Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Predictor of Business Students’ Attitudes Toward Sustainable Business Practices

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined individual difference characteristics as predictors of business students’ attitudes toward sustainable business practices. Three types of predictors were considered: personal values, individualism–collectivism, and leadership styles. Data were collected from 248 business students attending a mid-sized university in western United States using self-reported questionnaires. Few gender differences were present. Hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for personal demographic characteristics, indicated that business students scoring higher on Rokeach’s social value scale, collectivism, and transformational leadership also reported more positive attitudes toward sustainable business practices. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agle, B.R., Mitchell, R.K., & Sonnenfeld, J.A. (1999). Who matters to CEOs? An investigation of stakeholder attributes and salience, corporate performance, and CEO values. Academy of Management Journal, 42(5): 507-525.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aigner, D. J., Hopkins, J., & Johansson, R.(2003). Beyond compliance: Sustainable business practices and the bottom line. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 85(5): 1126-1139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50, 179-211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appelbaum, S.H., Iaconi, G.D., & Matousek, A. (2007). Posotive Positive and negative deviant workplace behaviors: Causes, impacts, and solutions. Corporate Governance, 7(5): 586-598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bass, B.M. (1990). Bass & Stodgill’s handbook of leadership: Theory, research & managerial applications (Third Edition). NY: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass, B.M., & Steidlmeier, P. (1999). Ethics, character, and authentic transformational leadership behavior. Leadership Quarterly, 10(2): 181-217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger, I. (1997). The demographics of recycling and the structure of environmental behavior, Environment and Behavior, 29(4): 515-531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradbury, H. (2003). Sustaining inner and outer worlds: A whole-systems approach to developing sustainable business practices in management. Journal of Management Education, 27(2): 172-187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brief, A.P., Dukerich, J.M, Brown, P.R., & Brett, J.F. (1996). What’s wrong with the Threadway Commission Report? Analyses of the effects of personal values and codes of conduct on fraudulent financial reporting. Journal of Business Ethics, 15(2): 183-198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, R.J. (2006). Why leaders fail: Exploring the darkside. International Journal of Manpower, 27(1): 91-100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, J.M. (1978). Leadership. NY: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland, M., Kalamas, M., & Laroche, M. (2005). Shades of green: Linking environmental locus of control and pro-environmental behaviors. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 22(4/5): 198-212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Connor, P.E., & Becker, B.W. (2003). Personal value systems and decision-making of public managers. Public Personnel Management, 32(1): 155-180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Connor, P.E., Becker, B.W., Kakuyama, T., & Moore, L.F. (1993). A cross-national comparative study of managerial values: United States, Canada, and Japan. Advances in Comparative International Management, 8: 3-29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cragg, W. (1997). Teaching business ethics: The role of ethics in business and in business education. Journal of Business Ethics, 16(3): 231-245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cummings, L.S. (2008). Managerial attitudes toward environmental management within Australia, the People’s Republic of China, and Indonesia. Business Strategy and the Environment, 16: 16-29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dewhurst, H., & Thomas, R. (2003). Encouraging sustainable business practices in a non-regulatory environment: A case study of small tourism firms in a UK national park. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 11(5): 383-403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egri, C.P., & Herman, S. (2000). Leadership in the North American environmental sector: Values, leadership styles, and contexts of environmental leaders and their organizations. Academy of Management Journal, 43(4): 571-604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egri, C.P., & Rogers, K.S. (2003). Teaching about the natural environment in management education: New directions and approaches. Journal of Management Education, 27(2): 139-143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. Oxford: Capstone.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1990). Let’s not ignore individuality. American Psychologist 45(6): 781.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, A. (1991). How to fix the empty self. American Psychologist 46(5): 539-540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • England, G.W. (1967). Personal value systems of American managers. Academy of Management Journal, 10(1):53-69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, G.W., Brauchle, G., Haq, A., Stecker, R., Wong, K., & Shapiro E. (2007). Young children’s Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors. Environment and Behavior, 39(5): 635-659.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fourie, A., & Eloff, T. (2005). The case for collective business action to achieve systems change: Exploring the contributions made by the private sector to the social, economic and political transformation process in South Africa. Journal of Corporate Citizenship, 18: 39-48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler, S.J., & Hope, C. (2007). Incorporating sustainable business practices into company strategy. Business Strategy & the Environment, 16(1):26-38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraj, E., & Martinez, E. (2006). Influence of personality on ecological consumer behavior. Journal of Consumer Behavior, 5: 167-181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friedman, T.L. (2008). Hot, Flat, and Crowded. Why We Need a Green Revolution – and How it Can Renew America. NY: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fritzsche, D.J., & Oz, E. (2007). Personal values’ influence on the ethical dimension of decision making. Journal of Business Ethics, 75(4): 335-343.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guerrette, R.H. (1985). Environmental integrity and corporate responsibility. Journal of Business Ethics, 5(5): 409-415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hemingway, C.A. (2005). Personal values as a catalyst for corporate social entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Ethics, 60: 233-249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hind, P., Wilson, A., & Lenssen, G. (2007). Developing leaders for sustainable business. Corporate Governance, 9(1): 7-20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede G. (1983). The cultural relativity of organizational practices and theories. Journal of International Business Studies, 14(2): 75-89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede, G. (1994). Foreword. In U. Kim, H.C. Triandis, C. Kagitcibasi, S.-C. Choi, & G. Yoon (Eds.) Individualism and collectivism: Theory, methods, and applications. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hood, J.N. (2003). The relationship of leadership style and CEO values to ethical practices in organizations. Journal of Business Ethics, 43(4): 263-273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hood, J.N., & Koberg, C.S. (1994). Patterns of differential assimilation and acculturation for women in business organizations. Human Relations, 47(2): 159-121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howell, J.M., & Avolio, B.J. (1993). Transformational leadership, transactional leadership, locus of control, and support for innovation: Key predictors of consolidated-business-unit performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(6): 891-902.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Judge, T.A., & Piccolo, R.F. (2004). Transformational and transactional leadership: A meta-analytic test of their relative validity. Journal of Applied Psychology, 89(5), 755-768.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kahn, M.E. (2007). Environmental disasters as risk regulation catalysts? The role of Bhopal, Chernobyl, Exxon Valdez, Love Canal, Three Mile Island in shaping U.S. environmental law. Journal of Risk Uncertainty, 35: 17-43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanungo, R.N. (2001). Ethical values of transactional and transformational leaders. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 18(4): 257-265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laroche, M., Bergeron, J., Tomiuk, M.-A., & Barbero-Forleo, G. (2002). Cultural differences in environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours of Canadian consumers. Canadian Journal of Administrative Sciences, 19(3): 267-283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, B.S. (1997). The black box of organizational demography. Organization Science, 8(1): 1-22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenartowicz, T., & Johnson, J.P. (2002). Comparing managerial values in twelve Latin American countries: An exploratory study. Management International Review, 42(3): 279-307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez, Y.P., Rachner, P.L. & Olson-Buchanan, J.B. (2005). Shaping ethical perceptions: An empirical assessment of the influence of business education, culture, and demographic factors. Journal of Business Ethics, 60: 341-358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, R.G., & Brown, D.J. (2001). Leadership, values, and subordinate self-concepts. Leadership Quarterly, 12: 133-152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCabe, D.L., Dukerich, J.M., & Dutton, J.E. (1994). The effects of professional education on the resolution of ethical dillemas; Business school vs. law school students. Journal of Business Ethics, 13(9): 693-700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCarty, J.A., & Shrum, L.J. (2001). The influence of individualism, collectivisim and locus of control on environmental beliefs and behavior. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, 20(1): 93-104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, P., & Gandz, J. (1991). Identification of values relevant to business research. Human Resource Management, 30(2): 217-236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meglino, B.M., & Ravlin, E.C. (1998). Individual values in organizations: Concepts, controversies, and research. Journal of Management, 24(3): 351-389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moser, T. (2001). MNCs and sustainable business practice: The case of the Colombian and Peruvian petroleum industries. World Development, 29(2): 291-309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mourali, M., Laroche,M., & Pons, F. (2005). Individualistic orientation and customer susceptibility to interpersonal influence. Journal of Services Marketing, 19(3): 164-173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicolaides, A. (2006). The implementation of environmental management towards sustainable universities and education for sustainable development as an ethical imperative. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 7(4): 414-424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okleshen, M., & Hoyt, R. (1996). A cross cultural comparison of ethics perspectices and decision approaches of business students: United States of America versus New Zealand. Journal of Business Ethics, 15(5): 537-549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owens, A., & Videras, J. (2006). Civic cooperation, pro-environmental attitudes, and behavioral intentions. Ecological Economics, 58(4):814-829.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Payne, S.L. (1988). Value and ethics-related measures for management education. Journal of Business Ethics, 7(4): 273-277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Portugal, E., & Yukl, G. (1994). Perspectives on environmental leadership. Leadership Quarterly, 5(3/4): 271-276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posner, B.Z., & Munson, J.M. (1979). The importance of values in understanding organizational behavior. Human Resource Management, 18(3): 9-14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, B.J. (2009). Keeping ethical investment ethical: Regulatory issues for investing for sustainability. Journal of Business Ethics, 87(4): 555-572.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritter, B.A. (2006). Can business ethics be trained? A study of the ethical decision-making process in business students. Journal of Business Ethics, 68: 153-164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rokeach, M. (1973). The nature of human values. NY: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saha, M., & Darnton, G. (2006). Green companies or green con-panies? Are companies really green or are they pretending to be? Business and Society Review, 110(2): 117-157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, M.S., & Carroll, A.B. (2008). Integrating and unifying competing and complementary frameworks: The search for a common core in the business and society field. Business and Society, 47(2): 148-186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, J. & Miller, T. (1991). The earth’s best friends. American Demographics, 13(2): 26-35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skidmore, D. (1997). Encouraging sustainable business practice through managing policies and instruments dynamically. Business Strategy and the Environment, 6(3): 163-167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sleeper, B.J., Schneider, K.C., Weber, P.S., & Weber, J.E. (2006). Scale and study of student attitudes toward business education’s role in addressing social issues. Journal of Business Ethics, 68: 381-391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Springett, D. (2005). ‘Education for Sustainability’ in the business studies curriculum: A call for a critical agenda. Business Strategy and the Environment, 14: 146-159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Springett, D., & Kearins, K. (2001). Gaining legitimacy? Sustainable development in business school curricula. Sustainable Development, 9: 213-221.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Theodorson, G.A., & Theodorson, A.G. (1969). A modern dictionary of sociology. NY: Crowell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, T.E. (2005). Are business students buying it? A theoretical framework for measuring attitudes toward the legitimacy of environmental sustainability. Business Strategy and the Environment, 14: 186-197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trevino,L.K., & Brown, M. A. (2005). The role of leaders in influencing unethical behavior in the workplace. In R.E. Kidwell & D.L. Martin (Eds.), Managing organizational deviance. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H.C. (1994). Cross-cultural industrial and organizational psychology. In H. C. Triandis, M. D. Dunnette & L. M. Hough (Eds.), Handbook of Organizational and Industrial Psychology, Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H.C. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Triandis, H.C., & Gelfand, M.J. (1998). Converging measurement of horizontal and vertical individualism and collectivism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74: 118-128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, N., Barling, J., Epitropaki, O., Butcher, V. & Milner, C. (2002). Transformational leadership and moral reasoning. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(2): 304-311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations: 2002, ‘UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014)’, http://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=23279&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html. Accessed 21 Aug 2009.

  • Uyeki, E.S., & Holland, L.J. (2000). Diffusion of pro-environmental attitudes? American Behavioral Scientist, 43(4): 646-662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vardiman, P.D., Houghton, J.D., & Jinkerson, D.L. (2006). Environmental leadership development: Toward a contextual model of leader selection and effectiveness. Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 27(2): 93-105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venkataraman, B. (2009). Education for sustainable development. Environment Magazine, 51(2): 8-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddock, S. (2007). Leadership integrity in a fractured knowledge world. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 6(4): 543-557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddock, S. (2008). The difference makers: How social and institutional entrepreneurs created the corporate responsibility movement. Sheffield, United Kingdom: Greenleaf Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldman, D.A., de Luque, M.A., Washburn, N., House, R.J., Adetoun, B., Barrasa, A., et al. (2006). Cultural and leadership predictors of corporate social responsibility values of top management: a GLOBE study of 15 countries. Journal of International Business Studies, 37(6): 823-837.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waldman, D.A., Ramirez, G.G., House, R. J., & Puraman, P. (2001). Does leadership matter? CEO attributes and profitability under conditions or perceived environmental uncertainty. Academy of Management Journal, 44(1): 134-143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, P.J., & Morris, R.J. (2002). Individualist and collectivist values: Hypotheses suggested by Alexis de Tocqueville. Journal of Psychology, 136(3): 263-271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, P.J., Sherbak, J., & Morris, R.J. (1998) Irrational belefs, individualism-collectivism, and adjustment. Personality and Individual Differences, 24(2): 173-179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westley, F. (1997). Not on our watch: The biodiversity crisis and global collaboration response. Organization & Environment, 10(4): 342-360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, G., Cullinan, C., & Bline, D. (1997). The relationship between an individual’s values and perceptions of moral intensity: An empirical study. Behavior Research in Accounting, 9: 26-40.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Pomona, CA, U.S.A.

    Eddy S. Ng

  2. Schulich School of Business, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ronald J. Burke

Authors
  1. Eddy S. Ng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ronald J. Burke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eddy S. Ng.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ng, E.S., Burke, R.J. Predictor of Business Students’ Attitudes Toward Sustainable Business Practices. J Bus Ethics 95, 603–615 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0442-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0442-0

Key words

Search

Navigation