Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has increasingly been recognized as a strategic lever for enhancing organizational resilience. Although CSR literature is abundant, prior research has not fully explained how distinct CSR types, such as altruistic, promotional, and value-creating, influence organizational resilience through sustainability control systems (SCSs). Consequently, the mechanisms linking these CSR types to resilience remain insufficiently understood. This study, grounded in signaling theory, addresses the research gap by empirically investigating the influence of distinct CSR types on organizational resilience and examining the mediating role of SCS, as well as the moderating effect of governance heterogeneity in this relationship. Data were collected from 121 large enterprises in Pakistan and analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings reveal that (1) CSR types positively and directly contribute to organizational resilience, (2) SCS significantly mediates the relationship between CSR types and organizational resilience, and (3) governance heterogeneity negatively moderates the positive effect of SCS on organizational resilience. These results highlight the strategic value of adopting targeted CSR practices and implementing effective sustainability controls to strengthen organizational resilience.

Based on a sample of Chinese A-share listed enterprises from 2012 to 2021, this study examines the effects and mechanisms of regional digitalization on corporate greenwashing. The findings indicate that regional digitalization initially exacerbates corporate greenwashing, but in the long run, it inhibits this behavior. The results from the mechanism analysis reveal that regional digitalization exacerbates corporate greenwashing by reducing information disclosure quality. Furthermore, our empirical results reveal heterogeneity in the impact of digitalization on greenwashing among different types of enterprises. The effect is significant for firms with non-tech background CEOs, non-tech firms, digital transformation firms, and firms within the Yangtze River Economic Belt and low firm level of corporate digitalization, likely because these firms are more inclined to use digitalization for image-building or face stronger external pressures. Besides, the moderating roles of financing cost and cross-listing status are tested. The study reveals that higher equity financing costs help reduce greenwashing. However, digitalization tends to amplify greenwashing behavior when equity financing costs are high. In contrast, debt financing costs show no significant impact on greenwashing. For cross-listing, firms listed in both Mainland China and Hong Kong are generally less prone to greenwashing due to stricter disclosure requirements, but digitalization amplifies their potential for greenwashing behavior under dual regulatory systems that require compliance with both markets. This research contributes to understanding how digitalization can mitigate greenwashing and promote genuine environmental responsibility in the corporate sector.

Purpose This study aims to investigate how environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance affects corporate competitiveness, the mechanisms underlying these effects and how industry competition and media attention influence the relationship between ESG performance and competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2010 to 2022, the authors perform three distinct analyses: first, whether ESG performance enhances competitiveness; second, whether green innovation mediates the relationship between ESG performance and competitiveness; and third, how industry competition and media attention moderate the connection between ESG performance and competitiveness. Findings The results demonstrate that enhanced competitiveness correlates with improved ESG performance, and ESG performance boosts competitiveness through heightened green innovation. Moreover, media attention and industry competition amplify the positive effects of ESG performance on competitiveness. Research limitations/implications The study’s findings may not generalize to other developing countries, owing to imprecise measurement standards for green innovation and ESG performance and insufficient exploration of interactions between the two mechanisms. Originality/value This study examines how ESG performance influences nonfinancial outcomes such as corporate competitiveness, expanding research beyond financial effects. It elucidates the transmission mechanism of competitiveness enhancement, providing empirical support for sustainable development strategies. Additionally, it explores the moderating roles of media attention and industry competition in the ESG performance-competitiveness relationship, addressing current research gaps.

This study examines how digital financial development impacts corporate cash holdings using data from Chinese A-share companies from 2014 to 2020. The results show a negative correlation between digital financial development and corporate cash holdings, both overall and in subindices. This effect varies by enterprise type, being more significant for non-state-owned and non-tech firms. Further analysis suggests that a worsening business environment and improved information environment due to digital financial growth contribute to companies' reduced tendency to hoard cash. The study highlights the cash-mitigating role of digital financial development, especially for specific enterprise categories

Purpose In this study, the authors examine artificial knowledge as a fundamental stream of knowledge management for sustainable and resilient business models in supply chain management (SCM). The study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of artificial knowledge and digitalization as key enablers of the improvement of SCM accountability and sustainable performance towards the UN 2030 Agenda. Design/methodology/approach Using the SCOPUS database and Google Scholar, the authors analyzed 135 English-language publications from 1990 to 2022 to chart the pattern of knowledge production and dissemination in the literature. The data were collected, reviewed and peer-reviewed before conducting bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review to support future research agenda. Findings The results highlight that artificial knowledge and digitalization are linked to the UN 2030 Agenda. The analysis further identifies the main issues in achieving sustainable and resilient SCM business models. Based on the results, the authors develop a conceptual framework for artificial knowledge and digitalization in SCM to increase accountability and sustainable performance, especially in times of sudden crises when business resilience is imperative. Research limitations/implications The study results add to the extant literature by examining artificial knowledge and digitalization from the resilience theory perspective. The authors suggest that different strategic perspectives significantly promote resilience for SCM digitization and sustainable development. Notably, fostering diverse peer exchange relationships can help stimulate peer knowledge and act as a palliative mechanism that builds digital knowledge to strengthen and drive future possibilities. Practical implications This research offers valuable guidance to supply chain practitioners, managers and policymakers in re-thinking, re-formulating and re-shaping organizational processes to meet the UN 2030 Agenda, mainly by introducing artificial knowledge in digital transformation training and education programs. In doing so, firms should focus not simply on digital transformation but also on cultural transformation to enhance SCM accountability and sustainable performance in resilient business models. Originality/value This study is, to the authors' best knowledge, among the first to conceptualize artificial knowledge and digitalization issues in SCM. It further integrates resilience theory with institutional theory, legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory as the theoretical foundations of artificial knowledge in SCM, based on firms' responsibility to fulfill the sustainable development goals under the UN's 2030 Agenda.

Purpose Debates regarding climate change risk perception (CCRP), particularly its scale and impact on social and environmental sustainability, have continued for decades. CCRP is experiencing a renaissance with an increased focus on environmentally relevant behaviors to mitigate the effects of climate change. However, CCRP lacks investigation from the employee perspective. Supported by the social exchange and value–belief–norm theories, this study aims to address the impact of employees’ CCRP on their proenvironmental behavior (PEB) via the moderating roles of environmental values and psychological contract breach. Design/methodology/approach The nonprobability convenience sampling technique was used to collect survey data from a sample of 299 employees across 138 manufacturing firms in Pakistan. Findings The results show that employees’ CCRP positively impacts their PEB and that this relationship is moderated by their environmental values and psychological contract breach. Specifically, environmental values strengthen the CCRP–PEB relationship, while psychological contract breach weakens it. Practical implications The findings of the study emphasize useful guidance for managers and practitioners as a future avenue to restructure the climate change framework by emphasizing the conditions (i.e. environmental values and psychological contract breach). In doing so, the study is beneficial for managers and practitioners in helping to increase employees’ PEB through the development of climate change action plans. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first investigations into CCRP–employees’ PEB nexus in the developing country context. The study incorporates social exchange and value–belief–norm theory, which serve as the CCRP’s theoretical underpinnings. The findings advance the new knowledge about a firm’s social responsibility to achieve the sustainable development goals outlined in the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

Environmental management accounting (EMA) is an evolving in the recent decade and EMA approach integrates environmental and financial information within organizations to support effective environmental management decisions. With growing attention towards EMA, the concerns about sustainable development is still unclear in the academic literature. Underpinned by the dynamic capability theory, the current study aimed to fill this research gap by addressing the role of EMA on addressing sustainable performance through digital transformation and business intelligence system. Methodologically, the sample of 202 collected from manufacturing eEnterprise in Pakistan. Based on the result, the findings revealed that EMA need to mitigate the impacts of business activities on the environment and provides a valuable framework for organizations to identify, measure, and manage their sustainable performance. In addition, the role of digital transformation and business intelligence system create an avenue for the manufacturing firms to reinforce the direction towards digitalization.

Over the past decade, financial development has been a prominent debate for stakeholders and policymakers alike. Financial development are prerequisites for innovation and CO 2 emissions, followed by the Paris Climate Summit (COP21). In the wake of the global economic recession, financial development continues to address CO 2 emissions efforts. However, scant attention is paid to the role of financial development in innovation and CO 2 emissions relationship, especially in the context of developing countries. The current study explores the relationship between innovation and CO 2 emissions through moderating role of financial development, especially in the context of developing countries. Utilizing a dynamic panel threshold approach, the current study utilizes data from 26 countries between 1990 and 2014. Our findings reveal that innovation positively impacts the reduction of carbon emissions when the stock market value-to-private credit ratio is below 1.71, while an opposite effect is observed when the ratio exceeds this threshold. We believe that the findings broaden the debate on financial development in developing countries. The results revealed that developing countries should allocate their domestic resources to financial development and poverty reduction, rather than solely addressing environmental concerns. In addition, a more sustainable balance between innovation and CO 2 emissions could benefit through financial development and the impact may be the result in terms of achieving sustainable development.

Despite the substantial attention given to pro-environmental behavior (PEB) by academicians, practitioners, and policymakers, few studies have investigated how employee-perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects employees’ PEB. Moreover, though the concept of PEB has been found to elicit a wide range of positive benefits for employee behaviors and attitudes, it has rarely been applied to the context of the manufacturing sector. Underpinned by the social identity theory (SIT) and the attitude-behavior-context (ABC) theory, the present study investigates the impact of employee-perceived CSR on employees’ PEB through the moderating roles of employee–CSR skepticism and employee–CSR authenticity. The convenience sampling technique was used to select employees from Pakistani manufacturing firms to participate in the study’s survey. Analysis results of data from 235 respondents across 115 manufacturing firms suggest that employee-perceived CSR positively drives employees’ PEB. In addition, the findings offer valuable insights on employee–CSR skepticism and employee–CSR authenticity. Specifically, CSR skepticism weakens the link between perceived CSR and PEB, while CSR authenticity strengthens this link. By providing implications and limitations, the present study discusses that organizations can convey the message of their credible, genuine, and authentic CSR efforts to their employees for social, economic, and environmental wellbeing. The study’s discussions and conclusions are presented.

Environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) has recently gained traction among academics, practitioners, and policymakers as a critical driver of sustainable development. However, the impact of ECSR on actual pro-environmental behavior remains unclear in the literature, particularly in the context of developing countries. Grounded in the social exchange and social network theories, this study examines the effect of ECSR on proenvironmental behavior via the mediation of a green shared vision and the moderation of two types of personal ties (business ties and political ties). Data was collected and analyzed from 375 manufacturing sector employees in Pakistan at two time periods. The results show that ECSR (at time 1) drives actual proenvironmental behavior (at time 2). Specifically, implementing ECSR can significantly enhance an employee's pro-environmental behavior via its green shared vision. In addition, business ties were found to strengthen the relationship between ECSR and green shared vision. In contrast, political ties were revealed to weaken the connection between ECSR and green shared vision, thus affecting sustainable development objectives. Our findings provide implications for policymakers and practitioners to promote ECSR in developing countries.

This study investigates the relationship between information asymmetry and cash holdings under the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China. It likewise explores how state ownership dominates their nexus, particularly during the pandemic. COVID-19 caused increases in cash holdings, and that the information asymmetry’s effect on cash holdings is more pronounced over the COVID-19 period. Additionally, information asymmetry has a weaker effect on corporate cash holdings for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) under the pandemic. Overall, the study shows that state ownership moderates information asymmetry’s impact on cash holdings and softens firms’ precautionary motive for cash holdings during the pandemic.

We show that innovative activities exacerbate environmental degradation based on data covering 52 countries between 1990 and 2014. Yet, innovative activities carried out in countries with greater financial development pose less environmental harm. Additionally, we show the equity market is more effective concerning dampening effect of innovation on carbon emissions. With a dynamic panel threshold method, we find that innovation is significantly associated with improvements in environmental quality when the private sector credit and market capitalization of listed domestic companies exceed threshold levels of about 65 and 16% as a share of GDP respectively. We also look into the relationship between financial structure and the innovation-pollution nexus. We show that innovation promotes environmental quality in countries that have a relatively more equity-based financial system. Our empirical evidence calls for policymakers to identify the optimal level of finance to mitigate pollution resulting from innovative activities and realign the financial structure in accordance with the innovation-pollution nexus.

Though the concept of green dynamic capability has been increasingly gaining traction among academics, practitioners, and policymakers, its association with green innovation adoption remains unclear. The present study addresses this gap and aims to provide clarity by distinguishing green innovation adoption in the context of developing countries. Drawing on dynamic capability and stakeholder theory, this research shed light on the significance of green dynamic capability for green innovation adoption. Additionally, this study examines the moderating role of environmental dynamism and big data analytics capability in the link between green dynamic capability and green innovation adoption. Adopting a two-wave research design, the sample for this study contained SMEs from Pakistan and Malaysia. Data was obtained from 220 SMEs (105 from Pakistan, 115 from Malaysia). To test the hypotheses, covariance-based structural equation modelling was performed to analyze causal relationships in the model, by using AMOS 23 software. The results showed that green dynamic capability positively impacts green innovation adoption, but environmental dynamism does not positively moderate between green dynamic capability and green innovation adoption. In addition, big data analytics capability positively moderates between green dynamic capability and green innovation adoption. We believe that this study opens a new avenue in the environmental literature under which green innovation adoption is useful for SMEs.

Consistent with the worldwide call to combat environmental degradation concerns and advance sustainable development, there is increasing pressure on organizations to ensure organizational strategies include green initiatives. In this regard, environmental strategic focus is a relevant concept for scholars and business leaders. Underpinned by dynamic capability and stakeholder theory, the present study hypothesizes that ESF derives environmental performance, coordinated by mediating role of green shared vision that strategic environmental planning and decision making. Additionally, the current study employed ISO 14001 and technological capability as moderators between ESF and the green shared vision link. Methodologically, the data for this study was collected from 162 senior managerial officials working in EMS 14,001-accredited manufacturing firms in Malaysia. The data were analyzed with the AMOS 23 software to perform covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM), and then hierarchical regression analysis and moderated-mediation analysis were applied with SPSS 25. The findings confirmed that ESF is positively linked to environmental performance. The results validate that green shared vision acts as a positive mediator between ESF and environmental performance, in which the creation and sharing of knowledge embedded in a green shared vision serve as enablers to create higher environmental performance. The current study also validates a significant moderating role of ISO 14001 and technological capability between ESF and green shared vision. The study confirms how environmental strategies are integrated into environmental management processes that can serve as a source of dynamic capabilities.

Purpose Congruent with the world-wide call to combat global warming concerns and advance intellectual capital (IC), organisations are being pressured to ensure that IC is managed effectively to encourage green initiatives. In this regard, green entrepreneurial orientation (GEO) is emerged as a relevant IC. GEO is recognised as a mitigating factor of environmental degradation in the literature. Although prior literature has observed the nexus between GEO and firm performance, the role of GEO in leveraging sustainable performance has been limitedly explored. This study explored the relationship between IC as a GEO and enterprises' sustainable performance through the moderating roles of environmental consciousness and green technology dynamism (GTD) in the context of two developing countries (Pakistan and Malaysia). Design/methodology/approach Data provided by 296 respondents from 264 manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan and Malaysia were analysed through a three-wave research design. AMOS 23 software was used to perform covariance-based structural equation modelling (CB-SEM), while hierarchical regression analysis was applied using the SPSS 25 software to examine the causal relationships in the model. Findings IC as a GEO significantly influences sustainable performance, akin to environmental consciousness and GTD. Besides, GTD has a significant moderating effect between GEO and financial and environmental performance in Pakistan and Malaysia but not between GEO and social performance. Environmental consciousness has a significant moderating role in the impact of GEO on financial performance in Pakistan and Malaysia, but not on social and environmental performance. Practical implications The study's findings are useful for managers of Pakistani and Malaysian manufacturing SMEs to identify ways to encourage GEO to improve sustainable performance in their firms. The findings suggest that managers should effectively implement GTD and environmental consciousness to strengthen the GEO and sustainable performance relationship. Managers can use GEO concretely as a reference for the companies that intend to support the United Nation SDG-2030 agenda and to find new business opportunities for the implementation of sustainable development. Originality/value To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to examine the link between GEO and sustainable performance in developing countries such as Pakistan and Malaysia. Although the influence of various intangible assets or IC on sustainable performance has been widely examined in the literature, the role of GEO as IC has been limitedly explored. This study extends the literature by adding to the knowledge of GEO as a form of firms' IC that enhances boundary conditions in developing countries.

The study examined the role of perceived CSR in deriving customer loyalty by exploring direct and mediated effects of corporate reputation and customer satisfaction in Pakistan’s food chains. The data were collected through a survey method from 322 customers of McDonald’s in Pakistan during October 2019 and January 2020. The collected information was then analyzed through the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique to test the hypothesized relationships. The results revealed a significant positive impact of perceived CSR on customer loyalty, corporate reputation, and customer satisfaction. Further, customer satisfaction and corporate reputation appeared to mediate the relationship between perceived CSR and customer loyalty.

This paper explores the impact of institutional pressures on the adoption of environmental management accounting (EMA). EMA has been recognized as a valuable mechanism to deal with environmental issues. This paper uses institutional theory to explain the drivers of EMA adoption in Pakistan. Data were collected from the manufacturing sector in Pakistan through a questionnaire-based survey. The study concludes that coercive, normative and mimetic pressures have a significant and positive impact on the adoption of EMA.