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Exploring and explaining patterns of adaptation and selection in corporate environmental strategy in the USA

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Dahlmann, Frederik and Brammer, Stephen. (2011) Exploring and explaining patterns of adaptation and selection in corporate environmental strategy in the USA. Organization Studies, Vol.32 (No.4). 527 - 553. ISSN 0170-8406

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0170840611403670

Abstract

While the societal salience of environmental issues appears to have risen substantially in recent years, relatively little is known regarding how environmental responsiveness has evolved over time within business in general, or within particular private sector organizations. In this study we seek to address this deficit by exploring the evolving pattern of environmental strategy within a large sample of US companies over the period 1997 to 2006. Based on evolutionary theories of selection and adaptation as well as Burgelman’s strategic change processes, we characterize the pattern of evolving responses to natural environmental issues, distinguish between changes in the overall attention paid to environmental issues that are attributable to the forces of adaptation and selection, and examine the distinctive characteristics of those organizations that have exhibited the most dramatic improvements in their environmental strategy. Our findings indicate that while there is widespread inertia in respect of environmental responsiveness within our sample of companies, those companies that have achieved significant improvements in their environmental strategies do so as a result of a combination of autonomous and induced change processes. Such companies have often recently appointed a new CEO, are relatively strongly engaged in research and development, and have strong prior achievements in environmental strategy.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Warwick Business School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Environmental management -- United States, Business -- Environmental aspects -- United States, Organizational change -- United States
Journal or Publication Title:	Organization Studies
Publisher:	Sage Publications Ltd.
ISSN:	0170-8406
Date:	April 2011
Volume:	Vol.32
Number:	No.4
Page Range:	527 - 553
Identification Number:	10.1177/0170840611403670
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/36555