Unveiling environmental decision-making logic: the joint impact of affective and deliberative information processing mechanisms

Purpose Although many antecedents of influencing decision-making have garnered significant attention, research about decision-making logic in the environmental management field is still rare. According to dual-process approaches, we explore the configurations driving firms’ environmental decision-making logic by considering affective and deliberative information processing mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach To investigate the configurations, we utilized fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) methods and data from 329 Chinese manufacturing firms. Findings We identify three configurational patterns driving firms’ causation logic (CL), i.e. deliberative, integrative and balanced information processing mechanisms. We also identify one configurational pattern driving firms’ effectuation logic (EL): cautious information processing mechanism. Moreover, we reveal causal asymmetry for both CL and EL. Originality/value This study extends decision-making studies by introducing decision-making logic into the environmental context, and reveals the configurations of strategic and emotional factors that drive environmental decision-making logic.