Mission impossible or mission accomplished: Do zoo organizational missions influence conservation practices?. Issue 5 (9th July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maynard, Lily; Jacobson, Susan K.; Monroe, Martha C.; Savage, Anne
• Is Part Of: Zoo biology. Volume 39:Issue 5(2020)
• Page Start: 304
• Page End: 314
• Publication Date: 2020-07-09
• Subjects: conservation -- mission statement -- organizational identity; Zoo animals -- Periodicals; 591
• DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21557
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0733-3188

Abstract

Abstract: Conservation is an important organizational focus for zoos and aquariums. Organizational identity theory predicts a relationship between what is central to organizations, such as their mission statements, and their strategic activities. Based on this theory, we tested how organizational missions relate to their conservation strategies and practices. Tax forms and websites provided data from 173 zoos and 38 aquariums in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in North America. We analyzed conservation mission strength, organizational characteristics, and project features with dependent variables representing the depth of organizational conservation commitments: amount of grants zoos funded, number of partner organizations, and number of projects per zoo. On tax forms, the average amount of total conservation grants donated to partner organizations per zoo was over $650, 000, while the average number of partners reported on the tax forms was two. The content analysis of websites revealed an average of 14 conservation partners and 10 projects per zoo. Negative binomial regression models were significant. The financial analysis revealed that only the number of zoo personnel, as a surrogate for organization size, significantly predicted the amount of zoos' conservation grants. Website analyses found increasing budgets, organizational involvement, and geographic reach of the projects predicted increasing numbers of conservation projects and partnerships. However, our findings did not support the hypothesized relationship—strength of organizational mission did not predict strategy and activities. Zoos could do more to strategically activate their organizational identities and conservation missions to achieve their conservation goals. Abstract : The figure represents the findings of the study that differences in zoos' strength of conservation in their mission statements does not have an influence on their conservation strategies or outputs. However, zoos with increased active involvement in conservation projects have a significant, positive influence their conservation projects and potential for impact. Research Highlights: Zoo mission statements emphasizing conservation were not linked to more conservation practices. Yet, zoos with more active involvement in conservation led to increased practices. Zoos can do more to activate their missions to achieve their goals.