What makes organizations so similar? We contend that the engine of rationalization and bureaucratization has moved from the competitive marketplace to the state and the professions. Once a set of organizations emerges as a field, a paradox arises: rational actors make their organizations increasingly similar as they try to change them. We describe three isomorphic processes-coercive, mimetic, and normative—leading to this outcome. We then specify hypotheses about the impact of resource centralization and dependency, goal ambiguity and technical uncertainty, and professionalization and structuration on isomorphic change. Finally, we suggest implications for theories of organizations and social change.

The iron cage revisited: Institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields (Chinese Translation)

Bike sharing, especially dockless bike sharing (DBS), plays a key role in enhancing sustainable mobility in Chinese cities. Unsustainable usage modes and user behavior are increasingly serious problems confronting DBS in China that may substantially threaten its profits and supply. While existing studies have mainly focused on how to promote DBS, the issue of the sustainable usage of shared bikes has been largely overlooked. This paper examined the determinants affecting users’ sustainable usage intention and behavior by incorporating awareness of consequences and moral obligation into the theory of planned behavior. Based on partial least squares structural equation modeling, the questionnaire data of 705 users (67.92% of all respondents) who had used DBS in sustainable ways were empirically analyzed. The results revealed that perceived behavioral control and moral obligation are the most important factors driving users’ sustainable usage intention and behavior and that behavioral attitude and subjective norms also present significant positive effects on sustainable usage intention. In contrast to the hypothesized relationship, the awareness of consequences does not play a significant role in sustainable usage intention. Moreover, the empirical results ascertained that the extended model has stronger interpretation ability than the original model in predicting DBS users’ sustainable usage behavior. Eventually, some targeted managerial implications are proposed. This study enhances the current understanding of the sustainable usage behavior of DBS users and provides timely insights for policymakers and operators promoting sustainable bike-sharing practices in China and other countries operating DBS programs.

Understanding intention and behavior toward sustainable usage of bike sharing by extending the theory of planned behavior

This paper examines how an individual's moral norms and demographic characteristics interact with the standard ‘Theory of Planned Behavior’ predictors (Attitude; Subjective Norms; and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC)) in explaining the intention to recycle (RI). Our data originate from an empirical research of Greek citizens conducted in Autumn 2013 (N = 293). Through structural equation modeling, we find that PBC is consistently the most important predictor of RI. Moral norms have a larger effect on RI than Attitude while their influence is primarily direct. On the contrary, demographic characteristics were found to be statistically non-significant predictors of RI, similarly to Subjective Norms.

Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior in the context of recycling: The role of moral norms and of demographic predictors

E-waste recycling behaviour: An integration of recycling habits into the theory of planned behaviour

The main objective of the study is to understand how big data analytics capability (BDAC) as an organizational culture can enhance trust and collaborative performance between civil and military organizations engaged in disaster relief operations. The theoretical framework is grounded in organizational information processing theory (OIPT). We have conceptualized an original theoretical model to show, using the competing value model (CVM), how BDAC, under a moderating influence of organizational culture, affects swift trust (ST) and collaborative performance (CP). We used WarpPLS 6.0 to test the proposed research hypotheses using multi-respondent data gathered through an email questionnaire sent to managers working in 373 organizations, including the military forces of different countries, government aid agencies, UN specialized agencies, international non-government organizations (NGOs), service providers, and contractors. The results offer four important implications. First, BDAC has a positive, significant effect on ST and CP. Second, flexible orientation (FO) and controlled orientation (CO) have no significant influence on building ST. Third, FO has a positive and significant moderating effect on the path joining BDAC and CP. Finally, CO has negative and significant moderating effect on the path joining BDAC and CP. The control variables: temporal orientation (TO) and interdependency (I) have significant effects on ST and CP. These results extend OIPT to create a better understanding of the application of information processing capabilities to build swift trust and improve collaborative performance. Furthermore, managers can derive multiple insights from this theoretically-grounded study to understand how BDAC can be exploited to gain insights in contexts of different management styles and cultures. We have also outlined the study limitations and provided numerous future research directions. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)

Big data analytics and organizational culture as complements to swift trust and collaborative performance in the humanitarian supply chain

Plastic consumption has been increasing globally, creating large amount of litter and posing threat to the environment. The recycling of the plastic waste can help in reducing it and its environmental threat. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that influence the consumer’s return/recycling intention regarding plastic waste. Moreover, recycling behavior of consumer was explored in detail. The theory of planned behavior was adapted and extended to measure the determinants of recycling behavior. Survey research design was employed whereas data includes valid 243 households, collected through survey questionnaire, by employing purposive sampling. PLS-SEM was applied on the collected data for hypotheses testing. The finding of this study indicates that subjective norms, awareness consequences and convenience are major predictors of return/recycling intention. Whereas, hypothesis for the attitude, perceived behavioral control and moral norms were rejected and they all have insignificant impact on return/recycling intention. Moreover, return intention have positive significant impact on resell, reuse, dispose and donate. Reuse was the most predicted by the return intention. This study enriches the literature of reverse logistics helping to understand the consumers’ perspective. Provides the insights that will help government and organizations to understand consumers’ return/recycling intention and formulate such strategies that will increase the involvement of consumers in recycling activities.

Understanding consumers’ behavior intentions towards dealing with the plastic waste: Perspective of a developing country

The rapid increase in urbanization has given rise to the need of proper waste management. Within municipal waste, the plastic waste is a growing concern which is causing severe harm to our ecosystem. If ignored, this problem will have harmful effects on both human and wildlife. Therefore, this study aims to find out the factors that influence the recycling behavior patterns of consumers regarding plastic waste. The variables from the theory of planned behavior were adopted to study the behavior of consumers toward recycling plastic waste. The data was collected from 243 residents of Karachi-metropolitan city of Pakistan. The partial least square-structural equation modelling was applied to analyze the data. The findings of the current study reveal that different consumers' attributes and attitudes trigger different types of recycling behavior when it comes to waste disposal. Pressure from family and friends and perceived behavioral control trigger the behavior of reselling the waste plastic products while consumer's awareness of consequences and personal attitude toward proper waste disposal leads to reuse or donating that product to someone who can use that plastic product. The understanding of these consumer attributes may help to shape the behavioral outcomes in order to manage waste disposal. This study will be beneficial for business managers looking to improve reverse logistics as well as government/municipal policy makers and academics/researchers who are interested in a solution-oriented study.

Managing plastic waste disposal by assessing consumers’ recycling behavior: the case of a densely populated developing country

With the challenge of ecological business sustainability, concepts like green design, eco-friendly products, sustainable technologies and efficient processes have compelled the organizations to adopt change. The purpose of this paper is to focus on understanding the impact of green supply chain (GSC) management practices and institutional pressures on economic and environmental performances of organizations in an unstable developing economy.,Data were collected from the supply chain specialists working in manufacturing firms through a questionnaire. Valid data of 101 respondents were used for analyzing the relationship among the constructs with the help of structural equation modeling.,The result of this study reveals that internal GSC practices and institutional pressure have a negative insignificant impact on economic performance, whereas all the constructs are the significant contributors toward improving environmental performance.,This study will help the supply chain decision makers to make a strategy that is beneficial for improving both economic and environmental dimensions of the performance of a firm.,An environmental management study under a rapidly changing scenario is always helpful to understand the behavior and its impact. This study is very useful and need of a time in the context of any developing country facing an economic and environmental crisis.

Examining the impact of institutional pressures and green supply chain management practices on firm performance

Humanitarian services usually perform in the face of uncertainty in which mobilization of resources in an efficient and effective manner is a big challenge. Sharing timely and correct information among logistics partners and workers is a key to drive rapid response logistics effectively. The purpose of this paper is to understand how coordinated effort effects resources management (RM).,This study uses quantitative research methodology and collected data from 82 humanitarian workers dealing with logistical activities from a densely populated city of Pakistan. Data were then statistically analyzed through partial least squares–structural equation modeling.,The results suggest that the success of humanitarian supply network depends upon the level of trust among the partners, which accelerates commitment through strong coordination. Information sharing reduces behavioral uncertainty and enhances swift trust (ST). ST then helps to improve coordination and commitment from all stakeholders in order to manage resources to lead effective relief operations.,The study guides the practitioners and relief operations’ policy makers to lay emphasis on distributing right and timely information flow among the partners, which can lead to effective, efficient and swift humanitarian relief operations.,This study on RM during humanitarian logistics is well timed in the context of developing country with high uncertain events, improper infrastructure and very limited resources.

Farhana Khan

Papers

Understanding consumers’ behavior intentions towards dealing with the plastic waste: Perspective of a developing country

Managing plastic waste disposal by assessing consumers’ recycling behavior: the case of a densely populated developing country

Examining the impact of institutional pressures and green supply chain management practices on firm performance

Developing and analyzing framework to manage resources in humanitarian logistics