Normative influences: how socio-cultural and industrial norms influence the adoption of sustainability practices. A grounded theory of Cretan, small tourism firms

Article


Kornilaki, M. and Font, X. 2019. Normative influences: how socio-cultural and industrial norms influence the adoption of sustainability practices. A grounded theory of Cretan, small tourism firms. Journal of Environmental Management. 230, pp. 183-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.09.064
TypeArticle
TitleNormative influences: how socio-cultural and industrial norms influence the adoption of sustainability practices. A grounded theory of Cretan, small tourism firms
AuthorsKornilaki, M. and Font, X.
Abstract

Previous research explains the various factors that motivate or discourage the owner-managers of small firms to behave sustainably. However, it has failed to develop a meaningful understanding of how these factors inter-relate or combine to influence their decisions. This research identifies and explains how socio-cultural and industrial norms influence the intentions and behaviours towards sustainability of owner-managers of small tourism firms. This grounded theory study shows how selective peer association allows the use of norms that match one's values to predict the difficulties, benefits and therefore justification for pro-sustainability (in)action. Locally-held socio-cultural norms determine what is commonly (dis)approved of through reflective and comparative processes. Connectedness to the locality triggers empathy for nature and the local society, but not a corresponding sense of responsibility. This dissonance is managed by allocating responsibility to industry actors perceived as more powerful, particularly tour operators and consumers, and to the widespread greed and short term culture dominating the sector. [Abstract copyright: Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.]

KeywordsConforming, Industrial norms, Normative influences, Small tourism firms, Socio-cultural norms, Sustainability
PublisherElsevier
JournalJournal of Environmental Management
ISSN0301-4797
Publication dates
Online01 Oct 2018
Print15 Jan 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited19 Oct 2018
Accepted20 Sep 2018
Output statusPublished
Accepted author manuscript
License
Copyright Statement

Crown Copyright © 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This author's accepted manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.09.064
LanguageEnglish
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The sustainability behaviour of small firms in tourism: the role of self-efficacy and contextual constraints
Kornilaki, M., Thomas, R. and Font, X. 2019. The sustainability behaviour of small firms in tourism: the role of self-efficacy and contextual constraints. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 27 (1), pp. 97-117. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2018.1561706