Testing policies promoted by current environmental management literature, this book puts forward a new conceptual model to identify which organizational and supervisory support factors can positively influence employees to promote environmental initiatives in businesses. The model uses employee knowledge of and belief in management commitment, testing thirteen environmental policies that influence employee eco-initiatives and six sets of organizational behaviour and supervisory support factors.

The book features a thorough review of relevant organizational behaviour and corporate environmental management literature, describing what motivates adoption of company policies of sustainable development, factors motivating employees to implement innovation, and learning organization-type managerial behaviours that encourage employee actions. A survey questionnaire using behaviourally-anchored rating scales enables employees to assess the behaviours of their direct supervisors without the usual biases that occur in other opinion-based surveys. The survey highlights counter-intuitive results related to information sharing and environmental policies and the author proposes recommendations for more effective future policies.

Contents: Research problem and literature review; Conceptual framework for empirical investigation; Research methodology; Analysis of survey results; Summary of findings and implications for research and practice; References; Appendices; Index.

Reviews: ‘Empirical research in corporations faces a couple of obstacles; managers are extremely busy and research is not one of their top priorities. An “action learning” approach may not allow for totally objective observation. On the other hand, remaining an external observer does not allow one to really see what is happening. These obstacles have been overcome in Cathie Ramus’ research on “organizational and managerial factors enhancing employee environmental innovation.” It connects corporate relevance with academic rigor in a unique way. The research design was tested and the data generated with the support of the companies involved. The results were discussed with the companies individually and shared with company managers at a learning Forums, which enriched the context and interpretation of the material tremendously. Several companies developed actions programs based on the findings. In the PhD process, the tools for statistical analysis were refined and applied using a sophisticated methodology, so that the hypothesis could be tested rigorously. The publication is therefore a significant contribution to the progress of the discipline, enjoyable to read and with interesting results. Therefore, I wish the book a wide distribution and a dedicated readership.’ Professor Ulrich Steger, Alcan Chair for Environment Management at IMD International, Lausanne, Switzerland

‘This book should be read by all those interested in promoting environmental innovation in firms. While relating the results of an excellent piece of academic research at the intersection of environmental protection and organizational behaviour, it is highly relevant for practitioners who are serious about durable development and want to get insights into how they could best organize to be among leaders of environmental innovation.’ Alexander Bergmann, Professor and Dean of HEC-Lausanne, Switzerland

‘We often assume we know what will motivate employees in companies to do good things for the environment, but seldom is real evidence available to confirm or refute our beliefs. Professor Ramus’ book provides academics and practitioners with an empirical test of our assumptions, bringing to light some unexpected results. Yet, one of the most interesting findings of her work is one that we know to be true in our gut, that supervisory (line manager) interface with employees holds the key to environmental action or inaction. Employees with managers who support environmental innovation are far more likely to try environmental initiatives than those whose managers are unsupportive or do not care. We learn from this book that if we want to change the workplace, environmental policy commitment is not enough. Rather, line manager commitment to environmental innovation is a prerequisite for sustainable business development.’ Professor Maia Wentland Forte, Vice-Recteur Finances, Informatique et Statistiques, BRA, Université de Lausanne, Switzerland

‘Employee Environmental Innovation in Firms contributes significantly to the research in the area of human environmental attitudes and behaviour in firms. It is a highly informative book that provides background insight and guidance to further research that might persuade companies to take more proactive policies and support the search for innovative solutions to ecological problems.’ International Journal of Environment and Pollution