Environmental (‘Green’) Management Typologies: An Evaluation, Operationalization And Empirical Development

Seven environmental management strategy models were reviewed, investigating their classification approaches, underlying structures and assumptions. Two major types of classification approaches are identified: (i) continuum/progression and (ii) categorical. A deductive approach is used for model development and only one model, that of Schot, has been evaluated in a research context. This evaluation sets a background for understanding the current research which utilizes the continuum model proposed by Hunt and Auster as the research framework for a study of eight Norwegian firms in two industries: printing and food processing. One conclusion of the study points to the inadequacy of the Hunt and Auster model as a research framework. Difficulties in classifying the companies into the model were evident when a multi‐dimensional construct was collapsed into a linear rating scale. This did not lead to a successful approach to the classification of the companies being studied. A different analysis approach, which maintains the multi‐dimensional nature of the data (cluster analysis), was then used to develop a new model. Through using an inductive approach, a preliminary empirically based model where all the data can be placed into the model is proposed. Another conclusion of the paper is that further research leading to the development of more empirically derived environmental management models is needed.