Discretion of front-line managers at the operational level - A qualitative study on pro-environment behavior practices in fast-food restaurants in Sweden
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the study is to understand how managerial discretion affects employees' involvement in sustainable practices in fast-food restaurants in Sweden, identify constraints to implementing these practices, and examine their impact across various operational settings and governance structures. Theory: The concept of planned behavior, norm-activation model, organizational support theory, and transformational leadership theory are employed in this study to fulfill the research purpose and address the research question. Norm-activation model with the theory of planned behavior is used to identify a more comprehensive explanation of pro-environmental behavior by effectively accounting for personal norms. Organizational support theory is applied to analyze organizational support to engage employees in environmental behaviors. Transformation leadership theory identifies organizational leaders' impact on employees’ attitudes and commitment. Method: A qualitative case study has been conducted with 10 semi-structured interviews with the respondents having different roles within fast-food restaurants in Sweden. Results: Organizations and employees significantly support autonomy, cultivate a culture of sustainability, and actively participate in environmental decision-making. The moral norms, perceived control, and attitudes of employees and managers towards environmental responsibility greatly influence their engagement in sustainable practices. A culture that prioritizes sustainability, backed by management and integrated into the organization's operations, is crucial. Discretionary leadership effectively promotes pro-environmental behaviors by inspiring and intellectually stimulating employees to consider their environmental impacts.
Degree
Student essay
Date
2024-08-26Author
Mehboob, Md Asike
Chowdhury, Soumyadeep Paul
Keywords
Managerial discretion, Pro-environmental behaviour
Language
eng