Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: ABSTRACT This study aims to uncover the internal organizational mechanisms driving sustainable innovation and to develop a unified conceptual framework. To address the theoretical fragmentation in current research, a systematic review of 128 recent empirical articles was conducted, combining conceptual mapping of keyword co‐occurrences with qualitative thematic synthesis. The findings reveal a sequential organizational architecture comprising four interdependent pillars: cognitive foundations, strategic orchestration (driven by dynamic capabilities and strategic agility), technological amplification, and sustainable materialization, all supported by a transversal human and relational substrate. Based on these insights, the study proposes the capability‐based sustainable innovation (CBSI) framework. By integrating the resource‐based view, the knowledge‐based view, and the dynamic capabilities framework, the model explicates the operational sequence required to execute the twin transformation and achieve verifiable circular economy and environmental performance. The framework provides a structured agenda for future research and offers managers a practical blueprint for appropriately aligning human capital with digital investments.
DOI: 10.1002/bse.71815
Authors: Andreea Maier, Dorin Maier
Institutions: Babeș-Bolyai University, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca
Language: English
Subfield: Marketing
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7225328050