Differentiated Customer Pressures and Environmental Policies in China

Drawing on the resource dependence theory, the stakeholder perspective and environmental management capabilities, this study examined the relationship between the heterogeneity of customer pressures and the varying levels of environmental policies in China. Data on 1215 Chinese manufacturing firms were analyzed to demonstrate that environmental pressures emanating from different types of customer have different impacts on firm environmental conduct and that the pressures from multinational consumers have a stronger effect on local Chinese suppliers’ propensity to reduce product environmental risks than those from local consumers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

企业社会责任、企业声誉对员工满意度影响的实证研究

构建了企业社会责任、企业声誉和员工满意度的关系模型,以西北工业大学深圳地区和西安地区MBA班工程硕士学员为调研对象,欲探讨现阶段企业员工对企业社会责任的认知状况。通过构建结构方程模型,实证分析发现:企业社会责任对企业声誉有显著正向影响;企业声誉对员工满意度有显著正向影响;企业社会责任不直接对员工满意度产生影响,而是通过影响企业声誉后对员工满意度产生作用。     

Enhancing Corporate Environmental Performance Through Reporting and Roadmaps

Managing the carbon footprint of companies and addressing their respective decarbonization plans is a challenging endeavour. The aim of this study is to help companies better understand the issues around decarbonization and environmental performance by suggesting a holistic management process on which they could embark. This process comprises two crucial steps, which are (a) sustainability reporting and (b) low‐carbon roadmaps. These steps are covered and further developed based on a detailed study of the UK food retail sector. This sector is relevant due to its economic and environmental importance, but most importantly it has a significant record of available environmental reports in the public domain and a large potential to influence consumers, policy makers and multiple supply chains. Sustainability reporting is assessed by analysing environmental KPIs disclosed in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports, and then these are compared against industry standards. This analysis highlights a general lack of consistency and transparency in CSR reporting of UK food retailers. Consequently, a low‐carbon roadmap based on relevant KPIs and on the ‘backcasting’ framework is presented as a case study in order to showcase how a hypothetical UK food retailer can employ a low‐carbon roadmap. The case study demonstrates that ambitious environmental targets are achievable if robust corporate action plans are followed. Furthermore, the case study indicates that capital might be misallocated in favour of highly visible environmental stores and on‐site energy generation technologies, whilst more could be done by applying energy efficiency measures that have the potential to deliver substantial carbon savings. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

基于企业社会责任理论顾客满意度模型的研究

自从顾客满意的概念的提出之后,各方专家学者根据自己的见解,建立了不同的顾客满意度模型。但是,这些模型只是从某些方面解释了如何提高顾客满意度。而且,有的模型已经不能适应当前社会的发展。很多企业想通过这些模型来提高顾客满意度,最终的效果却很不理想。究其原因,是由于社会的高速发展,顾客的范围不断变化,而这些企业没有更深入地对顾客的概念进行发掘和认识。所以,文章通过对顾客这一概念的重新理解,结合企业社会责任理论,将顾客进行分类,并且对隐藏型顾客做出详细的阐述。在原有的顾客满意度模型的基础之上,文章提出了一种更为全面的顾客满意度模型。     

Institutional Constraints,Stakeholder Pressure and Corporate Environmental Reporting Policies

Within the theoretical framework of socio‐political economics, and more specifically of stakeholder theory, this work examines whether companies operating under different institutional constraints and stakeholder pressure tend to emphasize different models of corporate environmental reporting. Furthermore, the paper tests whether different corporate environmental reporting policies are driven by the countries' corporate governance systems. A sample of 3931 international companies was examined through a logistic biplot and conditional mean linear regression models. The main results reveal that companies follow two distinct environmental reporting approaches, which depend on specific stakeholders and institutional requirements. The first model, which is followed by firms within codified law countries, mostly focuses on water and emissions. The second approach, mainly followed by companies operating in common law countries, emphasizes materials and energy issues. This finding reveals that companies gradually modify their environmental strategies to make themselves more compatible with the characteristics of the social and institutional environment, which will result in several corporate benefits. The paper provides several outstanding implications for companies' strategic managers, national institutions and firms' stakeholders, especially for investors and customers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

Unleashing the Power of Networks: Shareholder Activism,Sustainable Development and Corporate Environmental Policy

In recent years, a new trend has emerged in which shareholder activists have formed networks to empower shareholders and magnify shareholder voices. This study explores the structural patterns and effectiveness of shareholder activism networks and shows how those networks affect corporate sustainability policies. We draw upon stakeholder influence theory, stakeholder network management theory and recent studies on activism networks to examine a shareholder activism network formed around environmental issues. The study found that (1) the structure of shareholder activist networks is largely driven by organizational attributes such as organization type, organizations’ human resources, media visibility and history; and (2) activist organizations with high centralities and eigenvector centralities enjoy more efficient results. This study contributes to our understanding of the business responses to shareholder demands on improving environmental performance and paves the way for future research on sustainable development through partnerships with shareholder networks. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

Environmental Policy,Sustainable Development,Governance Mechanisms and Environmental Performance

We investigate the effects of environmental policy (Climate Change Act – CCA), sustainable development frameworks (Global Reporting Initiative – GRI; UN Global Compact – UNGC) and corporate governance (CG) mechanisms on environmental performance (carbon reduction initiatives – CRIs; actual carbon performance – GHG emissions) of UK listed firms. We use the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation technique to analyse data consisting of 2245 UK firm‐year observations over the 2002–2014 period. First, we find that the CCA has a positive effect on CRIs, and this effect is stronger in better‐governed firms. Second, we find that the GRI‐based framework is positively associated with CRIs. Third, we find that firms with poor CG structures have lower actual carbon performance compared with their better‐governed counterparts. Overall, our evidence suggests that firms can symbolically conform to environmental policy (CCA) and sustainable development frameworks (GRI, UNGC) by engaging in CRIs without necessarily improving actual environmental performance (GHG emissions) substantively. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

Stakeholder Engagement in Sustainable Enterprise: Evolving a Conceptual Framework,and a Case Study of ITC

An intensive debate has been occurring among academics, consultants and corporate executives, resulting in many definitions of a more humane, more ethical and more transparent manner of conducting business. They have created, supported or criticized related concepts such as sustainable development, corporate citizenship, sustainable entrepreneurship, the triple bottom line, business ethics and corporate social responsibility (Van Marrewijk, 2003 ). In the midst of LPG (liberalization, privatization and globalization), with market expansion occurring and the customer base needing to be widened for long‐term profitability, can enterprise opt for sustainability through the stakeholder approach? Interestingly, the ITC (Imperial Tobacco Company) is a firm committed to the core values of sustainable development in agrobusiness and in other activities, which has made the corporation well known for its stand on sustainability. Hence, this study begins with a brief literature review on sustainable enterprise and an introduction to familiarize the reader with the case organization, to examine what has made the ITC remain a stalwart in sustainable development and to identify the factors that drive the ITC's vision of sustainability. Based on the identified factors, total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) has been used to evolve a framework of sustainable enterprises on the star model (Sushil, 2010 ), which explains the customer and the government as driving factors for sustainability along with the triple bottom line. To validate our study, data on surrogate measures of some of the variables have been taken from the annual reports of the ITC and the validation is performed using linear regression analysis. Finally, the future research scope and limitations of the study are discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

Corporate governance beyond the shareholder–stakeholder dichotomy: Lessons from Japanese corporations' environmental performance

Although corporate environmental performance (CEP) is determined by corporate governance (CG) typified by board and ownership structures, in‐depth research on stakeholder‐oriented CG is sparse. This study seeks to fill this void and promote an alternative vision of good governance. Japanese corporations have often been criticized for their stakeholder‐oriented practices such as less independent boards and the dominance of stable domestic shareholders. However, these practices are not necessarily problematic if effective monitoring mechanisms are in place. Using a database of Japanese listed corporations over 2012–2015, this study shows that both board size and composition enhance CEP, confirming the advisory function of boards. Contrastingly, foreign blockholders, who are expected to play a monitoring role, significantly constrain CEP. Japanese corporations are evolving toward a hybrid CG that aims to narrow the shareholder–stakeholder divide, and the findings will offer useful lessons for the modification of shareholder‐oriented CG.     

Integrating Environmental,Social and Governance (ESG) Disclosure for a Sustainable Development: An Australian Study

Addressing environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues has become a critical part of business strategy. This article explores the extent of ESG reporting of metal and mining sector companies listed in the Australian Securities Exchange to determine the nature of ESG indicators in use in the sector. The current study argues that stakeholder engagement is the key to enhance company environmental policy and sustainable development. According to the results of this study, ESG reporting motives are highly influenced by reporting regulations. Given the diversity in reporting of ESG, comparability of ESG strategic performance is problematic. This study contributes towards developing an ESG disclosure index, which companies could use as a legitimacy tool that external stakeholders could use to reliably measure and compare the ESG performance of companies. It also reveals there is an increased demand for more empirical research on integration of sustainability into strategic planning process. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

Corporate Environmental and Economic Performance of Japanese Manufacturing Firms: Empirical Study for Sustainable Development

This study examines the relationship between environmental performance and economic performance in Japanese manufacturing firms. The environmental performance indicators include CO₂ emissions and the aggregate toxic risk associated with chemical emissions relative to sales. Return on assets (ROA) is used as an indicator of economic performance. We demonstrate that there is a significant inverted U‐shaped relationship between ROA and environmental performance calculated by aggregated toxic risk. We also find that the environmental performance increases ROA through both returns on sales and improved capital turnover. However, we observe a significant positive relationship between financial performance and environmental performance based on CO₂ emissions. These findings may provide evidence for the consequences of firms' environmental behavior and sustainable development. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

Human Resource Management and Fortune's Corporate Reputation Survey

This study investigates the relationship between human resource objectives and Fortune's corporate reputation score. Questionnaires were received from 83 human resource executives of companies measured in Fortune's survey. The questionnaire measured the degree to which the following HR objectives underlie HR activities: (1) treating employees fairly, (2) improving organizational performance, and (3) complying with the law. Results show that a significant, positive correlation exists between emphasis placed on the fairness objective and corporate reputation.     

Corporate Biodiversity Management through Certifiable Standards

This article analyzes the motivations, internalization challenges and outcomes of implementing certifiable standards for corporate biodiversity management. For this purpose, a qualitative study based on interviews with 39 environmental managers, auditors, consultants and other experts in the field was conducted. The findings show that the adoption of new standards for biodiversity management is essentially driven by the need to improve the social acceptability of activities that can have a significant impact on natural habitats. The possible benefits of certification, particularly in terms of stakeholder relationships, and the difficulty of measuring the intangible aspects of biodiversity issues are also discussed. The study contributes to the emerging literature on organizational biodiversity management and to the debates on the symbolic versus substantial adoption of certifiable environmental standards. Managerial implications for organizations interested in biodiversity management are also discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

提升第三方物流企业客户满意度的探讨

客户满意度理念已日益受到企业界和学术界的认可和重视。对第三方物流企业而言,只有尽快调整经营目标和策略．推行客户满意理念,实施客户满意经营,才能树立新的竞争优势,实现企业、客户的双赢：文章从营销学的角度出发,分析了第三方物流企业客户满意的特点以及客户满意的含义,提出了提高客户满意度的策略。     

第三方物流企业顾客满意度测评研究

以中远物流天津分公司为研究对象,建立了顾客满意度测评指标体系,将层次分析法与模糊综合评价结合起来,对第三方物流企业顾客满意度的测评进行了研究,实现了顾客满意这种心理状态评价指标的定量转化。     

Environmental Behavior and MNEs: A Strategy Pulled by Stakeholder Engagement

This research attempts to examine how multinational enterprises (MNEs) from regulated and non‐regulated industries shape their environmental strategies with regard to environmental disclosure and performance. Results reveal that regulated (non‐regulated) MNEs display worse (better) environmental performance levels and disclose less (more) environmental information than MNEs operating in non‐regulated (regulated) environments. We argue that this strategy is set as an answer to cope with legitimacy problems faced by MNEs as well as to respond to increased demands from stakeholder groups. We contend that our findings may contribute to existing literature and be of relevance for practitioners. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

第三方物流企业顾客满意度关键影响因素分析

以研究我国第三方物流企业顾客满意度关键影响因素为主题,探索如何通过实施关键影响因素提高第三方物流企业顾客满意度。通过对国内20家提供第三方物流服务企业和100余家使用第三方物流服务企业的面谈和问卷调查,采用效度、相关分析、回归分析等定性分析方法,提出了适合我国第三方物流企业顾客满意度的服务可靠性、完整性等七个维度服务稳定程度、派送方顾客满意情况等十个关键影响因素的理论模型。     

Sustainability Development and the Quality of Assurance Reports: Empirical Evidence

There is a rising trend among companies to publish their sustainability or corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. Assurance of these reports is a valuable voluntary tool to provide them with higher credibility. Nonetheless, the quality of assurance reports differs in practice and the objective of this paper is to provide evidence in this new area of research. Indeed, we are pioneers in developing an index to measure the quality of assurance reports. We choose the Spanish setting because it is the worldwide leading country as regards CSR reporting (KPMG, 2011; Sierra et al., 2012). We have found evidence on the determinants for CSR reporting posited by existing literature that have an impact on (a) the decision of companies to publish their CSR reports, (b) the decision to assure the CSR report or not and (c) the decision to hire the assurance services from an auditor or a consultant and the subsequent quality of the assurance report. Last but not least, our results from a sample of 161 CSR assurance reports evidence that assurance reports are of fairly acceptable quality, according to the index proposed. Furthermore, the value of the quality index is significantly higher if the assurance services are provided by an auditor (as opposed to a consultant) and if the CSR reporting company is larger. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

Stakeholder management and sustainability strategies in the French nuclear industry

This paper describes how a nuclear power corporation integrates sustainability into corporate strategies and practices. The case study focuses on one of the world's largest nuclear power generators and describes the corporate capture of sustainable development in its strategic efforts to promote a growth strategy. The paper shows how corporate strategies to address sustainability concerns involve managing different stakeholders, enabling the corporation to sustain its economic growth strategy. Three types of stakeholder management strategy are identified: reinforcement strategies for supportive stakeholders, containment strategies for obstructive stakeholders and stabilization strategies for passive stakeholders. The paper argues that, despite claims of sustainable development in the nuclear industry, there is no significant shift in the ‘business as usual’ approach and that sustainable development is merely reframed as sustainable growth. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

Corporate Environmental Initiatives in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises and Their Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study

The impact from corporate business activities on the natural environment and society at large has been in focus for quite some time. The focus has often been on corporate environmental sustainability initiatives reflecting industry's response to concerns expressed by key stakeholders as well as the potential influence on the bottom line and the competitive situation. Much less investigated is the extent to which management itself perceives that corporate environmental initiatives actually lead to positive results. This is the very focus of this research, which is based on data collected by identical surveys of industrial companies in Denmark over a number of years. The results indicate a slightly increasing involvement over time, but also that the level of results achieved is lower than the level of initiatives taken. That is, the reactive attitude reported previously still seems to be prevailing. The results also seem to indicate that the size of the company may have a negative influence in some situations, since smaller companies seems to be better at achieving results compared with medium sized companies. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment