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A Cognitive Elaboration Model of Sustainability Decision Making: Investigating Financial Managers’ Orientation Toward Environmental Issues

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  • Edina Eberhardt-Toth
  • David Wasieleski

Abstract

This empirical paper examines individual-level cognitive factors associated with developing an orientation to sustainable development issues among a population of business practitioners from France. Across two studies, we survey 180 financial managers and 83 finance students, as well as 144 managers from other business disciplines and 117 non-finance business students. We consider ability and motivation variables integrated and adapted into a cognitive elaboration model for sustainable decision making. Specifically, we examine the degree of influence of two factors on the ethical sensitivity to sustainability: the moral maturity of the individual, and the perceived moral intensity of a sustainability issue. Our investigation offers insights into how financial managers perceive the importance of sustainability for corporate strategy. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Edina Eberhardt-Toth & David Wasieleski, 2013. "A Cognitive Elaboration Model of Sustainability Decision Making: Investigating Financial Managers’ Orientation Toward Environmental Issues," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(4), pages 735-751, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:117:y:2013:i:4:p:735-751
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-013-1715-1
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    Cited by:

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    3. Ana Criado-Gomis & Amparo Cervera-Taulet & Maria-Angeles Iniesta-Bonillo, 2017. "Sustainable Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Business Strategic Approach for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-20, September.
    4. Miranda J. Welbourne Eleazar, 2022. "Immoral Entrenchment: How Crisis Reverses the Ethical Effects of Moral Intensity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 71-89, September.
    5. Andrea Cardoni & Evgeniia Kiseleva & Paolo Taticchi, 2020. "In Search of Sustainable Value: A Structured Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    6. Janne O. Y. Chung & Sylvia H. Hsu, 2017. "The Effect of Cognitive Moral Development on Honesty in Managerial Reporting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(3), pages 563-575, October.
    7. Daniel Etse & Adela McMurray & Nuttawuth Muenjohn, 2023. "Sustainable Procurement Practice: The Effect of Procurement Officers’ Perceptions," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 184(2), pages 525-548, May.
    8. Madeleine Feder & Barbara E. Weißenberger, 2019. "Understanding the behavioral gap: Why would managers (not) engage in CSR-related activities?," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 95-126, April.
    9. Alatawi, Ibrahim A. & Ntim, Collins G. & Zras, Anis & Elmagrhi, Mohamed H., 2023. "CSR, financial and non-financial performance in the tourism sector: A systematic literature review and future research agenda," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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