Strategic Orientation, Environmental Management Systems, and Eco-Innovation: Investigating the Moderating Effects of Absorptive Capacity
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Environmental management studies have proposed that firms can achieve substantial cost advantages over competitors and enhance their competitive positions by implementing an environmental management system (EMS). This study further investigates strategic orientation (customer, competitor, and innovation orientation) and focuses on the effect of strategic orientation on EMSs and eco-innovation; it also examines the mediating role of EMSs in the relationship between strategic orientation and eco-innovation. Furthermore, this study investigates the moderating role of absorptive capacity in the relationship between strategic orientation and EMSs. Reliability and validity analyses of a sample of 142 respondents indicated that the study design was effective, consistent, and reliable. The findings indicate that (1) strategic orientation (competitor and innovation orientation) positively influences EMSs, (2) EMSs positively influence eco-innovation, (3) absorptive capacity-enhancing strategic orientation positively influences EMSs, and (4) EMS intermediary strategic orientation positively influences eco-innovation. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of why some firms exhibit greater proactivity in EMSs than others do.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su132112147
Authors: Chin-Hung Tseng, Kuo-Hsiung Chang, Ho-Wen Chen
Institution: Tunghai University
Language: English
Subfield: Marketing
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,052
OpenAlex ID: W3209753660