Evolution of environmental management in company: A taxonomy integrated with production and human resource management

Abstract

This article proposes a common approach for various taxonomies concerning the evolution stages of environmental management in organizations presented in the specialized literature. The analysis of the contributions related to the understanding of environmental management in companies found in the literature was based on their similarities. The aim of this analysis was to outline a proposal of a common approach concerning the evolution stages for environmental management. This taxonomy was then related to the evolution of both organizational configurations, as well as the human resource and production management areas. A common taxonomy related to the analysis of environmental management consisting of the three following evolution stages is proposed: functional specialization, internal integration and external integration of the environmental variable in organizations. These stages tend to follow the evolution of both organizational configurations, as well as the human resource and production management areas. This article systematizes the similarities of various taxonomies concerning environmental management in companies that appear to be disconnected in the literature. This paper contributes to the scarce literature related to the understanding of the integration of environmental management by considering the taxonomies of the evolution of organizational configurations, as well as the production and human resource management areas. It allows the experts involved in decision-making to comprehend the current maturity level of the company's environmental management and the necessary efforts to achieve superior performance.