Environmental behavior practice in government agencies: Evidence from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
-
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.20(1).2022.22
-
Article InfoVolume 20 2022, Issue #1, pp. 262-276
- 837 Views
-
378 Downloads
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Environmental behavior (EB) is a kind of organizational behavior that seeks to protect the natural environment and conserve resources, such as saving energy, recycling wastes, duplex printing, reducing water use, non-smoking in the workplace, and designing environmentally friendly products. This study aims to identify the degree of environmental behavior practice and examine its constraints in Saudi government agencies. This study is based on a single design of cross-sectional research. 436 responses were collected from employees of government agencies in Saudi Arabia. The study results indicated that the EB practice is generally high in government agencies.
Furthermore, the results revealed that female employees in government agencies have no statistical difference from male employees. In other words, the EB practice of men and women in government agencies is equal. The study also found a significant difference between married, unmarried, and divorced groups. Divorced employees report a higher level of EB than other employee groups. However, the study indicated a significant difference between the high school, graduate, and postgraduate groups. In other words, employees with high school education have a higher level of EB. Receiving and not receiving leadership support have a significant difference, whereas employees who received environmental training reported higher levels of EB than others. The outcomes also indicated a difference between the group of employees who have religious values. The outcomes of this study may be of benefit to researchers, regulators, policymakers, managers, and governors.
Acknowledgment
The author thanks the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for supporting this study.
- Keywords
-
JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)D23, F64, M12
-
References81
-
Tables4
-
Figures1
-
- Figure 1. Theory of planned behavior model
-
- Table 1. Description of study participants
- Table 2. Means (M) and standard deviation (SD) of environmental behavior
- Table 3. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests
- Table A1. Questionnaire table
-
- Abdulghaffar, N. (2017). Green Workplace Behaviour in Saudi Arabia: The Case of EnviroCo. Journal of Management and Sustainability, 7(1), 19-28.
- Abedi-Sarvestani, A., & Shahvali, M. (2008). Environmental Ethics : Toward an Islamic Perspective Environmental. American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 3(4), 606-617.
- Ahmad, S., & Nisar, T. (rev.ed.). (2015). Green Human Resource Management: Policies and Practices. Cogent Business and Management, 2(1), 1-13.
- Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhl, & J. Beckmann (Eds.), Action control (pp. 11-39). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
- Ajzen, I. (2015). The Theory of Planned Behaviour Is Alive and Well, and Not Ready to Retire: A Commentary on Sniehotta, Presseau, and Araújo-Soares. Health Psychology Review, 9(2), 131-137.
- Akhtar, M. R. (1996). Towards an Islamic Approach for Environmental Balance. Islamic Economic Studies, 3(2), 57-76.
- Albahairy, H. (2018). The Effect of Applying the Concept of Green Human Resources Management (GHRM) on Activating Human Resource Management Practices in the Egyptian Business Environment. Journal of Business and Environmental Studies, 9(2), 102-140.
- Ali, A., Sherwani, M., & Ali, A. (2015). Environmental Concern and Pro-Environment Behavior in a Pakistani Sample within an Individual Religiosity Framework. Global Journal of Advanced Research, 2(5), 865-876.
- Amenumey, F. (2015). Variables That Impact Environmental Sustainability Behaviors of Employees in the Textile Manufacturing Industry in Ghana. University of Minnesota.
- Anderson, A. J., Ahmad, A. S., King, E. B., Lindsey, A. P., Feyre, R. P., Ragone, S., & Kim, S. (2015). The Effectiveness of Three Strategies to Reduce the Influence of Bias in Evaluations of Female Leaders. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 45(9), 522-539.
- Aziz, F., Mahadi, N., & Mohammad, J. (2018). Employee Pro-Environmental Behaviour: A Systematic Review and Suggestions for Future Research. The Journal of Social Sciences Research, 2, 272-280.
- Beck, L., & Ajzen, I. (1991). Predicting Dishonest Actions Using the Theory of Planned Behavior. Journal of Research in Personality, 25(3), 285-301.
- Bissing-Olson, M. J., Iyer, A., Fielding, K. S., & Zacher, H. (2013). Relationships between Daily Affect and Pro-Environmental Behavior at Work: The Moderating Role of pro-Environmental Attitude. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34(2), 156-175.
- Blok, V., Wesselink, R., Studynka, O., & Kemp, R. (2015). Encouraging Sustainability in the Workplace: A Survey on the pro-Environmental Behavior of University Employee. Journal of Cleaner Production, 106, 55-67.
- Boiral, O. (2009). Greening the Corporation Through Organizational Citizenship Behaviors. Journal of Business Ethics, 87, 221-236.
- Boiral, O., Cayer, M., & Baron, C. M. (2009). The Action Logics of Environmental Leadership: A Developmental Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 85(4), 479-499.
- Cabral, C., & Dhar, R. L. (2019). Green Competencies: Construct Development and Measurement Validation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 235, 887-900.
- Chen, X., Peterson, M. N., Hull, V., Lu, C., Lee, G. D., Hong, D., & Liu, J. (2011). Effects of Attitudinal and Sociodemographic Factors on Pro-Environmental Behaviour in Urban China. Environmental Conservation, 38(1), 45-52.
- Cherian, J. P., & Jolly, J. (2012). A Study of Green HR Practices and Its Effective Implementation in the Organization: A Review. International Journal of Business and Management, 7(21), 25-33.
- Cheung, S. F., Chan, D. K.-S., & Wong, Z. S.-Y. (1999). Reexamining the Theory of Planned Behavior in Understanding Wastepaper Recycling. Environment and Behavior, 31(5), 587-612.
- Chithra, M., & Jyothi, P. (2017). Eco-Civic Engagement – A Dimension of OCBE. International Journal of Human Resource Development and Management, 7(1), 1-12.
- Digby, C. L. B. (2013). The Influences of Socio-Demographic Factors, and Non-Formal and Informal Learning Participation on Adult Environmental Behaviors. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, 3(1), 37-55.
- Fielding, K. S., McDonald, R., & Louis, W. R. (2008). Theory of Planned Behaviour, Identity and Intentions to Engage in Environmental Activism. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 28(4), 318-326.
- Francoeur, V., Paillé, P., Yuriev, A., & Boiral, O. (2021). The Measurement of Green Workplace Behaviors: A Systematic Review. Organization & Environment, 34(1), 18-42.
- Gatfield, T., & Chen, C. H. (2006). Measuring Student Choice Criteria Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour: The Case of Taiwan, Australia, UK, and USA. Journal of Marketing for Higher Education, 16(1), 77-95.
- General Authority for Statistics. (2019). Civil Service Employees in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. (In Arabic).
- Graves, L. M., Sarkis, J., & Zhu, Q. (2013). How Transformational Leadership and Employee Motivation Combine to Predict Employee Proenvironmental Behaviors in China. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 35, 81-91.
- Haney, A. B., Pope, J., & Arden, Z. (2020). Making It Personal: Developing Sustainability Leaders in Business. Organization & Environment, 33(2), 155-174.
- Harland, P., Staats, H., & Wilke, H. A. M. (2007). Situational and Personality Factors as Direct or Personal Norm Mediated Predictors of Pro-Environmental Behavior: Questions Derived from Norm-Activation Theory. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 29(4), 323-334.
- Helfaya, A., Kotb, A., & Hanafi, R. (2018). Qur’anic Ethics for Environmental Responsibility: Implications for Business Practice. Journal of Business Ethics, 150(4), 1105-1128.
- Hines, J. M., Hungerford, H. R., & Tomera, A. N. (1987). Analysis and Synthesis of Research on Responsible Environmental Behavior: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Environmental Education, 18(2), 1-8.
- Hlaing, K. S. (2016). The Effects of Environmental Knowledge, Environmental Attitude and Socio Demographic Factors on Proenvironmental Behavior in Mandalay. Yadanabon University.
- Ho, S. S., Liao, Y., & Rosenthal, S. (2015). Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior and Media Dependency Theory: Predictors of Public Pro-Environmental Behavioral Intentions in Singapore. Environmental Communication, 9(1), 77-99.
- Ibrahim, M. (2018). Proposed Model of Antecedent and Consequences of Employee’s Environmental Green: An Empirical Study in Saudi Industrial Investment Companies. Journal of Administrative Sciences, 25(3), 399-443.
- Iqbal, Q., Hassan, S. H., Akhtar, S., & Khan, S. (2018). Employee’s Green Behavior for Environmental Sustainability: A Case of Banking Sector in Pakistan. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, 15(2), 118-130.
- Jabbour, C. J. C., & Santos, F. C. A. (2008). The Central Role of Human Resource Management in the Search for Sustainable Organizations. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 19(12), 2133-2154.
- Janmaimool, P., & Denpaiboon, C. (2016). Evaluating Determinants of Rural Villagers’ Engagement in Conservation and Waste Management Behaviors Based on Integrated Conceptual Framework of Pro-Environmental Behavior. Life Sciences, Society and Policy, 12(1).
- Jurin, R. R., & Fortner, R. W. (2002). Symbolic Beliefs as Barriers to Responsible Environmental Behavior. Environmental Education Research, 8(4), 373-394.
- Kim, Y. J., Kim, W. G., Choi, H.-M., & Phetvaroon, K. (2019). The Effect of Green Human Resource Management on Hotel Employees’ Eco-Friendly Behavior and Environmental Performance. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 76(A), 83-93.
- Kollmuss, A., & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the Gap: Why Do People Act Environmentally and What Are the Barriers to pro-Environmental Behavior? Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239-260.
- Lakhan, C. (2018). The Garbage Gospel: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Explain the Role of Religious Institutions in Affecting pro-Environmental Behavior among Ethnic Minorities. The Journal of Environmental Education, 49(1), 43-58.
- Leeuw, A., Valois, P., Ajzen, I., & Schmidt, P. (2015). Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Identify Key Beliefs Underlying Pro-Environmental Behavior in High-School Students: Implications for Educational Interventions. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 42, 128-138.
- Liang, Y., Kee, K. F., & Henderson, L. K. (2018). Towards an Integrated Model of Strategic Environmental Communication: Advancing Theories of Reactance and Planned Behavior in a Water Conservation Context. Environmental Communication, 46(2), 135-154.
- Liu, P., Teng, M., & Han, C. (2020). How Does Environmental Knowledge Translate into Pro-Environmental Behaviors?: The Mediating Role of Environmental Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions. Science of the Total Environment, 728, 138126.
- Liu, X., Zou, Y., & Wu, J. (2018). Factors Influencing Public-Sphere pro-Environmental Behavior among Mongolian College Students: A Test of Value-Belief-Norm Theory. Sustainability, 10(5), 1384.
- Mashala, Y. (2018). Green Human Resource Management and Environmental Sustainability in Tanzania: A Review and Research Agenda. International Journal of Academic Multidisciplinary, 2(12), 60-68.
- Masri, H. A., & Jaaron, A. A. M. (2017). Assessing Green Human Resources Management Practices in Palestinian Manufacturing Context: An Empirical Study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 143, 474-489.
- Mat, N. H. N., Mohamed, M., Fawehinmi, O., Yusliza, M.-Y., & Saputra, J. (2020). Investigating the Antecedents of Students’ Pro- Environmental Behaviour in the Malaysian Public University. Journal of Talent Development and Excellence, 12(3s), 1953-1969.
- Mishra, P. (2017). Green Human Resource Management: A Framework for Sustainable Organizational Development in an Emerging Economy. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 25(5), 762-788.
- Morren, M., & Grinstein, A. (2016). Explaining Environmental Behavior across Borders: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 47, 91-106.
- Norton, T. A., Parker, S. L., Zacher, H., & Ashkanasy, N. M. (2015). Employee Green Behavior: A Theoretical Framework, Multilevel Review, and Future Research Agenda. Organization & Environment, 28(1), 103-125.
- Octav-Ionut, M. (2015). Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior in Predicting Pro- Environmental Behaviour: The Case of Energy Conservation. Acta Universitatis Danubius, 11(4), 15-32.
- Ones, D. S., & Dilchert, S. (2012). Environmental Sustainability at Work: A Call to Action. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 5(4), 444-466.
- Paillé, P., & Boiral, O. (2013). Pro-Environmental Behavior at Work: Construct Validity and Determinants. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 36, 118-128.
- Pamuk, S., & Kahriman-Pamuk, D. (2019). Preservice Teachers’ Intention to Recycle and Recycling Behavior: The Role of Recycling Opportunities. International Electronic Journal of Environmental Education, 9(1), 33-45.
- Papagiannakis, G., & Lioukas, S. (2018). Corporate Environmental Management: Individual-Level Drivers and the Moderating Role of Charismatic Leadership. European Management Review, 15(4), 475-489.
- Patel, J., Modi, A., & Paul, J. (2017). Pro-Environmental Behavior and Socio-Demographic Factors in an Emerging Market. Asian Journal of Business Ethics, 6(2), 189-214.
- Pham, N. T., Tučková, Z., & Phan, Q. P. T. (2019). Greening Human Resource Management and Employee Commitment Towards the Environment: An Interaction Model. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 20(3), 446-465.
- Pinzone, M., Guerci, M., Lettieri, E., & Huisingh, D. (2019). Effects of ‘Green’ Training on pro-Environmental Behaviors and Job Satisfaction: Evidence from the Italian Healthcare Sector. Journal of Cleaner Production, 226, 221-232.
- Raineri, N., & Paillé, P. (2016). Linking Corporate Policy and Supervisory Support with Environmental Citizenship Behaviors: The Role of Employee Environmental Beliefs and Commitment. Journal of Business Ethics, 137(1), 129-148.
- Ramus, C. A., & Killmer, A. B. C. (2007). Corporate Greening through Prosocial Extrarole Behaviours – A Conceptual Framework for Employee Motivation. Business Strategy and the Environment, 16(8), 554-570.
- Ramus, C. A., & Steger, U. (2000). The Roles of Supervisory Support Behaviors and Environmental Policy in Employee. Academy of Management Journal, 43(4).
- Razzaq, A., Ansari, N. Y., Razzaq, Z., & Awan, H. M. (2018). The Impact of Fashion Involvement and Pro-Environmental Attitude on Sustainable Clothing Consumption: The Moderating Role of Islamic Religiosity. SAGE Open, 8(2).
- Ren, S., Tang, G., & Jackson, S. E. (2018). Green Human Resource Management Research in Emergence: A Review and Future Directions. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 35(3), 769-803.
- Renwick, D. W. S., Redman, T., & Maguire, S. (2013). Green Human Resource Management: A Review and Research Agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews, 15(1), 1-14.
- Rice, G. (2006). Pro-Environmental Behavior in Egypt: Is There a Role for Islamic Environmental Ethics? Journal of Business Ethics, 65(4), 373-390.
- Robertson, J. L., & Barling, J. (2013). Greening Organizations through Leaders’ Influence on Employees’ pro-Environmental Behaviors. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34(2), 176-194.
- Russell, R. F. (2001). The Role of Values in Leadership. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 22(2), 76-84.
- Setyawan, A., Noermijati, N., Sunaryo, S., & Aisjah, S. (2018). Green Product Buying Intentions among Young Consumers: Extending the Application of Theory of Planned Behavior. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 16(2), 145-154.
- Singh, S. K., Chen, J., Giudice, M. D., & El-Kassar, A.-N. (2019). Environmental Ethics, Environmental Performance, and Competitive Advantage: Role of Environmental Training. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 146, 203-211.
- Stern, P. C. (2000). Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behavior. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 407-424.
- Strydom, W. F. (2018). Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Recycling Behavior in South Africa. Recycling, 3(3), 43.
- Tuân, N. P., Takahashi, Y., & Mai, N. T. T. (2014). The roles of supervisory support behaviors and environmental policy in employee “eco-initiatives” at manufacturing companies in Vietnam. Journal of Economic Development, 221, 105-126.
- Unnikrishnan, S., & Hegde, D. S. (2007). Environmental Training and Cleaner Production in Indian Industry – A Micro-Level Study. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 50(4), 427-441.
- Vicente-Molina, M. A., Fernández-Sainz, A., & Izagirre-Olaizola, J. (2018). Does Gender Make a Difference in Pro-Environmental Behavior? The Case of the Basque Country University Students. Journal of Cleaner Production, 176, 89-98.
- Warrick, B. (2016). Examining Employee Motivation, Environmental Systems, and Corporate Social Responsibility in Proenvironmental Behavior. Walden University.
- Wesselink, R., Blok, V., & Ringersma, J. (2017). Pro-Environmental Behaviour in the Workplace and the Role of Managers and Organisation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 168, 1679-1687.
- Yadav, R., & Pathak, G. S. (2017). Determinants of Consumers’ Green Purchase Behavior in a Developing Nation: Applying and Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior. Ecological Economics, 134, 114-122.
- Yuriev, A., Dahmen, M., Paillé, P., Boiral, O., & Guillaumie, L. (2020). Pro-Environmental Behaviors through the Lens of the Theory of Planned Behavior: A Scoping Review. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 155, 104660.
- Zelezny, L. C., Chua, P.-P., & Aldrich, C. (2000). New Ways of Thinking about Environmentalism: Elaborating on Gender Differences in Environmentalism. Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 443-457.
- Zhang, L., Fan, Y., Zhang, W., & Zhang, S. (2019). Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior to Explain the Effects of Cognitive Factors across Different Kinds of Green Products. Sustainability, 11(15), 4222.