Exploring the mediating role of knowledge management practices to corporate sustainability

Abstract

This study aims to elaborate and recognize a model in which knowledge management practices affect corporate sustainability via corporate structure, corporate culture, corporate leadership style, and a unique variable social capital, used for the first time. Knowledge management is now used as a mediating variable for corporate sustainability. Creating long-term sustainable strategies emphasizes the need for a distinctive model of knowledge management practices in a rapidly changing business environment. Therefore, this paper delivers insights on how an organization can sustain its performance by addressing new dimensions due to the changing socio-economic environments and the pursuit of incessant improvement of competition. The authors used a quantitative research approach. Data is collected through a well-designed questionnaire from 130 respondents from Dhaka's textile sector, a significant sector of Bangladesh's economy and the world's second-largest ready-made garment (RMG) manufacturer and exporter. The result revealed that corporate sustainability is significantly related to corporate structure, culture, social capital, and corporate leadership styles. The mediated role of knowledge management in the link between organizational culture and sustainable performance is also crucial, and the relationship between leadership style and sustainable performance is also vital. A new variable known as social capital is also identified. Giving value and novelty to the academic literature also confirmed knowledge management and corporate sustainability theories that governments and regulators should follow.