An investigation of the perception of employees on environmental performance in a corporate company

Abstract

The focus of this study was to investigate the perception of employees on environmental performance within a corporate company. In this instance Absa Bank Limited was the organisation under investigation referring directly to the banks impact on the environment. A literature study was conducted to establish an awareness of all related terms and subjects to environmental performance. Further a specific focus on Absa Bank Limited?s environmental impact and the policies and procedures set out by this organisation was researched and discussed. An empirical study was conducted by means of a self completion questionnaire administered by a random sample of employees working for Absa Bank Limited. Quantitative research that was conducted by means of questionnaires were distributed through the Absa Bank Limited Group to 200 employees in the Gauteng and North West Province and distributed through different departments and management levels. 52 usable questionnaires were gathered out of the abovementioned areas. Cronbach Alpha coefficient values were used to determine the internal consistency amongst items in the research instrument. The research instrument used in this study to assess perception of employees on the environmental performance within Absa Bank Limited had acceptable reliability, since not one of the constructs had a lower Cronbach Alpha coefficient than 0.7. The correlation between the demographical variables and the seven constructs were examined by independent t–tests and effect sizes. The demographical factors used were the gender classification of respondents, number of years employed by Absa Bank Limited and the management level of the respondents. In all instances the effect sizes were too small to be of any practical significance since none of the effect sizes had a large effect (d–value = 0.8). Recommendations and practical ways in which environmental performance could be enhanced and maintained in Absa Bank Limited were discussed. It was also reccomended that systems and procedures should be revisited and adapted to ensure adherence to the requirements of environmental performance. The report concluded by addressing the achievement of all the objectives, and by recommending possible future research that could be undertaken based on this study.