Thinking sustainably? Identifying Stakeholders' positions toward corporate sustainability in floriculture with Q methodology

Abstract

The aim of this study is to explore the different perspectives of floricultural stakeholders on sustainability. Q methodology is used to identify the diversity of viewpoints. Based on 34 statements derived from stakeholder-interviews and ranked by 12 stakeholders, three perspectives were identified: Attitude over strategy, business-centered approach, and pragmatic approach. The viewpoints shared a predominantly weak sustainability-understanding and differed in their evaluation of nature, global sustainability issues and organizational perspectives. The perspectives were inconsistent and ambiguous; the stages of the sustainability spectrum of Landrum can only be regarded as a conceptual guideline leaving the idea of clearly delineated stages behind.