Environmental Orientation Research Articles

Exploring firm performance by institutional pressures driven green supply chain management practices

PurposeEnvironmental concerns are rapidly increasing in the industries across the world. They are a more serious issue, especially, in the developing countries due to the prevalence of old practices and outdated technology. The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of institutional pressure and environmental orientation of the firm in adopting green supply chain management (GSCM) practices, and thereon the effect of GSCM on the firm’s performance.Design/methodology/approachBy employing survey methodology using purposive sampling technique, the data were collected from 229 respondents who were working as supply chain management professionals in various manufacturing firms. The hypotheses were tested through partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe findings reveal that both institutional pressures and environmental orientation significantly impact GSCM practices. The result further shows that GSCM practices have a positive effect on the environmental and economic performance as well as customer effectiveness.Originality/valueIndustries in the developing economies like Pakistan are reluctant to implement GSCM practices due to the perception of ambiguous financial implications. This study signifies that institutional pressures act as an effective driving force for change management and compliance.

Assessment of the influence of façade location and orientation in indoor environment of double-skin building envelopes with perforated metal sheets

Double-skin perforated sheet façades, enclosures consisting of perforated screens, air chambers and glass/wall sheets, are features of modern building design that are winning greater acceptance. A detailed analysis of their suitability across Europe is first performed here. A reference building both with and without the protective double-skin perforated sheet envelope is subjected to a comparative test of solar energy gains with regard to the environment. Additionally, the results of a preliminary survey are presented on the visual perceptions of different patterns of perforated metal sheets. Then the behaviour of these configurations is addressed, through a complete “Energyplus® model” (design builder). A test campaign on a reference perforated screen mounted on a service building of reference was fully monitored over one year, supported by thermographic data recorded for additional validation purposes during the same period. The new parametric energy assessment takes additional variables into account, such as orientation and location of the façade, demonstrating that the real performance for such enclosures greatly depends on them. Accordingly, the influence of different combinations of perforated screens on cooling, heating and lighting loads demonstrates the suitability of a previously optimized configuration in terms of relative energy savings.

The interplay of corporate entrepreneurship, environmental orientation, and performance in clean‐tech firms—A double‐edged sword

AbstractClean‐tech innovations are an important driver in solving global issues such as climate change and for the sustainable development of economies around the world. Whereas a large part of the literature focuses on clean‐tech ventures, less is known on corporate entrepreneurship, that is, entrepreneurial behavior in established firms and its relation to sustainability. This paper extends the sustainable entrepreneurship debate to corporate entrepreneurship, which represents a fruitful avenue to further developing clean technologies. We focus particularly on clean‐tech firms' organizational preparedness for corporate entrepreneurship (OPCE), that is, how well a firm's structures and processes are set for entrepreneurial activities. On the basis of contingency theory, this study investigates how the level of OPCE influences the environmental and financial performance of clean‐tech firms and whether their environmental orientation affects these relationships. Building on data from 103 firms, we find support for a positive effect of OPCE on both environmental and financial performance. Both effects are stronger the higher the external environmental orientation. In contrast, the leverage of internal environmental orientation is not equally positive. Our study reveals that the effect of OPCE on financial performance diminishes for firms that are more strongly driven by an internal than an external environmental orientation.

Examining the Moderating Effect of Environmental Hostility on the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation and International Performance of Indonesian SMEs

This paper aims to investigate the role of environmental hostility in moderating the relationship between Indonesian small and medium enterprises’ entrepreneurial orientation and their international performance. As SMEs involved in international business activities and often encounter unpredictable environments, they are expected to deal with various threats and risk that are related to intense competition in price and product, shrinking market and supplies, and as well as governments reviewed and altered rules. Thus, this paper will discuss about the entanglement of environmental hostility on Indonesian SMEs entrepreneurial orientation effort and their international performance. The main objective of this study is to discuss a conceptual framework that indicates the interrelationship between entrepreneurial orientation, environmental hostility and international performance of Indonesian SMEs. The proposed framework will examine the implication of Indonesian SMEs’ environmental orientation and international performance when the foreign countries’ business environment is in unfavourable condition. The findings of the study are expected to help Indonesian SMEs to be alert and more critical about hostile business environment in foreign countries as it can affect their business operation overseas. Additionally, Indonesian SMEs can apply strategic insights concerning potential impacts of uncertainties in foreign business environment to improve their international performance.

Green business strategy and export performance

PurposeBuilding upon the insights of the resource-based view and contingency theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the boundary conditions of green business strategy on the export financial performance of firms from an emerging economy.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study was conducted to test the conceptual model. In total, 224 questionnaires were collected from exporting manufacturing companies and were analyzed using full information maximum likelihood.FindingsThe results of the study demonstrate that green business strategy has a strong and positive relationship with export financial performance. Also, environmental orientation and cost leadership play a significant and positive moderating role in this relationship. However, green product differentiation is complementary with green business strategy only when a cost leadership strategy is also maintained.Practical implicationsThe study has practical implications since it identifies green business strategy as an important lever for emerging export managers. More specifically, they have to be aware of the challenges when they operate outside the cost leadership boundaries and should actively seek to develop the environmental orientation of employees and managers.Originality/valueThis study reveals the relationship between green business strategy and export success for emerging country exporters that are understudied and face unique challenges. In particular, the authors explore the contingency factors that strengthen or weaken the relationship and provide additional insight to the question: “when does it pay to be green?” for exporters from emerging economies.

Influence of Viewing Field on Zoom Levels in Pedestrian Orientation Task Using Smartphones

Abstract. Psychological findings indicate that the scale of human perception has implications on optimal map design. According to the map-based orientation in the real environment, this viewing scale depends on the visual field and is graphically reproduced using zoom levels, which significantly influences the map display area on smartphones. However, it is still unclear how to determine these zoom levels in the pedestrian navigation application. The purpose of this article is to adapt the map display area to the location-related viewing field using a corresponding zoom level. This optimal map display area should make it easier for the pedestrians’ self-location and navigational decisions. The results of the experiments have shown that there was a close relationship between the viewing field and the zoom level on the smartphone. However, if the first decision point of changing direction was in the viewing field, the distance between the viewpoint (You-Are-Here point) and this decision point influenced the zoom level. Otherwise, this distance did not have any influence on the zoom level. In this case, the distance between the viewpoint and the local landmarks determined the zoom level.

Neutron-Induced Multiple-Cell Upsets in 20-nm Bulk SRAM: Angular Sensitivity and Impact of Multiwell Potential Perturbation

Neutron-induced multiple-cell upsets (MCUs) are studied in a 20-nm bulk SRAM by irradiation experiments using atmospheric-like neutrons at several angles of incidence. The evaluation of soft error rates reveals that the multiple-bit upset rate significantly increases at grazing incidence, indicating the possibility that the efficiency of error-correction codes is reduced depending on the device orientation in the terrestrial environment. The analyses of the characteristics of the MCU events confirm that the forward emission of secondary ions, the geometry of SRAM cells, and the parasitic bipolar effects are the key factors in determining the angular sensitivity of MCUs. Our analysis unveils the unique data pattern dependence in the occurrence probability of gap structures in fail bit patterns. Based on the consideration of potential perturbations in multiple p-wells, multi-well coupled potential unbalancing is found to be the plausible mechanism underlying this observation. The detailed analyses of fail bit maps with internal node voltages demonstrate that observed gap structures are consistent with the configuration induced by this mechanism.

Assessing Environmental Orientations of Children at UNRWA Schools: Investigating Psychometric Properties of the New Ecological Paradigm Scale

The present study developed a modified New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) Scale for evaluating the multidimensional nature of environmental orientations following a descriptive correlational research design. The participants of the study were 325 second and third grade students of both genders at UNRWA schools, Jordan. They responded to the NEP to investigate their perceptions about ecology, environment and the causes affecting their quality, which is of interest to environmental education curriculum designers for school children. The results have shown a significant and positive impact of the rights of nature, eco-crisis and Human Exemptionalism. The NEP scale has been regarded as a valuable tool for increasing the response rate, reducing the response burden, and improving the completion rate to check the validity, reliability, and dimensionality of the study tool. Therefore, the scale was recommended to be used as a valid instrument to assess lower elementary grade students’ environmental orientations and thereby evaluating the effectiveness of the environmental curriculum in developing such orientations. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.18.7. 8

Can board environmental orientation improve U.S. firms' carbon performance? The mediating role of carbon strategy

AbstractOverwhelming evidence from prior research suggests a positive association between corporate board characteristics and carbon performance; however, very little is known about the mechanisms linking the two variables. This study attempts to fill this gap by developing and empirically testing a conceptual model that highlights the role of carbon strategy in the relationship between board environmental orientation (BEO) and carbon performance. We argue that BEO can directly and indirectly influence carbon performance through carbon strategy. Using structural equation modelling to analyse data consisting of 2,301 U.S. firm‐year observations over the 2005–2015 period, we find that the greater the BEO is, the better its carbon performance (i.e., lower greenhouse gas emissions). The results also provide evidence of the mediating effect of carbon strategy on the relationship between BEO and carbon performance. Splitting the sample into high and low carbon‐intensive industries shows a partial mediation effect in high carbon‐intensive industries and a full mediation effect in low carbon‐intensive industries. The findings of the study and its implications for scholars, policymakers, managers, investors, and environmentalists are discussed.

What does targeting ecological sustainability mean for company financial performance?

AbstractThis study empirically examines the effects of companies' environmental orientation on their long‐run financial performance. It also examines the mediating roles of environmental legitimacy and environmental performance. We use PLS‐SEM among a sample of large U.S.‐based companies. The results show that an environmental orientation that targets ecological sustainability is directly and positively associated with the debt ratio and with long‐run market value but to a lesser degree than what is obtained by not targeting ecological sustainability. Targeting ecological sustainability has a greater positive impact on environmental legitimacy than not targeting ecological sustainability. Environmental legitimacy, but not environmental performance, mediates the link between environmental orientation and long‐run profitability and market value. These findings suggest that targeting ecological sustainability is important for improving environmental legitimacy, but companies are not proactive in improving environmental performance. This study offers insights to managers for improving financial performance by targeting ecological sustainability.

Universities act differently: identification of organizational effectiveness criteria for faculties

Reforms in higher education according to new public management (NPM) have led to so-called managerial universities, which place a stronger focus on effectiveness and efficiency, causing profound changes in related organizational structures, which in turn must support target attainment to achieve organizational effectiveness. An overview of research shows that the organizational effectiveness of faculties has hardly been investigated so far. Moreover, there are no effectiveness criteria for the organization of faculties, post-reform. The present article aims to identify effectiveness criteria for the organization of faculties. Guided interviews were conducted with 16 experts from different universities working in faculty management. Both open and specific questions about the general criteria of effectiveness, as derived from the literature, were used. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The results show continuity, trust, transparency and relief as inductively identified criteria. Communication and information supply, environmental orientation, decision-making quality and motivation were confirmed as effectiveness criteria from the literature.

Social and environmental preferences: measuring how people make tradeoffs among themselves, others, and collective goods

Social preferences like social value orientation are considered a promising solution to social dilemmas, such as mitigating anthropogenic climate change. However, evidence on the relationship between social preferences and environmental concerns is mixed, possibly because these constructs have commonly been measured by distinct methods that do not facilitate direct comparisons. We address this gap by introducing an incentivized preference-based measurement approach, extending a subject’s concerns for the wellbeing of others to a subject’s willingness to support environmental and humanitarian endeavors, based on a simple social preferences utility function. In this measurement approach, subjects make resource allocation choices with real consequences and the design ensures comparability of different revealed preferences (i.e., people’s willingness to make tradeoffs between themselves and others via donations to NGOs supporting different environmental and social causes). We then use this measurement method in an exploratory fashion to consistently assess preferences for environmental and humanitarian concerns in a laboratory experiment. We find that social and environmental value orientations are robustly interrelated, and further that people are generally more willing to pay to benefit people in need, compared to abstract environmental causes. We conclude that interventions to nudge people towards proenvironmental behavior will have a greater impact if human suffering resulting from global climate change is made more salient.

Measuring environmental orientation in hotels: empirical evidence from Sri Lanka

ABSTRACTThe paper presents a quantitative approach to measure environmental orientation in hotels. It proposes a composite indicator, which consists of five individual indicators, namely environmental records, environment policy, environment management systems, involvement in relevant projects/programmes and receipt of environmental awards and certifications. The paper also attempts to empirically assess factors affecting environmental orientation of hotels using primary data collected through a survey of hotels. The paper finds that hotel characteristics play an important role in hotel’s environmental orientation. Customer characteristics and manager characteristics do not show a statistically significant relationship to environmental orientation in hotels.

“É perto, mas é muito, muito longe”: conversando com crianças sobre senso espacial

Neste artigo evidenciamos indícios de orientação espacial de crianças de cinco anos, matriculadas em uma escola municipal de educação infantil. Consideramos o que elas dizem a respeito do trajeto escola/casa/escola. Tal estudo faz parte de uma pesquisa qualitativa de doutorado em educação sobre senso espacial infantil no campo da geometria. Este texto se constituiu a partir da escuta de crianças em catorze entrevistas realizadas, das quais selecionamos questões sobre noções espaciais de perto/longe. Em Clements (2004), Lorenzato (2006), Mendes e Delgado (2008) encontramos suporte teórico para tratar da orientação espacial. Corsaro (2011) e Sarmento (2007) nos auxiliaram nos estudos sobre infância. Verificamos que as crianças possuem conhecimentos sobre orientação espacial e relacionam noções espaciais de perto/longe aos seus próprios pontos de referência. Concluímos que é importante considerar os usos e significados que as crianças atribuem às noções espaciais, mas também vale considerar o papel significativo da escola em pensar e problematizar junto com as crianças essa orientação espacial no ambiente escolar, no bairro e na cidade onde vivem e se locomovem.

Employees' corporate social responsibility perceptions and organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment: The mediating roles of organizational identification and environmental orientation fit

AbstractThe importance of organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment (OCBEs) has been clearly established in the environmental literature. The purpose of this study is to examine the mediation of organizational identification and environmental orientation fit on the relationship between employees' corporate social responsibility (CSR) perceptions and their engagement in organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment. On the basis of 374 survey responses from employees, our structural equation modeling results indicated that CSR perceptions had a positive effect on employees' OCBEs. Moreover, both organizational identification and environmental orientation fit mediated the effect of CSR perceptions on employees' OCBEs. This study contributed to three literature streams (i.e., CSR, pro‐environmental behaviors and environmental management, and person–environment fit). Managerial implications and recommendations for future research are given at the end.

Effects of an art-based environmental education camp program on the environmental attitudes and awareness of diverse youth

ABSTRACTThis study used a combination of surveys and drawing-based metrics to evaluate whether integration of art-based activities into EE camp programing could enhance environmental orientations of diverse youth ages 6–12 (n = 285) in Athens, GA, USA. Compared to a control group, art-based EE had a positive effect on children’s eco-awareness and environmental knowledge. However, effects of the art-based EE were comparable to those observed for a conventional EE summer camp. Interactions between the treatment and demographic variables (e.g., gender, age, race/ethnicity) were minimal, suggesting that both types of EE programing worked well for different groups of youth. Results highlight the potential value of art in EE research and practice.

ЭЛИТАРНЫЕ ОРИЕНТАЦИИ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО САМООПРЕДЕЛЕНИЯ В ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЙ СРЕДЕ


 
 
 The paper deals with topical issues of vocational guidance for young people, specifies innovative forms of vocational orientation in the educational environment. The active character of the subject of professional self-determination is emphasized, the psychological and pedagogical conditions of the formation of such activity are highlighted. Special attention is paid to the active position of the higher education institution and its teachers. The effectiveness of vocational guidance work is summarized in the context of the introduction of scientifically based approaches to professional agitation. Presents examples of campaign activities in the educational environment used in the study.
 
 

Environmental orientation and employee-based brand equity in 4 to 5-star hotels

ABSTRACTThe literature has been inconclusive in reporting the effect of environmental orientation on organization performance. This study hypothesises that employee-based brand equity mediates the environmental orientation–organization performance relationship. Quantitative data were collected from the hotel industry in Kuala Lumpur and analysed using SEM. The findings show that employee-based brand equity partially mediates environmental orientation–organization performance relationship. Thus, the study suggests that hoteliers not only need to be technically sound and product oriented but also environmentally sensitive in order to successfully attract, recruit and retain worthy employees for better business results.

What predicts household waste management behaviors? Culture and type of behavior as moderators

This study seeks to examine the factors predicting waste management behaviors— recycling (difficult and easy) and waste minimization—based on social norms and environmental orientation in a cross-cultural context. A survey conducted among 401 university students from Japan, Germany and Israel included measures of social norms for recycling and minimization, biospheric value orientation, environmental concern (NEP), and waste management behaviors. Results showed that difficult recycling was lower than the other two behaviors, and that household waste management behaviors were higher among Germans than among the other two groups. The relative contribution of environmental orientation to waste management behavior was generally weaker in Japan than in Germany and Israel. Social norms significantly predicted easy recycling and minimization in all three groups, and difficult recycling only in Germany and Israel. Social norms were a stronger predictor of easy recycling among Israelis than among Japanese. The research results imply that both structural contexts and cultural factors influence the extent to which people engage in recycling and waste minimization. The results highlight the importance of integrating cultural considerations into waste management strategies.

Public attitudes toward urban water sustainability transitions: a multi-city survey in the western United States

This article presents an integrated theoretical model, drawing from sustainability transition research and attitude theory, to explain public perceptions of urban water sustainability transitions and public support for transformational water-management strategies. We test the model with empirical data from a random-sample residential survey in three cities in the western United States dependent on Colorado River water: Phoenix, Arizona, Denver, Colorado, and Las Vegas, Nevada. As one of the most heavily managed and over-allocated transboundary river systems in the world, sustainable water management of the Colorado River is critical to the future of the region. Cities face increasing pressure on water resources as population, development, and uncertainty about the future increase. While a growing number of scholars focus on sustainability transitions, a few studies focus explicitly on the role of the public as fundamental actors. This is despite the acknowledgement that public support may constrain or enable transitions and that major societal changes will affect the public in numerous and critical ways. We hypothesize that environmental orientation, procedural knowledge, perceived personal responsibility, trust in government, and socio-economic resources predict public perceptions of the need for transitions and public support for transformational water-management strategies. We use ANOVA to identify differences between cities, and confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to evaluate the conceptual model. Results provide partial support for the hypothesized model and the findings replicate across cities. The findings suggest several policy implications for basin-wide and city-scale water management in the Colorado River basin.