Managerial cognition and environmental behavioral intentions: A behavioral reasoning theory perspective

Abstract The literature points toward a limited understanding regarding the relationship between managers' cognition and their environmental behavioral intentions. Using behavioral reasoning theory, this study examines the relationships between managers' cognition and their behavioral intentions toward environmental initiatives. Data was collected from 256 managers working in manufacturing firms in India and modeled by structural equation modeling. The modeling of data suggests that managers' reasoning for and against energy‐saving initiatives is positively associated with their self‐enhancement values (SEV) and negatively with their self‐transcendence values (STV). Managers' reasoning regarding the energy‐saving initiatives fully and positively mediates the manifestation of SEV into their positive attitude toward energy saving. The same reasoning fully and negatively mediates the relationship between STV and the attitude toward energy‐saving initiatives. Industry experience of the managers also strengthens the relationship between their values and their “reasoning for” energy‐saving initiatives. The study also offers directions for future research and consequent implications.