Transformation Efforts Research Articles

Mineral resource dependence and green transformation: the impact and challenges of green finance in Chinese cities

Overcoming the resource curse while balancing environmental protection and economic growth presents significant challenges. We developed an evaluation system to measure the green economic efficiency (GEE) of 262 cities and introduced the concept of the mineral resource curse. This study investigates both linear and non-linear relationships between mineral resource dependence (MRD) and GEE, as well as the role of green finance in this context. To address the endogeneity issue arising from the bidirectional causality between MRD and GEE, we used the interaction of relief degree of land surface and time as instrumental variables (IV). The empirical results indicate that a city’s MRD significantly inhibits GEE. Specifically, an increase in MRD hinders GEE by reducing green investment and crowding out green credit. By categorizing cities according to resource cycle theory, we found that non-resource-based and regenerative cities effectively avoided the mineral resource curse. However, resource-based, growing, mature, and declining cities did not benefit from their mineral resources. This conclusion remains robust even after changing IV and using various estimation methods such as IVTOBIT. Furthermore, this study discusses the practical effects of green finance. We found that green investment has a limited impact, failing to offset the negative influence of MRD on GEE. Under the influence of green credit, the relationship between MRD and GEE exhibits an inverted U-shape. This finding highlights the limitations of green finance policies at the municipal level in China. Overall, this study provides new evidence for improving China’s green finance system and promoting green economic development. It offers a fresh perspective for China and other developing countries in their green transformation efforts and avoidance of the mineral resource curse.

Topographic and Geodetic Survey for Samarkand's Administrative Boundaries

General Background: Administrative and territorial boundary delineation is vital in the effective governance and economic planning of urban regions globally, with digital technologies increasingly integrated into these processes for accuracy and efficiency. Specific Background: In Uzbekistan, the city of Samarkand’s administrative boundaries are undergoing significant realignment as part of a broader initiative to incorporate strategic urban centers and enable digital land management across administrative zones. Knowledge Gap: Existing methods lack precise integration with digital geospatial frameworks, leaving a gap in high-resolution topographic data essential for clear administrative delineation. Aims: This study seeks to develop and apply an accurate, digitally supported methodology for determining the boundaries of Samarkand's administrative units using advanced geodetic and topographic techniques. Results: By utilizing the CREDO DAT program, this study achieved precise boundary coordinates through the automated processing of survey points, and further analysis was conducted using the Panorama program for detailed map orientation. Novelty: This research presents a unique approach by integrating CREDO DAT with geospatial tools in administrative boundary demarcation, enabling accurate and reproducible results that surpass traditional methods in efficiency and scalability. Implications: The findings support the strategic planning of Samarkand’s infrastructure and resource allocation while also laying the groundwork for applying similar methodologies in other urban regions, advancing Uzbekistan’s digital transformation efforts in land management.Highlights: Digital tools enhance accuracy in administrative boundary mapping. CREDO DAT and Panorama software streamline data processing for precise mapping. This method supports effective urban planning and resource management in Samarkand. Keywords: Administrative Zones, Border, Territory, District, City

Future actions and a call for ongoing support

Abstract The EUVABECO project is currently piloting a suite of innovative tools, including decision support systems, targeted screening tools, electronic vaccine leaflets, disease simulators, and cross-border vaccination cards. These tools have shown great promise in transforming vaccination practices within individual healthcare settings, contributing to building vaccine confidence and increasing protection against vaccine-preventable infections across the life course. As EUVABECO progresses to the crucial phase of implementing these pilots, active collaboration and sustained support from the multiple actors of the vaccine ecosystem in the implementing countries are essential. To ensure these tools are effectively adapted across different MS, they must be customised to meet local needs and the specific requirements of diverse healthcare environments. This involves integrating feedback from initial deployments. More than just a technical implementation, this phase is about fostering and maintaining robust partnerships with key stakeholders such as healthcare providers, policymakers, and National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs). The success of the EUVABECO project depends on continuous engagement and the sharing of knowledge and resources among all partners involved. This presentation seeks to reinforce the call for ongoing commitment and collaboration from existing stakeholders and to encourage new partners to join this transformative effort. This will foster a more harmonized approach to vaccination policies. Together, we aim to build a more resilient public health infrastructure, enhancing the preparedness and responsiveness to current and future vaccination challenges, ultimately improving resilience to health threats across the European Union.

JA ImpleMENTAL Implementing the Belgian Best Practice on Community Mental Health system Reform

Abstract Mental health challenges affect more than one in six people across the EU. In order to support Member States to proceed with mental health care system transformation and suicide prevention JA ImpleMENTAL, was initiated on the request of Member States, on October 2021 under the European Union 3rd Health Program. The JA consists of 39 organizations from 21 countries, more than 180 persons are working. Two advisory bodies support the consortium and provide their insights and expertise, a stakeholder forum with 10 key European Organizations in Mental Health including EUPHA Mental Health Section and WHO Europe and OECD, and the Member State Policy Committee which ensures the involvement of ministries and enables the practices to be embedded in health systems. Within the 11 countries implementing pilots under the Belgium model using a common Implementation Strategy, a total 163 activities are implemented under the 5 following key areas: 62 on structural measures needed for the establishment of local networks promoting a user’s centered, human’s right based recovery approach, 43 for the development and/or transformation of mental health services, 22 on training & capacity building in support of the reform and cultural change, 22 on continuous communication, information and awareness raising, and 13 on data collection, monitoring and evaluation. An analysis of MS pilot action plans shows that most service transformation efforts have concentrated on: defining care pathways for people at risk and for those with mild to severe mental health conditions including smooth transition from child and adolescent to Adult Mental Health services, as well as from inpatient to community services, the nomination of case managers for assisting individuals to their recovery process the development of individual service plans, the Involvement of users in various layers of service delivery including peer support and the provision of assertive treatment through mobile units.

Change Management Strategies in Saudi Government Institutions: An Analytical Study of National Transformation Efforts to Achieve Vision 2030

Change Management Strategies in Saudi Government Institutions: An Analytical Study of National Transformation Efforts to Achieve Vision 2030

ESG performance and corporate carbon emission intensity: based on panel data analysis of A-share listed companies

This study investigates the impact of ESG performance on enterprise carbon emission intensity, using panel data from A-share listed companies over 2011–2022. The findings suggest that ESG can encourage enterprises to actively engage in environmental governance, enhancing their profitability and reducing carbon emission intensity, thereby achieving dual optimization of environmental and economic benefits. The mechanism test reveals the intermediary roles of institutional investors’ participation, total factor productivity, and green technology innovation. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the relationship between ESG performance and enterprise carbon emission intensity varies with different degrees of management shortsightedness, ownership separation, equity balance, legitimacy status, and industrial pollution characteristics, reflecting the heterogeneous influence driven by Intrinsic motivation and external factors. Notably, the mitigating influence of ESG on enterprise carbon emission intensity is mainly attributed to enhanced corporate profitability, which effectively decelerates the growth rate of enterprise carbon emissions, albeit insufficient to arrest the overall increase. This observation points to a certain degree of “green paradox” phenomenon. Overall, the analysis underscores the significant contribution of ESG in promoting enterprises’ green transformation efforts.

The Impact of Digitalization on Agricultural Green Development: Evidence from China’s Provinces

Agricultural green development is crucial for achieving the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, with the digital technology revolution acting as a catalyst for both China’s green agricultural transformation and global sustainable development efforts. This study utilizes panel data from 30 Chinese provinces (including autonomous regions and municipalities) from 2012 to 2022 to assess the digitalization level and agricultural green development through a combined entropy weight and TOPSIS method. It also investigates the spatial agglomeration of agricultural green development using Moran’s I index and empirically evaluates the impact of digitalization on agricultural green development through OLS and spatial Durbin models. The findings reveal that, while China’s agricultural green development has progressed slowly yet steadily during the study period, it demonstrates significant spatial agglomeration, driven primarily by agricultural production efficiency and resource recycling. Notably, a non-linear U-shaped relationship exists between digitalization and agricultural green development, suggesting that digitalization fosters agricultural green development only after surpassing a certain threshold. Additionally, digitalization has spatial spillover effects: advancements in neighboring provinces correlate with local agricultural green development in a U-shaped manner, with an initial “siphon effect” followed by a “trickle-down effect.” These insights inform policy recommendations aimed at optimizing the use of digital technology to facilitate green agricultural transformation, offering valuable guidance for policymakers.

Research on the green development path of prefabricated building industry based on intelligent technology

PurposeIn order to make the construction industry develop in the direction of greening, this paper analyzes whether the application of intelligent technology in prefabricated buildings can achieve carbon emission reduction, starting from the problems of weak technology and insufficient encouragement policies in the prefabricated building industry. It also designs dynamic and adjustable incentives for the smart transformation of prefabricated buildings and makes recommendations to facilitate the transformation of assembly manufacturers into “smart factories”.Design/methodology/approachThis paper takes the intelligent technology for carbon reduction, energy efficiency and policy design in the prefabricated buildings industry as the starting point. Based on in-depth expert interviews and questionnaire survey data, a linear multiple regression model is used to establish an association network of intelligent technology in the production and transportation, construction, operation and maintenance, demolition and scrapping stages. On this basis, an evolutionary game theory is used to construct a smart transformation and carbon reduction utility game model between the government and manufacturers, and relevant suggestions for smart empowerment of green construction development technology combinations and policy settings are proposed.FindingsAn assembly manufacturing plant with smart empowerment is an important way to achieve green and sustainable development in the construction industry. Among them, BIM and IoT have made a greater impact on carbon emission reduction of prefabricated buildings in all stages of the whole life cycle. The government’s proposed energy efficiency incentives and environmental tax amount will effectively increase companies' motivation for smart transformation of prefabricated buildings. However, when the environmental tax amount is low, the government should strengthen the regulation of the industry in order to increase the speed of smart transformation of assembly manufacturers. Therefore, a reasonable setting of the environmental tax rate and energy-saving incentives and flexible adjustment of the regulatory efforts can maximize the functional utility of the government in the process of smart transformation.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper focuses on the impact of intelligent technologies on the overall carbon emissions of the industry and provides an evolutionary analysis of the strategic game between the government and assembly manufacturers, the main players in the smart transformation process of prefabricated buildings. However, smart technologies for different categories of assembly manufacturing plants and strategic options for a wider range of stakeholders have not been examined in depth.Originality/valueDifferent from existing research, this study focuses on exploring the strategic game between the government and assembly manufacturers in the smart transformation of prefabricated buildings. It provides an innovative explanation of the connection between intelligent technology and carbon emissions. The study develops an evolutionary game model for both parties, addressing the research gap on the combined effects of policy incentives and intelligent technology on carbon reduction and efficiency improvement in the prefabricated buildings industry. This research not only offers practical reference for the government in designing incentive mechanisms and establishing regulatory systems but also provides feasible practical guidance for the smart transformation and carbon reduction efforts of assembly manufacturing plants.

Accelerating Time-to-Market in Life Insurance: The Power of AI-Driven Test Automation Frameworks

The Life Insurance sector grapples with distinct challenges, balancing multifaceted operational workflows, rigorous compliance standards, and the surging demand for swift software deployment. Conventional Quality Assurance (QA) paradigms often fall short in delivering the responsiveness required by today's digital transformation efforts. This paper examines how Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enhanced test automation frameworks can substantially truncate time-to-market while ensuring software excellence. By leveraging advanced predictive analytics, strategic test case prioritization, and integrated Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) processes, Life Insurance enterprises can accelerate software launch cycles with improved dependability, thereby meeting the ever-evolving expectations of the marketplace and regulatory entities.

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH THROUGH GREEN ECONOMY: AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Objective: In recent years, the growing interest and awareness of environmental issues have once again brought the issue of population growth to the forefront, exerting significant pressure on production. The increased pressure on production and the resultant rise in production have led to a faster trend in consumption. As a natural consequence of both trends, detrimental effects on ecological balance and the environment have begun to emerge. The concept of "green economy" has emerged as an approach to restore the disrupted ecological balance and operationalize this order. This widely spreading concept has begun to generate significant policies at both national and international levels. Method: This study aims to examine the relationship between renewable energy production, consumption, wastewater, and solid waste data, covering the years 1980-2022, using econometric methods to explore the relationship between green economy and economic growth in the context of Turkey. The objective is to analyze the impact of the recent and rapidly increasing transformation towards "green economy" on the long-term trajectory of economic growth in Turkey. Result and Discussion: Based on the findings of the study, it has been determined that, at the 0.05 level of statistical significance, there is no long-term relationship between the variables and economic growth, as well as no long-term significant relationship between any of the variables. When the statistical significance is accepted at the 0.10 level, a significant long-term relationship is identified between the amount of wastewater and renewable energy, with a 1% increase in wastewater leading to a 0.82% increase in renewable energy. Implications: The findings of this study and the transformation towards a green economy, widely covered in the literature, have been recognized in Turkey and an unnamed green transformation movement has begun. As the results of the analysis of the study indicate, the policies introduced for the transition to a green economy and transformation efforts have a positive and significant impact on economic growth in the long term, but the same cannot be claimed for the short term, but in the future, advances in scientific and technological progress and over-specialization will inevitably have positive consequences on global and domestic sustainable development in the short term. Originality/Value: The distinctive feature of this study from similar studies in the literature is that the relationship between the green economy and sustainable growth was analyzed empirically and with five separate econometric models. Recommendations: Turkey needs serious reforms in education in its transition to a green economy. In addition, there is a need for political determination to use environmentally friendly sectors that are more open to innovation and competition, such as renewable energy and green building sectors.

Developing a Sustainable Digital Transformation Roadmap for SMEs: Integrating Digital Maturity and Strategic Alignment

Digital transformation (DT) is crucial for SMEs to streamline operational efficiency, foster innovation, and meet upcoming challenges. Integrating sustainability into this process not only enhances a company’s reputation but also attracts customers and investors who value environmental responsibility. Despite this opportunity, many SMEs operate without clear plans and strategies. The literature review identified a lack of roadmaps that integrate sustainability into the digital transformation process for SMEs. Thus, this paper aims to propose a sustainable digital transformation roadmap for SMEs that evaluates their digital maturity and facilitates gradual implementation in alignment with their strategic objectives. A systematic literature review using the Methodi Ordinatio defined six key dimensions of digital transformation. Consequently, the SDT-SMEs Roadmap was developed, drawing on ISO/IEC 33000 standards to offer well-defined processes for enhancing digital competencies. The roadmap features three organizational planning levels—strategic, tactical, and operational—and includes a maturity model that evaluates 75 processes across six dimensions: Digital Technologies, Customer Focus, Organizational Culture, Organizational Governance, People, and Sustainability. Validation through a case study confirmed the roadmap’s effectiveness in addressing real-world challenges and guiding SMEs through the digitization process. The SDT-SMEs Roadmap provides a comprehensive and integrated approach, ensuring continuous adaptation and improvement in sustainable digital transformation efforts. This roadmap addresses a significant gap in the literature and presents a practical, strategic, and adaptable pathway for SMEs embarking on their digital transformation journeys.

Dynamics of transformation and change in actual practice: examples and insights for transforming HRD

ABSTRACT Human Resource Development (HRD) is first and foremost a field of practice, and efforts to transform the field must arise and prove themselves out in actual practice. Practice is always in motion and, thus, its transformation is not static or ever finished, but open-ended, searching, and evolving. This article in the special issue on transforming HRD is written in a personal and narrative style, offering wide-ranging accounts of specific transformation initiatives taken from our professional practice as two white, western HRD people, senior in experience and age. The goal is to tell the stories of particular transformation efforts in different contexts, cultures, and times and to draw out insights for the dynamics of transformation. We suggest that the value of the tales in this article, even in the limited space of a journal article, lies in offering the reader glimpses of the intricacies and dynamics of HRD transformation as it actually unfolds. We invite the readers to reflect on their own projects and draw their own conclusions on the fit between our portrayals of the matter at hand and their own experiences as calls for the need to transform HRD arise loud and clear in many different parts of the HRD ecosystem.

Social Justice Imaginaries and Education Policy in Aotearoa New Zealand (2017–2024)

AbstractIn this article, we continue Martin Thrupp’s critical work in education policy in Aotearoa New Zealand by examining the policies of the Sixth Labour-led Government (2017–2023) and the Sixth National-led Government (2023-present). We consider their attempts to mitigate social injustice via education policy and the social imaginaries that underpin such efforts. Our conceptual framework draws on Nancy Fraser’s tripartite analysis (redistribution, recognition, participation), the contributions of education policy scholars who have built upon her work, and others who offer alternative framings of social justice. To contextualise our analysis, we provide a historical account of the discursive shift from equality to equity in New Zealand education policy and the recent transition by the Left from the ‘Third Way’ (Giddens, The third way: The renewal of social democracy, Polity Press, 1999) to ‘progressive neoliberalism’ (Fraser, American Affairs 1:46–64, 2017, Fraser, The old is dying and the new cannot be born: From progressive neoliberalism to Trump and beyond, Verso, 2019). Examination of selected education policies by the most recent Labour and National governments reveals that, despite equity infusing the rhetoric of both governments, their actual policies have consistently adopted affirmative responses aimed only at ameliorating inequality’s most visible effects. We conclude with a call for more intentionally transformative efforts in education based on holistic conceptions of social justice.

Sustainable Digital Transformation In Africa: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems With Modern Technology

Today, the continent of Africa is at an epoch in its digital transformation journey. As the continent embraces modern technologies, it often encounters a disconnect between them and its indigenous cultural practices and environmental contexts. This paper proposes a radical shift from the Western-centric technological paradigms to a model that integrates Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) with digital transformation efforts. This study offers a unique view on sustainable and culturally congruent technological development by examining the limitations of current digital frameworks and presenting successful case studies where IKS have been harmoniously integrated with technology. We explore the potential of IKS to complement and redefine the global technological landscape. Our analysis predicts that by 2040, Africa could emerge as a trailblazer in global technology by embracing and amplifying its indigenous wisdom within its digital advancements. This paper challenges conventional wisdom and advocates for a transformative approach to digital development deeply rooted in Africa's cultural and environmental realities.

The Adaptive Approach In Digital Transformation of Primary Education: Implementation of Digitalization In Elementary Schools In Maluku

This article aims to analyze and explore the challenges faced by elementary schools in Maluku in the disruptive era, particularly regarding education transformation oriented towards digitalization. The significant changes in the education sector require elementary schools to not only focus on system innovation but also on shifting the mindset of educators in managing educational services and learning processes. This research uses a qualitative method, with a descriptive approach through in-depth interviews, observation, and literature reviews. The study found that the utilization of digital technology in elementary schools in Maluku faces various challenges, including limited infrastructure, insufficient human resource readiness, and resistance to change. However, adaptation to the disruptive era is inevitable, making it essential for schools in Maluku to immediately design effective strategies for implementing holistic digitalization. The research findings highlight the urgency of educational transformation in Maluku, where the success of digitalization largely depends on the mental readiness and skills of educational implementers. The study also shows that optimal digital transformation efforts will support the improvement of education quality amid global challenges. This article recommends developing human resource capacity and providing adequate technological infrastructure as strategic steps for advancing education in island regions. Hence, this article contributes new insights to social sciences and humanities studies, particularly in the context of elementary education digitalization in remote areas.

After the storm: Environmental tragedy and sustainable mobility

Due to mounting environmental challenges, communities are increasingly prioritising resilience and sustainability. Environmental disasters can be seen as windows of opportunity for collective action, influencing pro-environmental attitudes and engagement. While personal experiences of catastrophe can increase environmental awareness, they can also affect social capital, impacting relationships with peers and institutions. Within this context, a post-disaster community might be encouraged to put more efforts in the local urban sustainable transformation to reduce the impact of climate-change related event. To this end, individuals' daily micro-mobility choices may offer insight into community engagement with sustainability initiatives, given the link between modes of transportation and long-term urban pollution. Through a survey of Italian citizens, we explored how disaster experiences shaped attitudes towards sustainable modes of mobility, as well as changes in individual and social factors. The analysis employed a structural equation model based on an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour. The results revealed that disaster experiences tended to heighten awareness of climate change risk while also reducing social interaction, thereby affecting pro-environmental behaviour. Trust in local government was not permanently affected, highlighting the difficulty in identifying the direct impacts of environmental disaster experiences on pro-environmental actions. Sustainable consumption choices and pro-environmental attitudes may be influenced by social and psychological factors, including personal experiences, personal well-being and civic engagement.

Tracking Carbon and Ammonia Emission Flows of China's Nitrogen Fertilizer System: Implications for Domestic and International Trade.

China is the world's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer. To assess the impact of domestic demand and international exports, we quantified the life-cycle CO2eq and ammonia (NH3) emissions by tracking carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) flows from coal/gas mining through ammonia production to N fertilizer production, application, and export. In 2020, China's N fertilizer system emitted 496.04 Tg of CO2eq and 3.74 Tg of NH3, with ammonia production and N fertilizer application processes contributing 36 and 85% of the life-cycle CO2eq and NH3 emissions, respectively. As the largest importers of N fertilizer, India, Myanmar, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines collectively shifted 112.41 Tg of CO2eq. For every ton of N fertilizer produced and used in China, 16 t of CO2eq and 0.18 t of NH3 were emitted, compared to 9.7 t of CO2eq and 0.13 t of NH3 in Europe. By adopting currently available technologies, improving N fertilizer utilization efficiency and employing nitrification inhibitors could synergistically reduce CO2eq emissions by 20% and NH3 emissions by 75%, while energy transformation efforts would primarily reduce CO2eq emissions by 59%. The production of ammonia using green electricity or green hydrogen could significantly enhance the decarbonization of China's N fertilizer system.

Strengthening rural healthcare outcomes through digital health: qualitative multi-site case study

BackgroundRural populations experience ongoing health inequities with disproportionately high morbidity and mortality rates, but digital health in rural settings is poorly studied. Our research question was: How does digital health influence healthcare outcomes in rural settings? The objective was to identify how digital health capability enables the delivery of outcomes in rural settings according to the quadruple aims of healthcare: population health, patient experience, healthcare costs and provider experience.MethodsA multi-site qualitative case study was conducted with interviews and focus groups performed with healthcare staff (n = 93) employed in rural healthcare systems (n = 10) in the state of Queensland, Australia. An evidence-based digital health capability framework and the quadruple aims of healthcare served as classification frameworks for deductive analysis. Theoretical analysis identified the interrelationships among the capability dimensions, and relationships between the capability dimensions and healthcare outcomes.ResultsSeven highly interrelated digital health capability dimensions were identified from the interviews: governance and management; information technology capability; people, skills, and behaviours; interoperability; strategy; data analytics; consumer centred care. Outcomes were directly influenced by all dimensions except strategy. The interrelationship analysis demonstrated the influence of strategy on all digital health capability dimensions apart from data analytics, where the outcomes of data analytics shaped ongoing strategic efforts.ConclusionsThe study indicates the need to coordinate improvement efforts targeted across the dimensions of digital capability, optimise data analytics in rural settings to further support strategic decision making, and consider how consumer-centred care could influence digital health capability in rural healthcare services. Digital transformation in rural healthcare settings is likely to contribute to the achievement of the quadruple aims of healthcare if transformation efforts are supported by a clear, resourced digital strategy that is fit-for-purpose to the nuances of rural healthcare delivery.

Modernizing the U.S. Census Bureau’s Demographic Programs

The U.S. Census Bureau is modernizing its approach to producing demographic data to more effectively and efficiently meet the growing demand for high quality, comprehensive, and timely official statistics. This panel introduces four transformation efforts: the Demographic Frame, National Experimental Wellbeing Statistics (NEWS), and the Census Household Panel.

Metaverse adoption in the manufacturing industry: impact on social and environmental sustainability performance

PurposeThis study aims to examine the adoption of Metaverse technology in the manufacturing industry and its potential impact on firms’ social and environmental sustainability performance.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 157 technology-based firms in the Malaysian high-tech manufacturing industry and analyzed using PLS-SEM to investigate the influence of social (i.e. social capital, open/innovative culture and empowerment) and technological factors (i.e. digitalization preparedness, integrability and strategic value) on Metaverse adoption and the moderating roles of digital trust and absorptive capacity.FindingsSocial and technological factors were found to significantly impact Metaverse adoption, with digital trust enhancing the influence of social factors. Absorptive capacity strengthens firms’ abilities to use social factors for adoption. However, digital trust does not significantly moderate the relationship between technological factors and adoption, nor does absorptive capacity impact this relationship. Finally, Metaverse adoption is shown to positively contribute to firms’ social sustainability, improving social well-being and equity, but it does not significantly impact environmental sustainability.Practical implicationsFor practitioners, the study highlights the importance of fostering an organizational culture that supports digital trust and developing absorptive capacity as critical enablers of successful Metaverse adoption. Policy implications include the need for creating supportive policies that encourage digital transformation efforts aligned with sustainability goals.Originality/valueTheoretically, this study integrates the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, Human-Organization-Technology fit (HOT-fit) framework and Resource-Based View (RBV) to improve understanding of technology adoption and sustainability performance. From a managerial perspective, it highlights the importance of fostering digital trust and developing absorptive capacity as critical enablers of successful Metaverse adoption. Policy implications include the need for policies supporting digital transformation efforts aligned with sustainability goals.