IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/bstrat/v30y2021i8p3606-3625.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Ecological responsiveness and business performance: Four scenarios of compatibility and a multi‐faceted strategies framework

Author

Listed:
  • Fabien Martinez

Abstract

This paper investigates the link between business actors' perceptions of the compatibility between ecological responsiveness and business performance and the level of corporate commitment to address ecological issues. The dichotomy between peripheral (or symbolic) actions and embedded (or substantive) actions traditionally assumed in business research arguably reflects a limited conceptualisation of the link between ecological responsiveness and business performance. It fails to exhaustively explain how companies create, maintain, or disrupt practices that affect the natural environment. Combining insights from a conceptual framework that encompasses four scenarios of compatibility (trade‐off, ambidexterity, synergy, and symbiosis) and 50 interviews with 25 management consultants, the results show that perceptions of compatibility are associated with a valence of business responses towards either maturation strategies (accommodative, philanthropic, progressive, and consolidative) or minimalistic strategies (lackadaisical, compliance, opportunistic, and cosmetic). The findings bring greater nuance to key forms of corporate ecological responsiveness, and how business agents' interpretations play a key role in shaping a firm's activities in this domain.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabien Martinez, 2021. "Ecological responsiveness and business performance: Four scenarios of compatibility and a multi‐faceted strategies framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3606-3625, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:30:y:2021:i:8:p:3606-3625
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2822
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2822
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/bse.2822?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Francesco Testa & Olivier Boiral & Fabio Iraldo, 2018. "Internalization of Environmental Practices and Institutional Complexity: Can Stakeholders Pressures Encourage Greenwashing?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 287-307, January.
    2. Kathy Babiak & Sylvia Trendafilova, 2011. "CSR and environmental responsibility: motives and pressures to adopt green management practices," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 18(1), pages 11-24, January.
    3. Olivier Boiral, 2009. "Greening the Corporation Through Organizational Citizenship Behaviors," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 87(2), pages 221-236, June.
    4. Buchholz, Rogene A., 1991. "Corporate responsibility and the good society: From economics to ecology," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 19-31.
    5. Defeng Yang & Aric Xu Wang & Kevin Zheng Zhou & Wei Jiang, 2019. "Environmental Strategy, Institutional Force, and Innovation Capability: A Managerial Cognition Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 159(4), pages 1147-1161, November.
    6. Lei Yang & Danae Manika & Frances Bowen, 2018. "Organisational and employee symbolic environmental behaviours: an integrated multi-level framework," Chapters, in: Victoria Wells & Diana Gregory-Smith & Danae Manika (ed.), Research Handbook on Employee Pro-Environmental Behaviour, chapter 12, pages 229-264, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    7. Francesco Fuso Nerini & Benjamin Sovacool & Nick Hughes & Laura Cozzi & Ellie Cosgrave & Mark Howells & Massimo Tavoni & Julia Tomei & Hisham Zerriffi & Ben Milligan, 2019. "Connecting climate action with other Sustainable Development Goals," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(8), pages 674-680, August.
    8. Sreejith Balasubramanian & Vinaya Shukla & Sachin Mangla & Janya Chanchaichujit, 2021. "Do firm characteristics affect environmental sustainability? A literature review‐based assessment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 1389-1416, February.
    9. Fabien Martinez, 2014. "Corporate strategy and the environment: towards a four-dimensional compatibility model for fostering green management decisions," Post-Print hal-02887618, HAL.
    10. Robin Fincham, 2002. "The Agent's Agent: Power, Knowledge, and Uncertainty in Management Consultancy," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 67-86, January.
    11. Aravind, Deepa & Christmann, Petra, 2011. "Decoupling of Standard Implementation from Certification: Does Quality of ISO 14001 Implementation Affect Facilities’ Environmental Performance?," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(1), pages 73-102, January.
    12. Petra Christmann & Glen Taylor, 2006. "Firm self-regulation through international certifiable standards: determinants of symbolic versus substantive implementation," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(6), pages 863-878, November.
    13. Vania Ivanova & Irena Slavova, 2018. "Ecological Transformation in Bulgaria - New Challenges to the Businesses and the Government," European Journal of Economics and Business Studies Articles, Revistia Research and Publishing, vol. 4, May - Aug.
    14. Tobias Hahn & Frank Figge & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss, 2018. "A Paradox Perspective on Corporate Sustainability: Descriptive, Instrumental, and Normative Aspects," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(2), pages 235-248, March.
    15. Chipo Mukonza & Ilze Swarts, 2020. "The influence of green marketing strategies on business performance and corporate image in the retail sector," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 838-845, March.
    16. Banerjee, Subhabrata Bobby, 2002. "Corporate environmentalism: the construct and its measurement," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 55(3), pages 177-191, March.
    17. Scott R. Colwell & Ashwin W. Joshi, 2013. "Corporate Ecological Responsiveness: Antecedent Effects of Institutional Pressure and Top Management Commitment and Their Impact on Organizational Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(2), pages 73-91, February.
    18. Tobias Hahn & Frank Figge & Jonatan Pinkse & Lutz Preuss, 2010. "Trade‐offs in corporate sustainability: you can't have your cake and eat it," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(4), pages 217-229, May.
    19. Razvan Lungeanu & Ithai Stern & Edward J. Zajac, 2016. "When do firms change technology-sourcing vehicles? The role of poor innovative performance and financial slack," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 855-869, May.
    20. Luis Perez-Batres & Jonathan Doh & Van Miller & Michael Pisani, 2012. "Stakeholder Pressures as Determinants of CSR Strategic Choice: Why do Firms Choose Symbolic Versus Substantive Self-Regulatory Codes of Conduct?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 110(2), pages 157-172, October.
    21. Shenggang Ren & Duojun He & Tao Zhang & Xiaohong Chen, 2019. "Symbolic reactions or substantive pro‐environmental behaviour? An empirical study of corporate environmental performance under the government's environmental subsidy scheme," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(6), pages 1148-1165, September.
    22. Pujari, Devashish & Wright, Gillian & Peattie, Ken, 2003. "Green and competitive: Influences on environmental new product development performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(8), pages 657-671, August.
    23. Donia, Magda B.L. & Tetrault Sirsly, Carol-Ann, 2016. "Determinants and consequences of employee attributions of corporate social responsibility as substantive or symbolic," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 232-242.
    24. Olivier Boiral, 2007. "Corporate Greening Through ISO 14001: A Rational Myth?," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(1), pages 127-146, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. An-Jin Shie & You-Yu Dai & Ming-Xing Shen & Li Tian & Ming Yang & Wen-Wei Luo & Yenchun Jim Wu & Zhao-Hui Su, 2022. "Diamond Model of Green Commitment and Low-Carbon Travel Motivation, Constraint, and Intention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-21, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Elisabet Garrido & Consuelo González & Raquel Orcos, 2020. "ISO 14001 and CO2 emissions: An analysis of the contingent role of country features," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 698-710, February.
    2. Ying Zhang & Hongfei Ruan & Guiyao Tang & Li Tong, 2021. "Power of sustainable development: Does environmental management system certification affect a firm's access to finance?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3772-3788, December.
    3. Corinna Dögl & Michael Behnam, 2015. "Environmentally Sustainable Development through Stakeholder Engagement in Developed and Emerging Countries," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(6), pages 583-600, September.
    4. Laurence Vigneau & Michael Humphreys & Jeremy Moon, 2015. "How Do Firms Comply with International Sustainability Standards? Processes and Consequences of Adopting the Global Reporting Initiative," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(2), pages 469-486, October.
    5. Konstantinos Iatridis & Effie Kesidou, 2018. "What Drives Substantive Versus Symbolic Implementation of ISO 14001 in a Time of Economic Crisis? Insights from Greek Manufacturing Companies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(4), pages 859-877, April.
    6. Yogesh Bhatt & Karminder Ghuman, 2023. "Corporate environmental responsiveness: a bibliometric and content analysis," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(3), pages 1303-1350, September.
    7. Pablo Arocena & Raquel Orcos & Fedaous Zouaghi, 2021. "The impact of ISO 14001 on firm environmental and economic performance: The moderating role of size and environmental awareness," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 955-967, February.
    8. Fabien Martinez & Ken Peattie & Diego Vazquez‐Brust, 2019. "Beyond win–win: A syncretic theory on corporate stakeholder engagement in sustainable development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(5), pages 896-908, July.
    9. David G Hyatt & Nicholas Berente, 2017. "Substantive or Symbolic Environmental Strategies? Effects of External and Internal Normative Stakeholder Pressures," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1212-1234, December.
    10. Christian Valery Tayo Tene & Olivier Boiral & Iñaki Heras‐Saizarbitoria, 2021. "Does quality management improve the internalization of environmental practices? An empirical study in Africa," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3053-3064, November.
    11. Iñaki Heras‐Saizarbitoria & Olivier Boiral & Alberto Díaz de Junguitu, 2020. "Environmental management certification and environmental performance: Greening or greenwashing?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2829-2841, September.
    12. Pascal Paillé & Yang Chen & Olivier Boiral & Jiafei Jin, 2014. "The Impact of Human Resource Management on Environmental Performance: An Employee-Level Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 121(3), pages 451-466, May.
    13. Hammad Riaz & Abubakr Saeed & Muhammad Saad Baloch & Nasrullah & Zeeshan Ahmad Khan, 2019. "Valuation of Environmental Management Standard ISO 14001: Evidence from an Emerging Market," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, January.
    14. Mark Anthony Camilleri, 2022. "The rationale for ISO 14001 certification: A systematic review and a cost–benefit analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 1067-1083, July.
    15. Alberto Díaz de Junguitu & Erlantz Allur, 2019. "The Adoption of Environmental Management Systems Based on ISO 14001, EMAS, and Alternative Models for SMEs: A Qualitative Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-17, December.
    16. Olivier Boiral & Marie‐Christine Brotherton & David Talbot & Laurence Guillaumie, 2022. "Legitimizing unsustainable practices: The institutional logics of pro‐pesticide organizations," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2284-2298, July.
    17. Ionut Viorel Herghiligiu & Ioan-Bogdan Robu & Marius Pislaru & Adrian Vilcu & Anca Laura Asandului & Silvia Avasilcăi & Catalin Balan, 2019. "Sustainable Environmental Management System Integration and Business Performance: A Balance Assessment Approach Using Fuzzy Logic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-30, September.
    18. Yang Chen & Guiyao Tang & Jiafei Jin & Ji Li & Pascal Paillé, 2015. "Linking Market Orientation and Environmental Performance: The Influence of Environmental Strategy, Employee’s Environmental Involvement, and Environmental Product Quality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(2), pages 479-500, March.
    19. Olivier Boiral & David Talbot & Pascal Paillé, 2015. "Leading by Example: A Model of Organizational Citizenship Behavior for the Environment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(6), pages 532-550, September.
    20. Luca Marrucci & Tiberio Daddi, 2022. "The contribution of the Eco‐Management and Audit Scheme to the environmental performance of manufacturing organisations," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1347-1357, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:30:y:2021:i:8:p:3606-3625. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0836 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.