Thursday 9th
10:30 – 11:35
Rising to the challenge: Applying psychological knowledge and expertise to promote workplace proenvironmental (green) behaviour
Dr Matthew Davis, University of Leeds, Dr Sally Russell, University of Leeds, Phillipa Coan, University of Leeds
Maximum Capacity 18
Summary
This workshop explores how occupational psychologists can promote environmentally sustainable (proenvironmental) behaviour in organizations. Through a research showcase, interactive activities and discussion,
participants will consider how psychological knowledge can be applied to support pro-environmental behaviour.
Participants will discuss case studies and apply their psychological expertise to develop their own interventions. All
materials developed will be circulated to participants.
Abstract
Background and Overview
Managers and employees are becoming increasingly aware that environmental
sustainability is a key workplace activity that can enhance corporate image and meet triple-bottom-line
accountabilities (Vanclay, 2004). There is a growing interest within the occupational psychology community
regarding enacting pro-environmental behavior (PEB) change amongst employees (e.g., Ones & Dilchert, 2012;
Unsworth, Dmitrieva, & Adriasola, 2012). This attention is evident through a number of recent journal special issues,
e.g., the February 2013 Journal of Organizational Behavior issue on Greening Organizational Behavior (Andersson,
Jackson, & Russell, 2013). Despite this interest however, there is still a need to increase the level of research and
practice examining how psychological approaches and tools can be used to help promote PEB at work (e.g., Bansal &
Gao, 2006; Osbaldiston & Schott, 2012). There is a real opportunity to draw upon our profession’s considerable
expertise in supporting behaviour and culture change gained in other areas, e.g., health and safety, and to make a
marked impact on the challenge of reducing the environmental impact of modern organizations (Davis & Challenger,
2009).
Environmental psychology has demonstrated that individual behavioral issues are key to reducing energy use and
waste generation (e.g., Steg & Vlek, 2009); however, at present, the majority of organizational interventions in this
domain fail to take individual behavior into consideration (e.g., Bansal, 2003). The aim of this workshop, therefore, is
to explore how psychological tools, techniques and approaches may be harnessed to promote and sustain PEB
within the workplace. In particular, we discuss how occupational psychologists can use their existing professional
expertise to design and evaluate interventions directed at promoting PEB.
The workshop will include a short initial presentation by the organizers showcasing three research studies that have
examined different psychological approaches to promoting and understanding workplace PEB. The first study
examines how goal setting, feedback and pre-existing attitudes interact to predict employee performance in an
organizational environmental program. Data (1346 survey responses) was drawn from a single UK production plant
of a global car manufacturer. The second study describes the use of leadership role modeling and behavioural
prompts to influence employee energy behaviour within a large hospital. Survey data was collected across the
hospital using a pre-test (312 respondents), post- test (278 respondents) field study design and complemented with
overt energy audit data. The third study focuses on the role of organizational culture and leadership in influencing
work PEB within an oil and gas company. The study followed a mixed- methods design with both survey (210
responses) and interview (30 employees) data collected across onshore and offshore settings. The organizers’
research and practical experience in the area will demonstrate the opportunity to apply a range of psychological
approaches to this problem. We hope to promote delegate interest in this area by challenging audience participants
with real-world case studies that require them to identify relevant behavioural issues and design psychological
interventions that would support PEB change. The practical small group task will help delegates to understand the
similarities between promoting PEB and other forms of behavioural change, as well as highlighting some of the
specific difficulties and differences that the topic poses.
Delegates will be asked to present their particular case studies back to the whole group. The approaches and
techniques that delegates have identified and applied to their case studies will be used as the basis for a facilitated
discussion that will build upon the practical task. The discussion will explore the challenges and opportunities for
future research investigating PEB and also the business opportunities that this holds for occupational psychologists.
The organizers will seek to emphasise the linkages between existing areas of practice and the promotion of PEB. The
main themes and opportunities will be captured by the organizers and compiled as a road map for future research
and practice. Both the case study materials and road map will be available to delegates after the event.
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Workshop Objectives:
Raise awareness of how psychological tools, techniques and approaches may be harnessed to promote and
sustain PEB within the workplace.
Challenge delegates to draw upon their own expertise and apply psychological techniques to design
interventions addressing real-world case studies.
Stimulate thought and discussion regarding challenges and opportunities that environmental
sustainability poses for occupational psychologists.
Build a road map for pursuing pro-environmental behaviour change.
Workshop Activities:
Research Showcase Presentation, drawing on the organizers’ own research and practice to illustrate a
range of applied psychological approaches to PEB.
Case Studies Task designed to apply delegates’ own expertise and knowledge to real-world case studies
involving environmental issues. This workshop will involve delegates breaking out into small groups
to
work together to design interventions that address the case studies.
Case Study Presentations will provide delegates an opportunity to present back their ideas. This will
promote learning across the various scenarios posed and intervention approaches employed.
Facilitated discussion to highlight the opportunities, challenges and linkages that environmental
sustainability poses. Delegates will be asked to consider how as a profession and as individual
psychologists we can apply our skills to this area. A road map for moving forwards will be compiled.
A conclusion and final thoughts will summarise key themes and discussion points and suggest ideas
for
continuing discussion going forwards.
Twitter feed of key points arising from the workshop. Used to help engage with interested parties
outside the workshop and to provide a summary for delegates to refer to post-session.
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Post-event Activities:
The case studies and road map will be hosted on the organizers’ website.
Conversations can continue over Twitter post-workshop.
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Outcomes:
New ideas for approaching and designing organizational interventions directed at
encouraging workplace PEB.
An appreciation of how behavioural and psychological tools and techniques may be applied
to enhance organizations’ environmental initiatives.
Greater understanding of the links between PEB and wider occupational psychology.
A roadmap for moving forwards.
Teaching case studies that will be hosted online for wider use.
A readily accessible twitter summary of the key points from the workshop.
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Practical Requirements:
Cabaret style room.
A group size of 10 – 30.
90 minutes session length.
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Target Audience and Benefit:
The focus of this workshop is on understanding how psychological behaviour and culture change
techniques may be applied to this highly topical area of practice. We seek to challenge delegates to
consider how they can leverage their existing skill-sets and knowledge to help make an impact in this
area and by doing so we will illustrate the research and business opportunities that are already open
to them. The workshop should appeal to a wide range of delegates. It would be of benefit to
researchers, practitioners and students due to its: showcasing of relevant research and evidence
underpinning PEB change; identification of future research opportunities; generation of practical
interventions that may be used in applied research studies or professional practice, and; discussion
of opportunities for applying existing skills to a new problem domain. The mix of presentations,
practical tasks and discussion will promote interaction amongst delegates, learning from shared
experiences and maintain interest through the session.
Link to Theme and Strand:
The workshop directly addresses the conference theme of “investing in the future”
and “investing in the future of the organization” as it concerns environmental sustainability, core to
future growth, prosperity and security of both our communities and businesses. Reducing the
environmental impact of organizational activities is acknowledged as central to achieving
environmental sustainability (e.g., Crane, 2000)
– developing a greater awareness of, and increase in practice focused on, promoting workplace PEB
will support this. This area also poses a significant business and research opportunity for
organizations and our profession for the future.
References:
Andersson, L., Jackson, S. E., Russell, S.V., (2013). Greening Organizational
Behavior: An introduction to the special issue. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 34 (2), p 151-155.
Bansal, P., & Gao, J. (2006). Building the Future by Looking to the Past: Examining Research
Published on Organizations and Environment. Organization Environment, 19(4), 458-478.
Crane, A. (2000). Corporate greening as amoralization. Organization Studies, 21,
673-696.
Davis, M. C., & Challenger, R. (2009). Climate change – Warming to the task. The
Psychologist, 22, 112-114.
Ones, D. S., & Dilchert, S. (2012). Environmental Sustainability at Work: A Call to
Action. Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice 5(4), 503511.
Osbaldiston, R., & Schott, J. P. (2012). Environmental Sustainability and Behavioral Science.
Environment And Behavior, 44(2), 257-299.
Steg, L., & Vlek, C. (2009). Encouraging pro-environmental behaviour: An integrative review and
research agenda. Journal of Environmental Psychology,
29(3), 309-317.
Unsworth, K. L., Dmitrieva, A., & Adriasola, E. (2012). Changing behaviour:
Increasing the effectiveness of workplace interventions in creating pro- environmental behaviour
change. Journal of Organizational Behavior.
Vanclay, F. (2004). The triple bottom line and impact assessment: how do TBL, EIA, SEA and EMS
relate to each other? Journal of Environmental assessment Policy
and Management, 6, 265-288.
5 minutes
20 minutes
Presentation
20 minutes
Presentation
Arrival and Introductions
Research Showcase
Research Showcase
20 minutes
Applying Psychological
Techniques to Case Studies
15 minutes
Case Study Presentations
20 minutes
and Linkages
Opportunities,Challenges
10 minutes
Conclusions and Final
Thoughts
Throughout
Twitter Feed The
organizers will tweet key points, updates
and summaries during the workshop.
Post Workshop Activities
Scenarios Posted OnlineCase studies and road
map available on
organisers’ website.
Online Discussion
Ongoing discussion
Showcasing research featuring different
psychological approaches to promote
PEB in three large organizations.
In groups, delegates will consider how they
could apply their psychological expertise
and skill-sets to design interventions to
promote PEB in the case studies
Delegates will present their case study
discussions and explain their proposed
psychological interventions.
Facilitated discussion to identify business
and research opportunities, specific
challenges and linkages with other areas
(e.g., health and safety) that PEB presents.
A road map for moving forwards will be
compiled.
Drawing together key themes and providing
a summary of ideas generated.