Green Competitive Advantage Research Articles

Assessing the sustainable development of firms: The moderating role of transformational leadership and firm size

AbstractDue to escalating environmental problems and challenges, ensuring sustainable development (SD) has become a matter of concern for organizations worldwide at a precinct scale. This study aims to integrate the variables, which are antecedents of SD through direct and indirect paths. The managers as participants of small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises have helped the researchers to explore the role of green knowledge management (GKM) and green dynamic capacity with the intervention of green innovation and competitive advantage in achieving SD. The results achieved through structural equation modeling revealed positive and significant direct and indirect relationships, however, the intervening role of green innovation and green competitive advantage between GKM and SD show insignificant results. Interestingly, we have also identified two significant moderators as a part of this study: large firm size and transformational leadership. This research has important implications and significant contributions to theory and practice. It can be considered innovative by using a range of antecedents in an integrated way, proposing and testing a theoretical model of SD in a developing country Pakistan, which is affirmed and committed to achieving SDGs by the year 2030.

Enhancing industrial environmental performance: interplay among environmental sustainability, green HRM, and green competitive advantage.

This study highlights the importance of green human resource management (HRM) practices, which investigates the connection between environmental sustainability and green competitive advantage. Using the CGM model and the generalized method of moments (GMM), this research investigates how green HRM may foster environmental sustainability by creating a competitive advantage for businesses. Research shows that green HRM may achieve green competitive advantage practices, crucial for environmental sustainability. By "green HRM practices," we mean incorporating environmental concerns into traditional HRM processes, including hiring, training, evaluating, and compensating employees. However, the importance of green HRM practices cannot be overstated due to their efficiency in creating a competitive advantage and advancing environmental sustainability. Specifically, the research shows that businesses that have adopted "green HRM practices" outperform their competitors in terms of environmental sustainability. The last section emphasizes the importance of green HRM as a key facilitator of environmental sustainability. Implications for businesses that want to improve their environmental performance are also provided.

Understanding Corporate Green Competitive Advantage through Green Technology Adoption and Green Dynamic Capabilities: Does Green Product Innovation Matter?

Our study explores the association between the adoption of green technology and the development of green dynamic capabilities to achieve green competitive advantage. This research concentrates explicitly on the mediating function of green product innovation. The study is grounded in the dynamic capabilities theory and seeks to improve understanding regarding how organizations can attain a competitive edge by employing green practices and capabilities. Data were obtained from 312 manufacturing business managers in Bangladesh. We utilized the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method to examine the data and evaluate the proposed hypotheses. The empirical evidence suggests that both green technology adoption and green dynamic capabilities significantly impact firms’ green product innovation and competitive advantage. Additionally, the findings indicate that green product innovation is a mediating variable in the association between green technology adoption-green competitive advantage and green dynamic capabilities-green competitive advantage. This research adds to the current body of literature by presenting empirical findings highlighting the crucial role of green technology and dynamic capabilities in promoting green competitive advantage. Our results reveal that it would be beneficial for organizations to prioritize adopting eco-friendly technologies and cultivating dynamic capabilities to improve their overall green performance. The present study contributes significantly to the literature by offering insights into the strategies managers and policymakers can employ to attain sustainable competitive advantage in the manufacturing sector.

Sustainable Development as a Strategy for Enhancing Competitiveness in Tourism Business in Indonesia

The growth of tourism in Indonesia has demonstrated significant progress; however, Indonesia's competitive position in the tourism sector remains below that of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. Empirical studies have revealed a crucial fact: the existence of shifting demands in tourism and the emergence of green tourism. The objective of this research is to formulate a strategy for the development of the tourism industry in Indonesia, aimed at achieving competitive advantage. This study adopts a quantitative approach. Primary data were gathered through the use of questionnaires and interviews, and data analysis was conducted using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The research findings indicate that the strategy deemed most essential and viable for achieving Green Competitive Advantage (GCA) within the Hospitality Industry is fostering, enhancing literacy/understanding, and raising GCA awareness among all hotel management personnel. This strategy aims to bolster the commitment and involvement of hotel management in implementing environmentally friendly and sustainable business practices. The most pivotal factors in attaining GCA within the hospitality industry companies are Dynamic Managerial Capabilities, followed by government policies, innovation capabilities, and environmental capabilities. The primary actors contributing to the realization of GCA are the government, community, company leader, and associations.

Sustainable SMEs Performance and Green Competitive Advantage: The Role of Green Creativity, Business Independence and Green IT Empowerment

This study aims to examine and analyze the influence of green creativity and business independence on competitive advantage moderated by green IT empowerment. The research population is all creative SMEs in the Tangerang, Yogyakarta and West Java regions. Samples were taken from part of the population using purposive sampling technique. The target sample in this study is 400 SMEs. However, there were only 272 SMEs who completely filled out the questionnaire and were thus analyzed. The results of the study concluded that green creativity had a significant negative influence on the performance of sustainable SMEs and a significant positive influence on green competitive advantage. Business independence had a significant positive influence on the performance of sustainable SMEs and a significant positive influence on green competitive advantage. The research results indicate that green IT Empowerment did not moderate the relationship between green creativity and sustainable SME performance and weakened the relationship between green creativity and green competitive advantage. Likewise, the research results indicate that green IT empowerment did not moderate the relationship between business independence and sustainable business performance; it moderated the positive relationship between independence and green competitive advantage.

Does going intellectually green matter? Accentuating the role of eco-innovation speed and quality in a competitive post-Covid 19 emerging market

Purpose The post-pandemic emerging market is competitive and green, which has contributed to the growing pressure on firms to adopt into their business models green strategies with competitive outcomes. Therefore, this paper aims to draw from the natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory to examine how green intellectual capital (IC) can influence green competitive advantage of manufacturing firms in Ghana, by elucidating the mediating role of eco-innovation speed and quality in the relationship. Design/methodology/approach Cross-sectional survey data were obtained from 212 manufacturing firms in Ghana, using purposive sampling techniques. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine the factor structure of the measurement models. Structural equation modelling technique was used to analyse the hypothesized relationships. Findings The study found that green IC has a positively significant effect on green competitive advantage of manufacturing firms. However, while eco-innovation speed positively mediates the relationship, eco-innovation quality plays a negative mediating role in the effect of green IC on green competitive advantage of manufacturing firms in Ghana. Practical implications The framework of this study provides to managers of manufacturing firms, a superior green strategy that is unique, valuable and non-substitutable with the capable to provide green competitive edge to firms in a turbulent sustainability-driven market. Originality/value Through the lens of the NRBV theory, this study provided a firstly knowledge on the crucial role of eco-innovation speed and quality in driving firms’ green competitive advantage within a post-covid emerging market.

The impact of green HRM on green competitive advantage in tourism SMES: The mediating role of Eco-innovation

The impact of green HRM on green competitive advantage in tourism SMES: The mediating role of Eco-innovation

Cite Space-Based Bibliometric Analysis of Green Marketing

“Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”. Green marketing and sustainable development have become crucial topics in economic and social development. During 2019–2023, there are nearly 952 publications on green marketing-related topics in the Web of Science core database, and a large number of scholars researched green marketing, but there is still a lack of comprehensive and systematic studies on the current status of green marketing research and hot trends. The main purpose of this study is to summarize and sort out the current status of green marketing research by reviewing the literature related to green marketing (enterprises vs. consumers). Meanwhile, using Cite Space 6.2 R2 software, the core literature of green marketing in the past five years was screened, the data were visualized and analyzed, and a knowledge map of the cooperative authors, institutions, countries, and keywords was drawn in an attempt to discover the research hotspots and major development trends of green marketing. The results show that the publications and citation frequency of green marketing-related literature showed an increasing trend from 2019 to 2023, and the highest citation frequency was reached in 2022. Green marketing literature appears more frequently in the USA, China, and England and has a higher influence. Green management, firm performance, green innovation, green strategy, green capability, sustainable development, green business, green market orientation, green supply chain management, green exploitation, green responsibility, ecosystem, green commitment, green perceptions, green competitive advantage, and corporate social responsibility reflect the hot topics and important themes of green marketing research. This study innovatively combines a green marketing literature review and bibliometric analysis, comprehensively and systematically discusses the current status of green marketing research and hot trends based on both textual and data perspectives, and puts forward the “individual-environment-economy-society” virtuous ecological cycle of green marketing from a macro perspective.

Green entrepreneurial orientation and environmental performance of SMEs in Johannesburg municipality in the Gauteng province

An entrepreneurial approach is being highlighted by an increasing number of recent studies. The relationship between green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) and environmental performance (EP) has been studied in the past, and it includes a number of apparatuses. The research's inconsistent findings are likely caused by the absence of the mediating and moderating effects of green competitive advantage (GCA) and green innovation (GI). This study investigates how GEO influences EP Johannesburg municipality in the Gauteng province: the role of GCA and GI. The data was collected form 424 respondents across the Johannesburg municipality. The data was analysed using SmartPLS 4.0. The empirical findings of this study show that there is a significant positive relationship between GEO and the EP of SMEs. The study further shows that the relationship between GEO and EP is partially mediated by GCA and the relationship is also moderated by GI at an average weight. This paper fills a gap in the literature by exploring external business variables mediating and moderating the relationship between GEO and EP and contributes to the discussion on the contradictory results regarding the relationship between GEO and EP. The study suggests some recommendations on how the managers of SMEs can improve GEO. These include the provision of training and development workshops on environmental strategy for management and employees.

The Effect of Green HRM Practices on Green Competitive Advantage of the SME Sector of KSA

This paper aims to examine the mediating role of green service innovation between green entrepreneurship intention, green knowledge sharing and green knowledge management and green competitive advantage. A survey was administered to 300 respondents. For the collection of data, this study used judgemental sampling. Structural equation modelling technique implemented to examine the framework. The findings of the study reveal that green service innovation mediates the relationship between green entrepreneurship intention, green knowledge sharing and green knowledge management and green competitive advantage. These findings also support the proposed direct hypothesis. The findings of the study proposed that marketers should focus on environmentally friendly activities to gain a competitive advantage in the KSA market.

The Effect of Green Intellectual Capital on Green Competitive Advantage in Sustainable City Management

Resource-based view (RBV) is a valuable theoretical foundation in analyzing organizational strategic resources to achieve Green Competitive Advantage in green city management. The purpose of this study is to analyze the strategic resources of the Semarang municipal government and this public sector capability in achieving a green competitive advantage in the management of green city. The application of the green city concept aims to create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly environment, by optimizing the use of renewable energy and reducing emissions. The use of this renewable energy can also provide a more stable and secure energy source because it does not depend on the irregular supply of fossil fuels and is vulnerable to price fluctuations. The method used is by quantitative techniques through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with a number of 116 respondents in Semarang City municipal government was taken as the sample through purposive sampling technique. The findings through quantitative analysis shows that green intellectual capital, eco-innovation and transformational leadership factors have a significant effect on Green Competitive Advantage in the context of green city management. As a suggestion, it is advisable to enhance the capacity for sharing a common vision, facilitating communication among parties involved, implementing sustainable management practices, nurturing human resources, and employing a collaborative governance framework for the purpose of building a green city in Semarang, Indonesia.

Sustainability‐oriented innovations – Enhancing factors and consequences

AbstractThis study aims to explore internal firm factors that enhance sustainability‐oriented product and process innovations. Formulated on resource‐based theories and the Porter hypothesis, it further investigates the impact of these innovations on the economic performance of firms. Adopting a quantitative research methodology, the study uses partial least squares structural equation modelling on data collected from 251 middle to senior management employees working in manufacturing‐based consumer goods firms. Dynamic capabilities, sustainable organisational innovations and smart technologies are concluded as significant factors that enhance sustainability‐oriented innovations. A strong positive impact of sustainability‐oriented innovations on organisation's economic performance is established, with green competitive advantage playing a strong mediating role and green image as a weak mediating variable. Interesting insights are gained in action‐identity‐image relationships. A strong positive relationship is established between sustainability‐oriented innovations and green organisational identity. Green organisational identity further promotes green image through green commitment. The study provides managers insights on internal factors that encourage sustainable innovations and harness right opportunities to ensure economic success. The interplay between action, identity, and image provides policymakers right tools to frame appropriate strategies to create sustainability orientation. The study has limitations as it is cross sectional and hence fails to capture the dynamics over time and it uses subjective measures.

Exploring corporate environmental ethics and green creativity as antecedents of green competitive advantage, sustainable production and financial performance: empirical evidence from manufacturing firms

PurposeEnvironmental degradation in emerging economies has induced stakeholder pressures on diverse firms to ensure sustainable business performance. Consequently, firms are adopting environmentally ethical cultures and reinforcing green creativity to satisfy stakeholders' environmental needs while attaining green competitive advantage, sustainable production and higher financial performance. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether corporate environmental ethics and green creativity serve as antecedents to higher competitiveness, sustainable production and financial performance, and also examine if green competitive advantage and sustainable production mediate the relationships between corporate environmental ethics, green creativity and financial performance in the context of an emerging economy.Design/methodology/approachThis study using a survey approach examined data from 290 manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises. Data were analyzed and interpreted using SmartPLS 3.0 software, a variance-based structural equation modelling technique. This modelling technique was adopted due to its suitability for predictive research models.FindingsThe findings show that corporate environmental ethics and green creativity are critical antecedents to green competitive advantage, sustainable production and financial performance. The results connote that while corporate environmental ethics and green creativity directly and robustly influence green competitive advantage, sustainable production and financial performance, their effect on financial performance is strengthened via the indirect effects of green competitive advantage and sustainable production. Contrasting past findings, corporate environmental ethics negatively related to financial performance in this study context. The findings indicate that the integration of environmental ethics and green creativity can be a unique strategy for mitigating environmental negative risks while improving green competitive advantage, sustainable production and financial performance.Originality/valueThe study is among the few that draws insights from organizational ethics and the natural resource-based view (NRBV) to examine the interactions between corporate environmental ethics, green creativity, green competitive advantage, sustainable production and financial performance. Drawing insights from the findings, the study provides suggestions for managers, academicians, policymakers and governments as well as highlights implications and directions for future research.

Economic, energetic and environmental analysis of the utilization of swine manure in Brazil: Opportunities and challenges

Faced with the worsening of climate issues, nations are directing efforts to build renewable energy matrices. Specifically with regard to biomass, it can contribute to the creation and strengthening of green competitive advantages in terms of cost for agricultural units. Strictly, swine biomass, considered to have a high polluting load, can contribute to achieving the aforementioned benefits. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze the potential economic, environmental and energy contribution of this waste, whether in breeding units, as well as in the Brazilian energy matrix, both aiming to guide investments in the sector and also to guide the elaboration of public policies for the valorization of externalities ecosystemic of this waste, with emphasis on the bioelectricity, biofertilizers and biomethane market. The methodology used was the analysis of the financial viability of breeding units from 100 to 500 swines from 25 kg to 100 kg, with 252 days of operation, 10 h a day, with the use of canvas biodigestor and motor generator with efficiency between 25% up to 38% for electricity price ranges from USD 35.35/MWh to USD 155.35/MWh, sale of carbon credit, simple superphosphate and potassium chloride. Taxes on the sale of electricity and fertilizers at 34%, with a minimum attractive rate of 12% per annum. The results indicate viability for the entire range of numbers of swine, with the sale of fertilizers and electricity and electricity at a price of USD 35.35/MWh. For the exclusive sale of electricity, for efficiency of the thermoelectric motor between 25% and 38%, there is economic and financial viability beginning at 31% for production units of 100 swine with a price of USD 125.35/MWh. This business is viable with at least 200 swine through the replacement of diesel with 10% generated biogas. It can be concluded that there is a need to reformulate the incentive policy in Brazil, through the implementation of feed in tariffs; price the MWh, in the regulated market, based on its environmental externalities; extension of the free market hiring period; the development of teaching policies with farmers about the importance of reusing waste, aiming at replacing synthetic fertilizer with biofertilizer; convergence between the Union and Federative Units on incentive policies, with emphasis on the standardization of biomethane and the creation of captive markets, which provide predictability to agricultural investors, the industries that manufacture biomethane engines and expansion of the gas pipeline network in the country.

Does green human resource management lead to a green competitive advantage? A sequential mediation model with three mediators

The relationship between green human resource management (GHRM) and green competitive advantage (GCA) in the hotel context remains a deeply under-explored research frontier. Drawing on the resource-based view and ability-motivation-opportunity theories, this study investigates how a hotel’s GHRM practices are linked to hotel GCA through the single and sequential mediating roles of employee green work engagement, green knowledge sharing, and green creativity. The findings show that GHRM has no significant direct impact on GCA. However, the relationship between GHRM and GCA is significantly mediated by the sequential impacts of employee green work engagement, green knowledge sharing, and green creativity. This work suggests that hotel GCA is not a conclusive reflection of GHRM. Employee green behavior, embodying a sequential mechanism, in response to GHRM plays an instrumental role in realizing hotel GCA. The theoretical contributions, practical implications, limitations, and future research directions are included.

Green Competitive Advantage and SMEs: Is Big Data the Missing Link?

Green Competitive Advantage and SMEs: Is Big Data the Missing Link?

The New Model: Green Innovation Modified to Moderate the Influence of Integrated Reporting, Green Intellectual Capital toward Green Competitive Advantage

The purpose of this study is to analyze (1) The effect of integrated reporting and green intellectual capital on green competitive advantage, (2) Green innovation moderates integrated reporting and green intellectual capital on green competitive advantage. Quantitative research methods use secondary data, content analysis. The population in this study are companies that publish Annual Reports that have been audited by independent auditors and Sustainability Reports of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2016-2020 and are taken from IDX-IC. Through purposive sampling method, panel data a combination of cross-section data and time series data, were obtained as many as 324 observations. Data processing using software eviews with Moderated Regression Analysis. The results of this study indicate that integrated reporting and intellectual capital have a significant positive effect on green competitive advantage. Green innovation significantly strengthens the effect of integrated reporting on green competitive advantage. However, green innovation weakens the effect of green intellectual capital on green competitive advantage. The green innovation modified variable which is the novelty of this study has more robustness than the model without novelty.

Twin transitions & industry 4.0: Unpacking the relationship between digital and green factors to determine green competitive advantage

The topic of twin transition is playing a key role within the current literature. There is also growing interest amongst researchers, managers, and policy makers to explore this phenomenon. This study investigates whether the pursuit of twin transition can enhance a company's green-based competitive advantage (CA). The authors conducted a PLS-SEM analysis to examine 459 responses collected through purposive technique. A regression analysis was used to further investigate the obtained data. Technological innovation is adopted as a mediator, whereas green work climate perception (GWCP) is adopted as a moderator. The findings suggest that IoT, green human resource management (HRM), and investment in environmental management strategies are directly and indirectly linked with a company's green CA. This study offers concrete suggestions on how the pursuit of environmentally-friendly and technological factors affect a company's green CA. This study makes the following contributions. First, technological innovation and green work climate perception increase green CA. Second, GWCP positively strengthens the relationship between technological innovation and green CA. The empirical findings suggest that management seeking to improve green CA can do so by adopting twin transition. This study further develops the literature on twin transition because it incorporates IoT, green HRM, investment in environmental management, technological innovation, and green work climate perception to measure green CA through the theoretical lens of natural resource-based view theory.

MEDIATION ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING ON THE EFFECT OF GREEN COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE ON SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE

As hotels grow, the social and environmental problems they pose are becoming more and more complex. This study aims to develop a framework to identify the role of environmental management accounting and the effects of green competitive advantage on sustainability performance. This study uses an explanatory research approach by investigating the effect of green competitive advantages on sustainability performance mediated by environmental management accounting. This study analyses the responses of general managers of hotels in Indonesia as many as 287 respondents. Data was collected by self-administered surveys and the results were analysed using structural equation modeling to test conceptual models and hypotheses. It was observed that green competitive advantage is an essential factor for companies to improve the achievement of sustainable performance. Environmental management accounting directs the management to environmental aspects, communicates the relationship between employee actions and the organization’s sustainable goals and encourages the setting of sustainability performance priorities. Competitive advantage causes variations in the application of environmental management accounting to realise sustainable practices. The findings of this study indicate the importance of implementing environmental management accounting to realise competitive advantages in organisations; therefore, environmental management accounting mediates the relationship between green competitive advantages and sustainability performance.

Management of Green Competitive Advantage: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda

The success or failure of a company is acquired from a competition, which requires a specific strategy to achieve competitive goals and benefits. One of these strategies is green competitive advantage (GCA) management, initially introduced in 2011, which is highly considered and identified as a management concept. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate a systematic review of GCA management. It emphasizes the analysis of trending literature, geography, and other factors influencing GCA. It also prioritizes the impact obtained when adopting GCA as a framework to support organizational sustainability. This study is the first literature review that presents GCA management. The results show that the application of green innovation and high environmental awareness led to the development of improved performance, a better competitive advantage, and sustainable business. This study highlights significant theoretical and practical contributions. From a theoretical perspective, it allows one to synthesize GCA outcomes to describe better how it affects organizations and the environment. From a practical perspective, it provides concrete implications for policymakers in defining the best mechanism for developing green innovation to achieve competitive advantage and business sustainability. Meanwhile, the actual outputs of this process are emphasized for practitioners, which subsequently enables easier access and increased GCA literacy for practitioners and stakeholders to encourage the selection of organizational GCs (green changes), especially concerning the role of GCA as a promotional and sustainable business framework.