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How do digital ­oriented firms perform superior environmental performance? A natural resource ­based view

Qianjun Zhang, You Ouyang, Lixu Li

Chinese Management Studies

ISSN: 1750-614X

Article publication date: 10 January 2025

61

Abstract

Purpose

A global industrial revolution driven by carbon neutrality and digital technologies (DTs) is fast gaining momentum. However, the present understanding of how firms should leverage digitalization for sustainability is underdeveloped. This paper aims to explore how digital orientation can improve environmental performance from the natural resource-based view.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample set of 132 Chinese firms, the authors adopt the hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrap approach to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

The empirical results show that green DT usage, green DT disposal and green practices-DT fit are three factors that mediate the positive relationship between digital orientation and environmental performance. In addition, of the five possible mediational paths, only the serial mediation of green DT usage and green practices-DT fit, as well as the serial mediation of green DT disposal and green practices-DT fit, show significant effects.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to the current digitalization and sustainability literature by demonstrating the processes through which digital orientation influences environmental performance. The study also provides managerial implications for firms to adjust their operations.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Lixu Li appreciates the support of grants under National Natural Science Foundation of China [72302183] and Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Province [2023-JC-QN-0809].

Citation

Zhang, Q., Ouyang, Y. and Li, L. (2025), "How do digital ­oriented firms perform superior environmental performance? A natural resource ­based view", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-05-2024-0297

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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