A SPATIAL APPROACH TO MAPPING CORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL BEHAVIOR

Drawing on the findings of an ongoing major empirical stud!, of UK cor porate attitude, this paper presents an exploratory analysis designed to provide an analytical instrument that will enable the identificatio n of influences acting on companies in this field. The model is theref ore intended to be more than an audit tool. Key influences are identif ied as falling into three distinct categories: external factors, which include pressure derived from the market and from legal-regulatory re quirements; mediating factors, which include attitudinal stimuli such as leadership and company ethos; and moderating factors, which include contextual issues such as opportunities to achieve reward, the effect s of technology, and corporate capability. It is argued that there are infinite responses that a company could develop, and seven archetypal states, which are syntheses of actual attitudes and responses, are pr oposed. The model highlights the distinctive characteristics of each c ompany type, in relation to key influences, and distinguishes between proactive, reactive and pragmatic companies. Additionally, the model i ndicates how changes to key influences allow companies to move between archetypes non-sequentially.