Enhancing Ecopreneurship through an Environmental Management System: A Longitudinal Analysis of Factors Leading to Proactive Employee Behaviour

Abstract

Does the implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) lead to more self-driven environmental behaviour at work? To more Ecopreneurship? A longitudinal analysis in six German firms between 1997 and 1999 identified the following predictors of Ecopreneurship: transparency of corporate environmental management activities; eco-specific training courses; expectations about success of environmental activities; valence of environmental protection; and incentives. Except for incentives, all antecedents were found to have a positive effect on Ecopreneurship. Firms with EMS activities were characterized by a more positive assessment of the antecedents of Ecopreneurship than those without EMS activities. During the two year research period, the antecedents improved in the EMS-companies, while Ecopreneurship did not. This may be explained by either time lags in behavioural changes, or by a mediating influence of aspects of corporate culture, such as the importance of environmental protection among the firms objectives; the willingness to change; or the appreciation of proactive employee behaviour.