46%). The problem of low motivation of students to independently study specialty materials in a foreign language also requires a solution (62%). Despite the proposed variable approaches, only 57% of respondents are ready to diversify traditional individual forms of learning by working in pairs, mini-groups, and only 64% agree to study in the form of panel discussions and business games. The results of statistical processing of the results based on the Fisher angle coefficient showed the feasibility of using a set of exercises to increase students’ involvement in studying international news (φ*emp = 5.415; p < 0.01), to motivate students to analyze foreign language materials on engineering and environmental issues in addition to basic textbook (φ*emp = 7.413; p < 0.01). Conclusion. The proposed educational and methodological materials for variable teaching of aerospace engineering and environmental vocabulary make it possible to increase the effectiveness of the formation of communication skills in professional international communication in terms of young people’s understanding of the harm from the impact of aerospace on the environment and possible ways to reduce risks.

Orientation towards environmental sustainability in European family versus nonfamily firms: the role of policymaker engagement and incentives

ABSTRACT This study contributes to the debate on family business environmental sustainability by investigating the environmental orientation of family versus nonfamily firms. We study whether family business status affects (i) the extent of environmental orientation, i.e. the number of incentives set for environmental sustainability activities, contingent upon firms’ engagement with policymakers, and (ii) how firms’ environmental orientation unfolds, considering the types and beneficiaries of the incentives. To do so, we build on behavioural theories in family business, along with the literature on firm non-market strategies and responses to institutional pressure. Data on 162 European manufacturing firms from the Carbon Disclosure Project and the Orbis database are collected. Our results show that family firms have a higher degree of environmental orientation than nonfamily firms. However, when they engage with policymakers, the family firm–environmental orientation relationship weakens. Regarding the types and beneficiaries of the incentives, family firms are more likely to provide monetary incentives and to be more inclusive in their incentive systems than nonfamily firms are.