Volume 18 Number 01
Special issue articles focusing on Environmental Sustainability and Business:
Barriers and drivers for environmental practice uptake in SMEs: A New Zealand perspective
Kate Lewis and Sue Cassells
Small firms are critical to all economies but also have a significant negative impact on the environment. Their collective footprint equates to 60% of industrial pollution yet small firm owner-managers are not convinced of the necessity for behaviour change. This paper develops a proposed methodology to engage small firm owner-managers in ‘green’ production, in particular adoption of energy saving and waste recycling practices. This methodology includes a suggested approach to determining the ‘tipping point’ for the investment of time and resources by small firms. The paper argues that knowing the ‘tipping point’ and making a realistic business case should encourage small firm owner-managers to improve their participation in environmental impact management. The end result of this will be a reduction in the collective environmental footprint made by small firms, thereby making a positive contribution to Australia’s overall response to climate change.
Keywords: SMEs, environment, small business, energy efficiency, ‘tipping point’
Eco-accreditation: Win-win for the environment and small business?
Shelley Burgin and Nigel Hardiman
The ongoing importance of the tourism and hospitality small business sector to the economic wellbeing of a country has been widely acknowledged internationally. Such businesses are important contributors to the environmental, social and cultural sustainability of their regions. There is growing pressure for such businesses to pursue sustainable development principles, commonly perceived by the owners to elevate costs and reduce competitiveness. In this review paper we consider the benefits for small businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry to gain eco-accreditation. We conclude that, despite a large number of such schemes, market awareness is typically low but has potential to provide a competitive edge. Small business operators who choose to lead in eco-accreditation would, however, be wise to ensure that they clearly articulate their scheme to potential customers, and target consumers from countries where interest in such schemes is highest.
Keywords: tourism sector, hospitability, ecotourism, environmental performance, consumer behaviour
A proposed methodology to promote adoption of ‘green’ production by small firms
Elizabeth A Walker, Janice Redmond and Margaret Giles
Small firms are critical to all economies but also have a significant negative impact on the environment. Their collective footprint equates to 60% of industrial pollution yet small firm owner-managers are not convinced of the necessity for behaviour change. This paper develops a proposed methodology to engage small firm owner-managers in ‘green’ production, in particular adoption of energy saving and waste recycling practices. This methodology includes a suggested approach to determining the ‘tipping point’ for the investment of time and resources by small firms. The paper argues that knowing the ‘tipping point’ and making a realistic business case should encourage small firm owner-managers to improve their participation in environmental impact management. The end result of this will be a reduction in the collective environmental footprint made by small firms, thereby making a positive contribution to Australia’s overall response to climate change.
Keywords: SMEs, environment, small business, energy efficiency, ‘tipping point’
The new greenwash? Potential marketing problems with carbon offsets
Michael J Polonsky, Stacy Landreth Grau and Romana Garma
Firms and consumers have realised the need to make changes in their consumption due to environmental issues like global warming. These changes likely rely on consumers using information about products to make more responsible choices. However, some of these messages – particularly those dealing with carbon offset programs – are potentially misleading, which may then prevent consumers from undertaking responsible behaviours. This paper examines several issues that are important to the marketing of carbon offsets.
Keywords: carbon offsets, consumer behaviour, green guidelines, greenwashing, regulation
Multivariate analysis of attitudes of elementary education teachers towards the environment, computers and e-learning
John A Paravantis
Technology education may play a decisive role in formulating the stance of future entrepreneurs on environmental issues. This work analyses the attitudes of elementary school teachers towards information technologies, e-learning and environmental issues. One hundred and forty questionnaires completed by teachers from the Athens area in Greece were collected and analysed. Technological and environmental principal components were extracted. A cluster analysis of the principal component scores separated the teachers into more and less experienced groups. Finally, canonical correlation analysis of the principal component scores showed that the experienced teachers were in agreement with ecological beliefs and behaviour, while the less experienced instructors with good computer skills and a fearless approach to e-learning, had a more sceptical view of the environment.
Keywords: environmental attitude, electronic learning; principal component analysis, cluster analysis, canonical correlation analysis
Academic articles:
Globalisation, competitiveness and human resource management in a transitional economy: The case of Vietnam
Quang Truong, Beatrice IJM van der Heijden and Chris Rowley
In the light of competition and the search for sources of competitive advantage, developing and managing human resources has increasingly become the focus of attention in some countries. The importance of human assets for success has been recognised and stressed in developed, as well as developing, countries. For example, in Vietnam a new focus was driven by the ‘doi moi’ (‘renovation’) policy that was meant to shift a rigid centrally planned system towards a more flexible market-oriented economy. The consequent structural reforms revealed several impediments, including human resource management systems, slowing the pace of development and global integration with implications for competition. This study reassesses the status of people management in Vietnam and argues for the need for better management and development of its human capital.
Keywords: globalisation, competitiveness, HRM, transitional economy, Vietnam
The impact of globalisation on strategic human resource management: The mediating role of CEO in HR
Soo Siew Choo, Hendrik Halam and Irene Chew Keng-Howe
Globalisation and Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) are worldwide phenomena that have shaped the faces of the corporate world predominantly. Yet, the links between the two processes have not been researched extensively. This exploratory study seeks to investigate the relationship between the degree of globalisation and the degree of SHRM in a firm. It also examines to what extent the chief executive officers (CEOs) can make HRM practices more strategic. The results of this study show that the degree of globalisation is significantly and positively related to the degree of SHRM in a firm. In addition, CEO’s role in HR is found to be a partial mediator. These results suggest that a firm’s degree of globalisation should correspond to the degree of SHRM practiced in the firm, and the CEO plays a vital role in influencing the practice of SHRM.
Keywords: globalisation, Strategic Human Resource Management, chief executive officer, strategic
Employee engagement with a corporate physical activity program: The global corporate challenge
Pascal Scherrer, Lynnaire Sheridan, Ruth Sibson, Maria M Ryan and Nadine Henley
Employers engage with corporate physical activity programs to foster employee wellbeing with a view to reducing the costs of absence and recruitment. This study reports on employee engagement with a commercial program, the Global Corporate Challenge, in terms of motivation, barriers, team dynamics, social aspects and self-reported physical activity levels. It uses guided introspection to explore how participation affected employee’s motivation to sustain regular physical activity within the workplace setting. The program raised awareness of employees’ individual physical activity levels and fostered social interaction in the workplace. Findings highlight the importance of employers providing a supportive context, fostering staff-led team formation and considering motivational readiness of employees. They offer insights into how programs can be supported and constrained by the workplace culture.
Keywords: corporate wellbeing programs, health promotion, leisure time physical activity, workplace health