The Influence of Attitude, Subjective Norm, Perceived Behavioral Control, and Perceived Attributes of Innovation towards Environmental Management Practices Intention among SMEs
Malisah Latip, Ismawati Sharkawi
Department of Social Science & Management, Faculty of Humanities, Management & Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia
Abstract
In recent years, worldwide concern for natural and environmental issues has increased. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage businesses to adopt environmental management practices (EMPs) to mitigate business activities’ negative impact on nature. Knowing that environmental problems can cause detrimental consequences to the lives of human beings and the environment, firms’ owner-managers are encouraged to take a constructive role in redressing the situation. As a way to enhance the understanding of proenvironmental attitudes, the association concerning these attitudes, and the intention to adopt EMPs, owner-managers are the perfect subject to be studied since they are the key decision-makers in the organization. Hence, this study investigates the intention of food manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia to adopt EMPs in their business operations. Two theories were employed as the underpinning theoretical framework: Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. This study used structural equation modeling (SEM) in analyzing 367 samples from food manufacturing SMEs owner-managers. The results revealed that all factors were statistically significant in influencing the intention to adopt EMPs, namely, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Besides, the perceived attributes of innovation appeared to have direct positive effects on their attitude towards EMPs. The study has expanded on environmental studies literature in employing TPB and DOI theory as a theoretical foundation for measuring SMEs owner-managers’ intention to adopt EMPs. The findings also provide evidence of the owner-managers’ prominent role as their behavioral intention towards EMPs depend on their attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control.
Keywords: Environmental management practices, Diffusion of innovation, Food manufacturing SMEs, Intention, Theory of Planned Behavior, Structural equation modelling
