Grantee Research Project Results
Managerial Participation in Corporate Environmental Reforms
EPA Grant Number: U915735Title: Managerial Participation in Corporate Environmental Reforms
Investigators: Fischhoff, Maya E.
Institution: University of Michigan
EPA Project Officer: Lee, Sonja
Project Period: September 1, 2000 through September 1, 2003
Project Amount: $101,264
RFA: STAR Graduate Fellowships (2000) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Fellowship - Social Sciences , Academic Fellowships , Environmental Justice
Objective:
The objectives of this research project are to: (1) identify forms of managerial participation in corporate environmental reforms; (2) study effects of such participation, specifically on (a) managerial support for corporate environmental reforms, (b) environmental reforms actually accomplished, (c) managers' job satisfaction, and (d) managers' environmental attitudes and behaviors outside the workplace; and (3) see how these insights can be practically applied within a corporation.
Approach:
This research is a case study of middle manager participation in environmental reforms within one company. Through interviews, observation, and administration of scales, it contrasts the perspectives of the top managers who provide participation opportunities for middle managers and the middle managers who experience these opportunities. The first research phase will establish how top and middle managers see: (1) existing opportunities for middle managers to participate in environmental reforms; (2) the efficacy of different types of participation; and (3) the potential for improved opportunities for middle manager participation in environmental reforms. The second research phase will examine how this information can be used for effective change within the organization. In this phase, middle manager perceptions will be reported to top managers; the potential for improvements based on those middle manager perceptions will be discussed; and the process of implementing improvements will be followed.
Expected Results:
This research examines the ability of participation, a Human Resources approach shown in other contexts to increase job satisfaction and support for organizational change, to make the reciprocal relationship between managers and corporate environmental reforms a positive one.
Supplemental Keywords:
business, industry, sustainable development, environmentally conscious manufacturing, pollution prevention, clean technologies, social science, environmental psychology, corporate sustainability., Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Economic, Social, & Behavioral Science Research Program, Social Science, Economics and Business, Corporate Performance, corporate compliance, environmental performance, environmental behavior, policy making, corporate environmental behavior, corporate environmental policy, sustainable development, management participationProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.