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An Assessment of Design-for-Environment Practices in Leading US Electronics Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Lenox

    (Stern School of Business, New York University, 40 West Fourth Street, Suite 717, New York, New York 10012)

  • Andrew King

    (Stern School of Business, New York University)

  • John Ehrenfeld

    (Technology, Business and Environment, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, E40-241, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139)

Abstract

A growing number of managers believe that addressing environmental impacts in product-design decisions has tangible advantages to firms. Yet many firms struggle to diffuse design-for-environment (DfE) practices across their product-development teams. Four leading electronics firms' attempts to adopt DfE suggest that the establishment of highly interconnected, internal information networks may be a robust diffusion strategy. Technically competent centers acting as clearinghouses of companywide information relevant to environmental design and coordinated with specialists on individual product-design teams seem to be an effective organizational structure for diffusing DfE. Internal information networks reduce the cost to designers of assessing environmental costs and benefits and thus lower the motivational barriers of product managers. Environmental design tools may be a component of successful DfE practice but do not seem to be sufficient in themselves. The complexity of environmental issues requires an approach that continually generates new information. Dense information networks allow pockets of expertise to form in response to ever-changing needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Lenox & Andrew King & John Ehrenfeld, 2000. "An Assessment of Design-for-Environment Practices in Leading US Electronics Firms," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 30(3), pages 83-94, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orinte:v:30:y:2000:i:3:p:83-94
    DOI: 10.1287/inte.30.3.83.11669
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    1. Venugopal Gopalakrishna-Remani & Robert Paul Jones & Kerri M. Camp, 2019. "Levels of EMR Adoption in U.S. Hospitals: An Empirical Examination of Absorptive Capacity, Institutional Pressures, Top Management Beliefs, and Participation," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 21(6), pages 1325-1344, December.
    2. Lori Bennear & Robert Stavins, 2007. "Second-best theory and the use of multiple policy instruments," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 37(1), pages 111-129, May.
    3. González-Benito, Javier & González-Benito, Óscar, 2008. "Operations management practices linked to the adoption of ISO 14001: An empirical analysis of Spanish manufacturers," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 113(1), pages 60-73, May.
    4. Charatsari, Chrysanthi & Michailidis, Anastasios & Lioutas, Evagelos D., 2024. "Do farm advisory organizations promote sustainability? A study in Greece," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    5. Yongjian Li & Qianzhou Deng & Chi Zhou & Lipan Feng, 2020. "Environmental governance strategies in a two-echelon supply chain with tax and subsidy interactions," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 290(1), pages 439-462, July.
    6. Jacqueline Corbett & Jane Webster & Tracy A. Jenkin, 2018. "Unmasking Corporate Sustainability at the Project Level: Exploring the Influence of Institutional Logics and Individual Agency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(2), pages 261-286, January.
    7. Vishal V. Agrawal & Sezer Ülkü, 2013. "The Role of Modular Upgradability as a Green Design Strategy," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 640-648, October.
    8. Luca Berchicci & Wynand Bodewes, 2005. "Bridging environmental issues with new product development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(5), pages 272-285, September.
    9. de Brito, M.P. & Flapper, S.D.P. & Dekker, R., 2002. "Reverse logistics," Econometric Institute Research Papers EI 2002-21, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Econometric Institute.
    10. Natalia Ortiz‐de‐Mandojana & Juan Alberto Aragon‐Correa, 2015. "Boards and Sustainability: the Contingent Influence of Director Interlocks on Corporate Environmental Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(6), pages 499-517, September.
    11. Özdemir, Öznur & Denizel, Meltem & Guide, V. Daniel R., 2012. "Recovery decisions of a producer in a legislative disposal fee environment," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 216(2), pages 293-300.
    12. Xiang Bi & Connor Mullally, 2021. "Does Peer Adoption Increase the Diffusion of Pollution Prevention Practices?," Land Economics, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 97(1), pages 224-245.
    13. Wong, Christina W.Y. & Lai, Kee-hung & Cheng, T.C.E. & Lun, Y.H. Venus, 2012. "The roles of stakeholder support and procedure-oriented management on asset recovery," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(2), pages 584-594.
    14. Williams, J.A.S., 2006. "A review of electronics demanufacturing processes," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 47(3), pages 195-208.
    15. Driessen, P.H., 2005. "Green product innovation strategy," Other publications TiSEM f14c1bcc-f1bf-4637-b4a6-8, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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