IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/bstrat/v18y2009i3p192-206.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental strategies as automorphic patterns of behaviour

Author

Listed:
  • Birgitta Schwartz

Abstract

This article is based on a study of three companies, i.e. Volvo, The Body Shop and Tarkett, focusing on their development of environmental strategies. Using a drama metaphor, the empirical case indicates in detail how Tarkett has been strategically able to handle increasing environmental demands. The study also demonstrates that Tarkett depends on itself in its relationship with other actors in its organizational field, and that this influences the interplay between the actors. The article concludes that the three studied companies have adopted different strategies for managing environmental demands, and that the strategy each has used involves a specific sense of ‘dependency’. The strategies are explained by institutional automorphism, which means that the companies imitate themselves, employing strategies similar to those they have previously used when tackling other changes in their organization fields. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Birgitta Schwartz, 2009. "Environmental strategies as automorphic patterns of behaviour," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(3), pages 192-206, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:18:y:2009:i:3:p:192-206
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.567
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.567
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/bse.567?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. Johan Schot, 1992. "Credibility and markets as greening forces for the chemical industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 1(1), pages 35-44, March.
    2. Magali Delmas & Michael W. Toffel, 2004. "Stakeholders and environmental management practices: an institutional framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(4), pages 209-222, July.
    3. Tarja Ketola, 1993. "The seven sisters: Snow whites, dwarfs or evil queens? A comparison of the official environmental policies of the largest oil corporations in the world," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(3), pages 22-33, September.
    4. Tomas Blomquist & Johan Sandström, 2004. "From issues to checkpoints and back: managing green issues in R&D," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(6), pages 363-373, November.
    5. Aseem Prakash & Kelly Kollman, 2004. "Policy modes, firms and the natural environment," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(2), pages 107-128, March.
    6. Eric Jan Tuininga & Peter Groenewegen, 1993. "Sustainable development: A challenge for dutch industry?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(2), pages 28-41, June.
    7. Andrew J. Hoffman, 1993. "The importance of fit between individual values and organisational culture in the greening of industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(4), pages 10-18, December.
    8. Frank Boons & Leo Baas & Jan Jaap Bouma & Anja De Groene & Kees Le Blansch, 2000. "Trajectories of Greening," International Studies of Management & Organization, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(3), pages 18-40, September.
    9. Vincent Di Norcia & Barry Cotton & John Dodge, 1993. "Environmental performance and competitive advantage in Canada's paper industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(4), pages 1-9, December.
    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. Pasi Heikkurinen & Tarja Ketola, 2012. "Corporate Responsibility and Identity: from a Stakeholder to an Awareness Approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(5), pages 326-337, July.
    2. Ehrenfeld, Wilfried, 2012. "Towards a Theory of Climate Innovation - A Model Framework for Analyzing Drivers and Determinants," IWH Discussion Papers 1/2012, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    3. Tarja Ketola, 2014. "Rationale, Morals, and Needs Pyramid for Corporate Responsibility Development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 21(4), pages 228-239, July.
    4. Judd H. Michael & Ann E. Echols & Steve Bukowski, 2010. "Executive perceptions of adopting an environmental certification program," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(7), pages 466-478, November.
    5. Nathalie Meißner & Ulrike Grote, 2017. "Motives, opportunities, and risks for private sector investment in protected areas with international importance: evidence from German companies," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 199-219, February.

    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. Antony Paulraj, 2009. "Environmental motivations: a classification scheme and its impact on environmental strategies and practices," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(7), pages 453-468, November.
    2. Olga Goncalves & Elisabeth Robinot & Hélène Michel, 2015. "Does It Pay to Be Green? The Case of French Ski Resorts," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-01591790, HAL.
    3. James Cordeiro & Manish Tewari, 2015. "Firm Characteristics, Industry Context, and Investor Reactions to Environmental CSR: A Stakeholder Theory Approach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 130(4), pages 833-849, September.
    4. Bruce Wayne Clemens & Maria Papadakis, 2008. "Environmental management and strategy in the face of regulatory intensity: radioactive contamination in the US steel industry," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(8), pages 480-492, December.
    5. Bruce Clemens & Charles E. Bamford & Thomas J. Douglas, 2008. "Choosing strategic responses to address emerging environmental regulations: size, perceived influence and uncertainty," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(8), pages 493-511, December.
    6. Ailie K.Y. Tang & Kee‐hung Lai & T. C. E. Cheng, 2012. "Environmental Governance of Enterprises and their Economic Upshot through Corporate Reputation and Customer Satisfaction," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(6), pages 401-411, September.
    7. Nigel James Martin & John Lewis Rice, 2014. "Influencing Clean Energy Laws: an Analysis of Business Stakeholder Engagement," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 23(7), pages 447-460, November.
    8. Dorothy Wood & Donald G. Ross, 2006. "Environmental social controls and capital investments: Australian evidence," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 46(4), pages 677-695, December.
    9. 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.
    10. Chin‐jung Luan & Chengli Tien & Pei‐hua Wu, 2013. "Strategizing Environmental Policy and Compliance for Firm Economic Sustainability: Evidence from Taiwanese Electronics Firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(8), pages 517-546, December.
    11. Bárbara Galleli & Elder Semprebon & Joyce Aparecida Ramos dos Santos & Noah Emanuel Brito Teles & Mateus Santos de Freitas-Martins & Raquel Teodoro da Silva Onevetch, 2021. "Institutional Pressures, Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19: How Are Organisations Engaging?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-21, November.
    12. Nigel Martin & John Rice, 2010. "Analysing emission intensive firms as regulatory stakeholders: a role for adaptable business strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(1), pages 64-75, January.
    13. Gao, Shuai & Cai, Wenjia & Liu, Wenling & Wang, Can & Zhang, ZhongXiang, 2014. "Corporate Preferences for Domestic Policy Instruments under a Sectoral Market Mechanism: A Case Study of Shanxi Province in China," Working Papers 249496, Australian National University, Centre for Climate Economics & Policy.
    14. Julie Dekker & Tim Hasso, 2016. "Environmental Performance Focus in Private Family Firms: The Role of Social Embeddedness," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 293-309, June.
    15. Noorain Mohd Nordin & Wei-Loon Koe, 2024. "Institutions and Sustainability Entrepreneurship in SMEs: A Conceptual Model," Information Management and Business Review, AMH International, vol. 16(2), pages 1-8.
    16. Matthew Egan, 2015. "Driving Water Management Change Where Economic Incentive is Limited," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 73-90, November.
    17. Tan, Yafei & Zhu, Zhaohui, 2022. "The effect of ESG rating events on corporate green innovation in China: The mediating role of financial constraints and managers' environmental awareness," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    18. Wang, Derek D. & Sueyoshi, Toshiyuki, 2018. "Climate change mitigation targets set by global firms: Overview and implications for renewable energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 386-398.
    19. James Van Alstine, 2009. "Governance from below: contesting corporate environmentalism in Durban, South Africa," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(2), pages 108-121, February.
    20. Abdul Majid & Muhammad Yasir & Muhammad Yasir & Asad Javed, 2020. "Nexus of institutional pressures, environmentally friendly business strategies, and environmental performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 706-716, March.

    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:18:y:2009:i:3:p:192-206. 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.