Research

19 pages, 519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Metaorganizations Perspective on Digital Innovation and Corporate Social Responsibility: Evidence from China

by Lihua Chen and Yilang Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11031; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411031 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1240

This research investigates the relationship between DI and CSR from the metaorganizational perspective. Metaorganizations represent collectives of organizations that function collectively to achieve shared goals and objectives. The study underscores the significant influence of DI on CSR initiatives, suggesting that firms should strategically [...] Read more.

This research investigates the relationship between DI and CSR from the metaorganizational perspective. Metaorganizations represent collectives of organizations that function collectively to achieve shared goals and objectives. The study underscores the significant influence of DI on CSR initiatives, suggesting that firms should strategically align their digital innovation endeavors with their CSR objectives. Alignment between digital innovation and CSR objectives can cultivate a more integrated strategy that delivers both business and societal value. Furthermore, our findings reveal that firms operating under conditions of higher value appropriation, partner concentration, and environmental uncertainty tend to be more proactive in their CSR efforts within the DI context. This observation stems from a noticeable shift in primary focus: value creation and capture are no longer exclusive goals, but, rather, there is an increased emphasis on social benefits. This change necessitates a strategic recalibration by firms to incorporate a more robust focus on sustainability and social responsibility within their business models in the digital era. Our hypotheses are substantiated by results obtained from a longitudinal sample of Chinese listed firms. The contribution of this study is that it offers novel insight into the interplay between digital innovation and CSR through the lens of metaorganizations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation Management and Organizational Networks: Digital Innovation in Circular Economy)

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13 pages, 476 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Can HPWS Promote Digital Innovation? E-Learning as Mediator and Supportive Organisational Culture as Moderator

by Yu Zhang, Jialei Liu, Qing Wei, Yunfei Cao and Shiquan Gui

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10057; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310057 - 25 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1082

Abstract

Nowadays, corporations constantly innovate to stay ahead of the competition in the contemporary business environment. Thus, enterprises invest in high-performance work systems (HPWS) that foster employee growth and improve their abilities, in turn, to accomplish digital innovation in the circular economy. The primary [...] Read more.

Nowadays, corporations constantly innovate to stay ahead of the competition in the contemporary business environment. Thus, enterprises invest in high-performance work systems (HPWS) that foster employee growth and improve their abilities, in turn, to accomplish digital innovation in the circular economy. The primary objective of this study is to better understand how high-performance work systems (HPWS) and digital innovation interact, while also examining the potential mediating roles of e-learning and the moderating effects of a supportive organisational culture between them. For data collection, a questionnaire and quantitative method was used, and the survey included a sample of 575 workers from the tourism sector of China. According to the findings, HPWS is favourably correlated with digital innovation, and e-learning serves as a partial intermediary in this relationship. The outcomes also demonstrate that an encouraging organisational culture further strengthens the connection between HPWS and digital innovation. These findings emphasized the value of introducing HPWS and e-learning initiatives in organisations to promote digital innovation while also highlighting the necessity of a supportive culture to maximize the advantages of these projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation Management and Organizational Networks: Digital Innovation in Circular Economy)

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10 pages, 418 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does an Environmental Management System Affect Green Inno-Vation: The Role of Green Financing in China’s Tourism Sector in a Circular Economy

by Xiang Ji, Shiqi Zhang and Yuan Lu

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6411; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086411 - 09 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1762

Abstract

The occurrence of climate change is becoming a challenge for the survival of business organizations. These changes pressure business organizations to adopt strategies to protect the natural environment. In order to cope with these changes, business organizations concentrate on strategic decisions regarding the [...] Read more.

The occurrence of climate change is becoming a challenge for the survival of business organizations. These changes pressure business organizations to adopt strategies to protect the natural environment. In order to cope with these changes, business organizations concentrate on strategic decisions regarding the protection of the natural environment due to the demand of various stakeholders. Continuous and updated information on environmental issues is required to successfully formulate and implement decisions to protect the natural environment. Therefore, the environmental management system (EMS) is an important mechanism that enables business organization to collect information about the demands of various stakeholders regarding the natural environment. Most studies have examined the green innovation (GI) of the tourism sector and related the innovation of natural environmental protection activities with management’s capabilities and strategic decisions. Limited studieshave considered EMSs as important to bring GI into the tourism sector. GI comprises various environmental initiatives that play a vital role in impacting the GI of the tourism sector worldwide. However, these are ignored by researchers. Therefore, we examined the effect of the EMS on GI. Moreover, we also examined the extent to which green financing of the tourism sector intervenes in the EMS and GI link. Data were collected from 322 managers in the tourism sector. The collected data were analyzed with the help of correlation and regression techniques. The study findings confirmed that the EMS positively affects GI, while green financing mediates the connection between the EMS and GI. Hence, this study offers numerous practical suggestions for improving the GI of the tourism sector in the emerging circular economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation Management and Organizational Networks: Digital Innovation in Circular Economy)

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13 pages, 442 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards Ethical Consumption Activities among Tourism Firms: Nexus of Environmental Knowledge, CSR Participation and Psychological Social Support

by Abdelmohsen A. Nassani, Maher Badawi, Maria Giovanna Confetto, Maria Palazzo, Maria Antonella Ferri and Mohamed Haffar

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4675; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054675 - 06 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1502

Abstract

Employees’ psychosocial competency and CSR participation help them to achieve pro-environmental knowledge for enhancing ethical consumption behaviors. The aim of this study is to assess the level of social responsibility of tourism firms and also examine the impact of environmental knowledge on ethical [...] Read more.

Employees’ psychosocial competency and CSR participation help them to achieve pro-environmental knowledge for enhancing ethical consumption behaviors. The aim of this study is to assess the level of social responsibility of tourism firms and also examine the impact of environmental knowledge on ethical consumption. The study further investigates the indirect influence through the mediating role of CSR participation and moderating role of psychological social support (PSS) between environmental knowledge and ethical consumption links in tourism firms. This research used quantitative methods and questionnaires for data collection. Data were composed of 387 employees and owners working within tourism firms and hotels. Results demonstrate that environmental knowledge is positively associated with ethical consumption. Findings show that CSR participation mediates the relation between environmental knowledge and ethical consumption. Furthermore, outcomes reveal that psychological social support acts as a moderator between environmental knowledge and ethical consumption. The know-how of employees is dependent on their environmental knowledge and CSR participation. By addressing the mediating mechanism of CSR participation and the interplay of psychological social support, our study adds several insights to the prior literature streams about ethical consumption. As a result of CSR programs, residents become more familiar with ecological protection and more concerned about ethical consumption patterns and develop a sense of responsibility for the environment. Therefore, we recommended that firms should launch CSR programs to increase pro-environmental awareness of consumers and encourage their ethical consumption actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation Management and Organizational Networks: Digital Innovation in Circular Economy)

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12 pages, 387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Livelihood Strategies Influence Post-Epidemic Business Performance? Investigation of Social Capital and Environmental Perception

by Zhonghao Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4532; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054532 - 03 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1243

Abstract

Livelihood strategies are a combination of activities and actions that individuals undertake to accomplish their desired goals. The current study aimed to examine the impacts of livelihood strategies on business performance. This study explored social capital as a mediator between livelihood strategies and [...] Read more.

Livelihood strategies are a combination of activities and actions that individuals undertake to accomplish their desired goals. The current study aimed to examine the impacts of livelihood strategies on business performance. This study explored social capital as a mediator between livelihood strategies and business performance. This study further investigated how environmental perception strengthens livelihood strategies and business performance. For data collection, a quantitative research method and a random sampling technique were used. Data were collected through 550 questionnaires from small–medium enterprises (SMEs) in China. To test the study hypotheses, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed. The findings confirm the notion that livelihood strategies are positively associated with business performance. The results also corroborate the notion that social capital mediates the association between livelihood strategies and business performance. The outcome validates the notion that livelihood strategies and business performance are further articulated when environmental perception is higher. Environmental perception moderated the impacts of livelihood strategies on business performance via social capital. The current research provides a better understanding of how livelihood strategies facilitate amplified business performance via social capital and the valuable role of environmental perception in research models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation Management and Organizational Networks: Digital Innovation in Circular Economy)

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12 pages, 439 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Machine Learning Adoption in Educational Institutions: Role of Internet of Things and Digital Educational Platforms

by Jiuxiang Li and Rufeng Wang

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4000; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054000 - 22 Feb 2023

Viewed by 1221

Abstract

The ever-increasing development of information technologies has led to the adoption of advanced learning techniques. In this regard, e-learning and machine learning are two of the emerging instructional means for educational institutes. The current study investigates the role of the Internet of Things [...] Read more.

The ever-increasing development of information technologies has led to the adoption of advanced learning techniques. In this regard, e-learning and machine learning are two of the emerging instructional means for educational institutes. The current study investigates the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital educational platforms (DEPs) in the adoption of machine learning. The present research additionally investigated the function of DEPs as mediators between IoT and machine learning adoption. The department chairs or heads of 310 departments at 91 Chinese institutions provided the information. In order to analyze the data, we used SPSS 25.0 and SEM (structural equation modeling). The results demonstrated how crucial an impact IoT has on DEPs and the uptake of machine learning. DEPs directly affect machine learning adoption and also act as mediators. The findings also support the mediating role of DEPs in the IoT and machine learning adoption link. The current study contributes to both theory and practical management by examining how IoT is helpful for achieving machine learning adoption. Based on the responses of 91 educational departments, this is a unique study of the mechanisms to achieve machine learning adoption through IoT and DEPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation Management and Organizational Networks: Digital Innovation in Circular Economy)

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12 pages, 460 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nexus between Brand Love, Loyalty, Affective Commitment and Positive Word of Mouth: In the Context of Social Identity Theory

by Xinyue Wang and Nor Asiah Binti Omar

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3813; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043813 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2216

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to examine how employees are involved in positive word of mouth (PWOM) in the presence of brand love. In this study we also investigate the mediating role of employee loyalty between employee brand love and PWOM [...] Read more.

The aim of the current study was to examine how employees are involved in positive word of mouth (PWOM) in the presence of brand love. In this study we also investigate the mediating role of employee loyalty between employee brand love and PWOM links. Furthermore, moderating the role of affective commitment (AC) has also been tested. Data was collected from 296 employees of the tourism sector including hotels and transport and travelling agencies. Collected data were analyzed with the help of correlation, hierarchical regression and Amos 7.0 software. The results proved that employee brand love plays an essential role for the loyalty of employees towards organization and PWOM. Findings also proved that employee’s loyalty directly predict PWOM, but it also acts as mediator for the brand love and PWOM link. The current study adds to the existing literature by investigating how employee brand love is helpful for achieving the PWOM and employee loyalty. Based on the findings of current study, this is a unique study which recommends that management of the tourism sector enhance PWOM with the help of employee brand love and employee loyalty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation Management and Organizational Networks: Digital Innovation in Circular Economy)

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20 pages, 1088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Digital Economy on the Urban Total-Factor Energy Efficiency: Evidence from 275 Cities in China

by Senhua Huang and Lingming Chen

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3195; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043195 - 09 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1431

Abstract

The widespread application of new-generation information technology, such as big data and artificial intelligence, has promoted the development of economic and technological transformation and the deep integration of digital and real economies. The digital economy is an essential force of China in the [...] Read more.

The widespread application of new-generation information technology, such as big data and artificial intelligence, has promoted the development of economic and technological transformation and the deep integration of digital and real economies. The digital economy is an essential force of China in the new era and it is promoting China’s economic development in a high-quality way. In this study, we theoretically describe the mechanism of the digital economy that affects total-factor energy efficiency and empirically analyze the impact of digital economy development on total-factor energy efficiency using data from 275 cities at the prefecture level and above in China from 2011 to 2019. We found that the digital economy has significantly improved total-factor energy efficiency. We used instrumental variable estimation and the replacement of explanatory variables to test the robustness of our results, finding that our conclusions were valid. Technological innovation, industrial structure optimization, and resource misallocation improvement are the channels through which the digital economy affects total-factor energy efficiency. Resource misallocation at the city level as the intermediary variable was this paper’s research gap. Further research showed that the improvement effect of the total-factor energy efficiency in eastern regions and megacities was more evident under the influence of the digital economy. All regions in China should combine their resource endowments to further release the dividends of the digital economy, enabling it to best promote total-factor energy efficiency. The relevant departments of the government should also stimulate market demand and promote the deep integration and balanced development of the digital economy and energy industry in low-energy-efficiency cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovation Management and Organizational Networks: Digital Innovation in Circular Economy)

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