Creating sustainable relationships using the strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results framework, trust, and environmentalism: a research-based case study

New forms of organization development are moving from a classical diagnostic perspective to a dialogic perspective. This move includes a focus on exploring positive states of organizing, shared aspirations, and the design of preferred futures as key outcomes of a strategic change process. Training and development that applies the elements of the strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results (SOAR) framework allows for stakeholders to engage in a dialogue that represents the whole system, and builds trust and environmental management systems that can positively impact supplier...  [+] Show more

New forms of organization development are moving from a classical diagnostic perspective to a dialogic perspective. This move includes a focus on exploring positive states of organizing, shared aspirations, and the design of preferred futures as key outcomes of a strategic change process. Training and development that applies the elements of the strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results (SOAR) framework allows for stakeholders to engage in a dialogue that represents the whole system, and builds trust and environmental management systems that can positively impact supplier performance. In this study, we examined the interrelationship between the SOAR framework, trust, environmental management systems, and supplier performance in respect of 71 program managers and customers from the Hass TCM Group, the largest chemical management services provider in North America. Hypothesis testing was carried out using correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and Sobel’s test for mediation. Our results support a combined framework in which the SOAR framework can be used to build trust and pro-environmental behaviors to train suppliers to develop collaborative relationships with customers.

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