Modelling of Civil Servants’ Environment Conservation Behaviour using Cognitive and Non-Cognitive Factors

Cheam Chai Li, Azyanee Luqman, Muhammad Faishal bin Ishak
Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA


Abstract

Conserving the environment among individuals is an important behaviour to save the world from human lifestyles and activities that harm the nature. Some of these problems can be alleviated or slowed down if people care for the nature. In general, a government servant’s role is implementing government policies by coordinating and overseeing various economic and social services in order to achieve national growth and development. These individuals may have differences in their thinking, upbringing, background, perspective, knowledge, and daily routines. Therefore, the study aimed to determine whether civil servant’s cognitive (i.e. knowledge) and noncognitive skills (i.e. attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control) affected their behaviour in conserving the environment. Using Smart PLS analysis, the findings showed that out of the four variables studied, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control affected the population’s behaviour. This study concludes that understanding what elements affect the civil servants’ conservation behaviour is very important. It provides a good insight for the policymakers in designing strategies that are environment-friendly and enabling various development agendas to be achieved in the long-term.

Keywords: Civil servant, Environment conservation, Knowledge, Planned behaviour theory