Organizational unlearning and inclusive innovation: The moderating role of green control ambidexterity

Abstract

AbstractInclusive innovation is critical for poverty eradication and literature has identified several factors affecting inclusive innovation. However, our understanding of how organizational unlearning affects inclusive innovation is still limited. This study explores how organizational unlearning affects two dimensions of inclusive innovation (i.e., symbolic and substantive) via supply chain green learning and the moderating role of green control ambidexterity. We develop hypotheses based on organizational learning theory and organizational control theory and test hypotheses using survey data from 217 Chinese firms. The results indicate that supply chain green learning mediates the impacts of non‐environmental forgetting and environmental change on symbolic and substantive inclusive innovation. The results also reveal that the balanced dimension of green control ambidexterity strengthens the positive impact of supply chain green learning on substantive inclusive innovation, while the combined dimension of green control ambidexterity weakens the positive impact of supply chain green learning on symbolic inclusive innovation. This study enriches the literature and practice in the field of inclusive innovation and organizational control.