Prominent factors influencing environmental activities: Application of the Environmental Leadership Model (ELM)

Abstract

The Environmental Leadership Model (ELM) is presented which specifies four prominent antecedents to the organization's environmental strategic formulation process. These factors include: (1) moral norms and values for environmental responsibility, (2) the environmental attitudes of the CEO and top management, (3) stakeholder influences, and (4) perceived behavioral control of the firm by technological, financial, and regulatory constraints. It is proposed that the environmental strategy of an organization directs its pro-environmental behaviors. Finally, the model is initially investigated in an organization in the hazardous waste management industry using the case methodology advocated by Eisenhardt (1989). Future research directions for model development are discussed.