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Firms’ Response to Climate Change: The Interplay of Business Uncertainty and Organizational Capabilities

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  • Su‐Yol Lee
  • Robert D. Klassen

Abstract

With climate change emerging as one of the most important issues increasing uncertainty in the business circle, firms have shown different reactions. Why do firms differ in adopting and implementing carbon management practices (CMPs) in response to the global warming issue? This paper attempts to explore this question with particular attention to two factors: external business uncertainty and internal organizational capabilities. This study investigated whether business uncertainty, organizational learning and lean production capabilities influenced the adoption and implementation of CMPs as well as examining how organizational capabilities moderate the relationships between business uncertainty and the level of CMPs. The results of a cross‐sectional survey and hierarchical regression analyses indicate that perceived business uncertainty decreases the adoption of CMPs, organizational learning and lean production capabilities strongly facilitate the adoption and implementation of CMPs, and lean production capability positively moderates the impacts of business uncertainty on the adoption of CMPs. This study provides guidance for managers and academics considering how to identify, design and manage the dimensions of a firm's practices in response to the global warming issue within the organization as well as with other organizations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

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  • Su‐Yol Lee & Robert D. Klassen, 2016. "Firms’ Response to Climate Change: The Interplay of Business Uncertainty and Organizational Capabilities," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(8), pages 577-592, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:25:y:2016:i:8:p:577-592
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.1890
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    19. Faizul Haque & Collins G Ntim, 2018. "Environmental Policy, Sustainable Development, Governance Mechanisms and Environmental Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 415-435, March.
    20. G Capece & F Di Pillo & M Gastaldi & N Levialdi & M Miliacca, 2017. "Examining the effect of managing GHG emissions on business performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1041-1060, December.
    21. Soo-Hyun Lee & Su-Yol Lee, 2018. "An Analysis of the Effects of Climate Change Policy, Stakeholder Pressure, and Corporate Carbon Management on Carbon Efficiency on the Korean Petrochemical Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-16, November.
    22. Christian C. Blanco, 2021. "Supply Chain Carbon Footprinting and Climate Change Disclosures of Global Firms," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(9), pages 3143-3160, September.
    23. Jae Kyu Myung & Hyoung-Tae An & Su-Yol Lee, 2019. "Corporate Competitiveness Index of Climate Change: A Balanced Scorecard Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-16, March.
    24. Abreu, Mônica Cavalcanti Sá de & Webb, Kernaghan & Araújo, Francisco Sávio Maurício & Cavalcante, Jaime Phasquinel Lopes, 2021. "From “business as usual” to tackling climate change: Exploring factors affecting low-carbon decision-making in the canadian oil and gas sector," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 148(PA).

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