RT Article
T1 Threat Interpretation and Innovation in the Context of Climate Change: An Ethical Perspective
JF Journal of business ethics
VO 143
IS 2
SP 261
OP 276
A1 Haney, Aoife Brophy
LA English
PB Springer Science + Business Media B. V
YR 2017
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1785661337
AB The ability of managers to identify and interpret challenges in the external environment is one of the micro-foundations of dynamic capabilities. The underlying literature on strategic issue interpretation suggests that interpreting environmental challenges as opportunities rather than threats is more likely to lead to proactive and innovative responses, but there are also potentially positive effects of threat interpretation, for instance high levels of commitment and risk-seeking behaviour. In this paper, I use the context of climate change to explore the link between threat interpretation and innovation in more detail. I use exploratory cluster analysis and illustrative case studies to develop a set of propositions to explain when threat interpretation can in fact encourage innovation. I identify two ethical mechanisms that positively mediate the relationship between threat interpretation and innovation: enlarged concept of responsibility to society and moral legitimacy. The paper contributes to the literature by identifying the importance of ethics in linking managerial interpretation to innovation, particularly in the context of global environmental and social challenges.
K1 Dynamic capabilities
K1 Managerial interpretation
K1 Environmental strategy
K1 Innovation
DO 10.1007/s10551-015-2591-7