Stakeholder demands and corporate environmental coping strategies in China

Ning Liu; Shui-Yan Tang; Carlos Wing-Hung Lo; Xueyong Zhan

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.09.027

Stakeholder demands and corporate environmental coping strategies in China

J Environ Manage. 2016 Jan 1:165:140-149. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.09.027. Epub 2015 Sep 29.

Authors

Ning Liu¹, Shui-Yan Tang², Carlos Wing-Hung Lo³, Xueyong Zhan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Policy, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Electronic address: ning.liu@cityu.edu.hk.
² Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626, United States. Electronic address: stang@price.usc.edu.
³ Department of Management and Marketing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Electronic address: carlos.lo@polyu.edu.hk.
⁴ Department of Management and Marketing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Electronic address: xueyong.zhan@polyu.edu.hk.

PMID: 26431641
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.09.027

Abstract

This paper examines how stakeholder demand and compliance capacity jointly shape corporate environmental coping strategies and subsequently environmental protection practices. A four-dimensional classification of coping strategies-formalism, accommodation, referencing, and self-determination-is conceptualized. Drawing on survey and interview data collected from manufacturing enterprises in China between 2010 and 2012, the paper shows that compared with formalism and accommodation, coping strategies of referencing and self-determination are associated with stronger environmental protection practices. Enterprises adjust their coping strategies by taking into account the constraints defined by both their internal and external environments. The results also demonstrate the potential synergetic effects of state and non-state stakeholders working together in promoting better corporate environmental coping strategies and environmental practices in China.

Keywords: Compliance capacity; Corporate environmental coping strategy; Environmental protection practices; Stakeholder demand.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Administrative Personnel / psychology
China
Commerce
Conservation of Natural Resources*
Humans
Industry*
Interviews as Topic
Surveys and Questionnaires
Workforce