Authors: Olivier Boiral Charles Baron Olen Gunnlaugson
Publish Date: 2013/08/07
Volume: 123, Issue: 3, Pages: 363-383
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to explore how the various stages of consciousness development of top managers can influence in practical terms their abilities in and commitment to environmental leadership in different types of SMEs A case study based on 63 interviews carried out in 15 industrial SMEs showed that the organizations that displayed the most environmental management practices were mostly run by managers at a postconventional stage of consciousness development Conversely the SMEs that displayed less sustainable environmental management practices were all run by managers at conventional stages of development Drawing upon diverse examples of environmental leadership this paper analyzes the reasons why the stages of postconventional consciousness development of top managers seem to foster corporate greening in SMEs The study also sheds light on the key values and abilities associated with both environmental leadership and the upperstages of consciousness development which include a broader and systemic perspective longrange focus integration of conflicting goals collaboration with stakeholders complexity management collaborative learning among others
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