A view from the bottom of the pyramid: drivers of corporate environmentalism in developing countries

Abstract

Drawing on perspectives from stakeholder, resource dependence, institutional and resource based theories and using a multiple-case inductive study, this research examines the drivers of corporate environmentalism in developing countries. Based on case analysis of 11 environmentally responsive organizations in India, corporate environmentalism in this research has been operationalized as a two stage construct, involving first and second order responsiveness. First order environmental responsiveness in organizations in India was found to be driven by pressures arising out of internationalization. The drivers for second order responsiveness were found to be distinctly associated with organizational identities rooted in a history of social responsiveness.