IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/bstrat/v33y2024i5p4351-4374.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Digitalisation and environmental management activities: The effects of family ownership`

Author

Listed:
  • Wunnam Basit Issah
  • Lutfa Tilat Ferdous
  • Faruk Bhuiyan
  • Taimur Sharif

Abstract

While digitalisation has significant implications for environmental management activities, this nexus has received minimal attention in research. Given this backdrop, this study uses a unique survey dataset of 386 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and conducts an OLS regression analysis to examine the impact of digitalisation on environmental management activities. The study also investigates how family ownership moderates this relationship. The study finds that digitalisation supports environmental management activities as an important strategic mechanism, and that family ownership has a negative moderating effect on the relationship between digitalisation and environmental management activities. This study contributes to ‘institutional theory’ by highlighting its applicability to the new context of MSEs in emerging markets. Further, the study provides managerial insights into how to ensure environmental management practices in the digital age.

Suggested Citation

  • Wunnam Basit Issah & Lutfa Tilat Ferdous & Faruk Bhuiyan & Taimur Sharif, 2024. "Digitalisation and environmental management activities: The effects of family ownership`," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4351-4374, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:33:y:2024:i:5:p:4351-4374
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.3706
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3706
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/bse.3706?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eller, Robert & Alford, Philip & Kallmünzer, Andreas & Peters, Mike, 2020. "Antecedents, consequences, and challenges of small and medium-sized enterprise digitalization," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 119-127.
    2. Boso, Nathaniel & Adeleye, Ifedapo & Donbesuur, Francis & Gyensare, Michael, 2019. "Do entrepreneurs always benefit from business failure experience?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 370-379.
    3. Clark, Robyn & Reed, James & Sunderland, Terry, 2018. "Bridging funding gaps for climate and sustainable development: Pitfalls, progress and potential of private finance," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 335-346.
    4. Xiaoxia Chen & Mélanie Despeisse & Björn Johansson, 2020. "Environmental Sustainability of Digitalization in Manufacturing: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-31, December.
    5. Mohsin Shahzad & Ying Qu & Saif Ur Rehman & Abaid Ullah Zafar & Xiangan Ding & Jawad Abbas, 2020. "Impact of knowledge absorptive capacity on corporate sustainability with mediating role of CSR: analysis from the Asian context," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 63(2), pages 148-174, January.
    6. Guilhem Bascle, 2008. "Controlling for endogeneity with instrumental variables in strategic management research," Post-Print hal-00576795, HAL.
    7. Bai, Wensong & Johanson, Martin & Oliveira, Luis & Ratajczak-Mrozek, Milena, 2021. "The role of business and social networks in the effectual internationalization: Insights from emerging market SMEs," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 96-109.
    8. Tulin Dzhengiz & Eva Niesten, 2020. "Competences for Environmental Sustainability: A Systematic Review on the Impact of Absorptive Capacity and Capabilities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 881-906, April.
    9. Katrin Hussinger & Wunnam Basit Issah, 2022. "Trade Secret Protection and R&D Investment of Family Firms," DEM Discussion Paper Series 22-11, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.
    10. Marcus Wagner, 2011. "Environmental Management Activities and Sustainable HRM in German Manufacturing Firms – Incidence, Determinants, and Outcomes," Zeitschrift fuer Personalforschung. German Journal of Research in Human Resource Management, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 25(2), pages 157-177.
    11. Jonas Soluk & Ivan Miroshnychenko & Nadine Kammerlander & Alfredo De Massis, 2021. "Family Influence and Digital Business Model Innovation: The Enabling Role of Dynamic Capabilities," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 867-905, July.
    12. Faruk Bhuiyan & Tarek Rana & Kevin Baird & Rahat Munir, 2023. "Strategic outcome of competitive advantage from corporate sustainability practices: Institutional theory perspective from an emerging economy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4217-4243, November.
    13. Abu Amar Fauzi & Margaret L. Sheng, 2022. "The digitalization of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs): An institutional theory perspective," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 60(6), pages 1288-1313, November.
    14. Chadwick, Ingrid C. & Dawson, Alexandra, 2018. "Women leaders and firm performance in family businesses: An examination of financial and nonfinancial outcomes," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(4), pages 238-249.
    15. Alfredo De Massis & Shujun Ding & Josip Kotlar & Zhenyu Wu, 2018. "Family involvement and R&D expenses in the context of weak property rights protection: an examination of non-state-owned listed companies in China," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(16), pages 1506-1527, November.
    16. Astadi Pangarso & Kristina Sisilia & Retno Setyorini & Yahya Peranginangin & Agni Alam Awirya, 2022. "Correction to: The long path to achieving green economy performance for micro small medium enterprise," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-1, December.
    17. MacKenzie, Scott B. & Podsakoff, Philip M., 2012. "Common Method Bias in Marketing: Causes, Mechanisms, and Procedural Remedies," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 542-555.
    18. Prayag Lal Yadav & Seung Hun Han & Hohyun Kim, 2017. "Sustaining Competitive Advantage Through Corporate Environmental Performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(3), pages 345-357, March.
    19. Autio, Erkko & Kenney, Martin & Mustar, Philippe & Siegel, Don & Wright, Mike, 2014. "Entrepreneurial innovation: The importance of context," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(7), pages 1097-1108.
    20. Gerard George & Ryan K. Merrill & Simon J. D. Schillebeeckx, 2021. "Digital Sustainability and Entrepreneurship: How Digital Innovations Are Helping Tackle Climate Change and Sustainable Development," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(5), pages 999-1027, September.
    21. Heckman, James, 2013. "Sample selection bias as a specification error," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 31(3), pages 129-137.
    22. Bendig, David & Schulz, Colin & Theis, Lukas & Raff, Stefan, 2023. "Digital orientation and environmental performance in times of technological change," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    23. Matthess, Marcel & Kunkel, Stefanie, 2020. "Structural change and digitalization in developing countries: Conceptually linking the two transformations," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    24. DasGupta, Ranjan & Roy, Arup, 2023. "Firm environmental, social, governance and financial performance relationship contradictions: Insights from institutional environment mediation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    25. Issah, Wunnam Basit & Anwar, Muhammad & Clauss, Thomas & Kraus, Sascha, 2023. "Managerial capabilities and strategic renewal in family firms in crisis situations: The moderating role of the founding generation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    26. Abeysekera, Amal P. & Fernando, Chitru S., 2020. "Corporate social responsibility versus corporate shareholder responsibility: A family firm perspective," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    27. Geandra Alves Queiroz & Paulo Nocera Alves Junior & Isotilia Costa Melo, 2022. "Digitalization as an Enabler to SMEs Implementing Lean-Green? A Systematic Review through the Topic Modelling Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, October.
    28. Verhoef, Peter C. & Broekhuizen, Thijs & Bart, Yakov & Bhattacharya, Abhi & Qi Dong, John & Fabian, Nicolai & Haenlein, Michael, 2021. "Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 889-901.
    29. Ernst, Robin-Alexander & Gerken, Maike & Hack, Andreas & Hülsbeck, Marcel, 2022. "Family firms as agents of sustainable development: A normative perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    30. Anne K. Heider & Thomas Clauss & Marcel Hãœlsbeck & Maike Gerken & Tom A. Rãœsen, 2022. "Blood Is Thicker Than Water: The Role Of Family Willingness And Family Ability In Achieving Holistic Digitalisation In Family Businesses," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 26(03), pages 1-29, April.
    31. Cristina Cruz & Martin Larraza–Kintana & Lucía Garcés–Galdeano & Pascual Berrone, 2014. "Are Family Firms Really More Socially Responsible?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(6), pages 1295-1316, November.
    32. Hussinger, Katrin & Issah, Abdul-Basit, 2019. "Firm acquisitions by family firms: A mixed gamble approach," ZEW Discussion Papers 19-044, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    33. Thomas Clauss & Patrick Spieth & Christian Klusmann & Wunnam Basit Issah & Tobias Kesting, 2022. "How industry projects can stimulate academic engagement: an experimental study among U.S. engineering professors," Industry and Innovation, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(1), pages 74-101, January.
    34. Adomako, Samuel & Ahsan, Mujtaba, 2022. "Entrepreneurial passion and SMEs’ performance: Moderating effects of financial resource availability and resource flexibility," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 122-135.
    35. Zoppelletto, Alessia & Orlandi, Ludovico Bullini & Zardini, Alessandro & Rossignoli, Cecilia & Kraus, Sascha, 2023. "Organizational roles in the context of digital transformation: A micro-level perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    36. Fuller, Christie M. & Simmering, Marcia J. & Atinc, Guclu & Atinc, Yasemin & Babin, Barry J., 2016. "Common methods variance detection in business research," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 3192-3198.
    37. Breton-Miller, Isabelle Le & Miller, Danny, 2016. "Family firms and practices of sustainability: A contingency view," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 26-33.
    38. Robert G. Eccles & Ioannis Ioannou & George Serafeim, 2014. "The Impact of Corporate Sustainability on Organizational Processes and Performance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(11), pages 2835-2857, November.
    39. Robert D. Klassen & Curtis P. McLaughlin, 1996. "The Impact of Environmental Management on Firm Performance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 42(8), pages 1199-1214, August.
    40. Helen Borland & Véronique Ambrosini & Adam Lindgreen & Joëlle Vanhamme, 2016. "Building Theory at the Intersection of Ecological Sustainability and Strategic Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 293-307, May.
    41. Jing Lu & Fereshteh Mahmoudian & Dongning Yu & Jamal A. Nazari & Irene M. Herremans, 2021. "Board interlocks, absorptive capacity, and environmental performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3425-3443, December.
    42. Zi-Lin He & Poh-Kam Wong, 2004. "Exploration vs. Exploitation: An Empirical Test of the Ambidexterity Hypothesis," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 481-494, August.
    43. Li, Ying & Dai, Jing & Cui, Li, 2020. "The impact of digital technologies on economic and environmental performance in the context of industry 4.0: A moderated mediation model," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    44. Christine Legner & Torsten Eymann & Thomas Hess & Christian Matt & Tilo Böhmann & Paul Drews & Alexander Mädche & Nils Urbach & Frederik Ahlemann, 2017. "Digitalization: Opportunity and Challenge for the Business and Information Systems Engineering Community," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 59(4), pages 301-308, August.
    45. Basco, Rodrigo, 2015. "Family business and regional development—A theoretical model of regional familiness," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 6(4), pages 259-271.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Issah, Wunnam Basit & Anwar, Muhammad & Clauss, Thomas & Kraus, Sascha, 2023. "Managerial capabilities and strategic renewal in family firms in crisis situations: The moderating role of the founding generation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Chotia, Varun & Cheng, Yue & Agarwal, Reeti & Vishnoi, Sushant Kumar, 2024. "AI-enabled Green Business Strategy: Path to carbon neutrality via environmental performance and green process innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    3. Leonidou, Leonidas C. & Eteokleous, Pantelitsa P. & Christodoulides, Paul & Strømfeldt Eduardsen, Jonas, 2023. "A dynamic capabilities perspective to socially responsible family business: Implications on social-based advantage and market performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PA).
    4. Limin Geng & Xueyuan Lu & Can Zhang, 2023. "The Theoretical Lineage and Evolutionary Logic of Research on the Environmental Behavior of Family Firms: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-23, March.
    5. Alsufyani, Nujud & Gill, Asif Qumer, 2022. "Digitalisation performance assessment: A systematic review," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Inés Herrero & Cristina López & Rocío Ruiz‐Benítez, 2024. "So … are family firms more sustainable? On the economic, social and environmental sustainability of family SMEs," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4252-4270, July.
    7. Ruijie Jin & Xu Jiang & Helen Wei Hu, 2023. "Internal and external CSR in China: How do women independent directors matter?," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 169-204, March.
    8. Isotilia Costa Melo & Paulo Nocera Alves Junior & Geandra Alves Queiroz & Wilfredo Yushimito & Jordi Pereira, 2023. "Do We Consider Sustainability When We Measure Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SMEs’) Performance Passing through Digital Transformation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-30, March.
    9. Jianhua Zhu & Julien S. Baker & Zhiting Song & Xiao-Guang Yue & Wenqi Li, 2023. "Government regulatory policies for digital transformation in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises: an evolutionary game analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
    10. Ernst, Robin-Alexander & Gerken, Maike & Hack, Andreas & Hülsbeck, Marcel, 2022. "Family firms as agents of sustainable development: A normative perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    11. Cox, Kevin C. & Lortie, Jason & Marshall, David R. & Kidwell, Roland E., 2022. "Beyond the balance Sheet: The effects of family influence on social performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 318-330.
    12. Katrin Hussinger & Wunnam Basit Issah, 2022. "Trade Secret Protection and R&D Investment of Family Firms," DEM Discussion Paper Series 22-11, Department of Economics at the University of Luxembourg.
    13. Beatriz Forés & José María Fernández-Yáñez & Alba Puig-Denia & Montserrat Boronat-Navarro, 2022. "Unveiling the Direct Effects of Family Firm Heterogeneity on Environmental Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-20, August.
    14. Marcin Borsuk & Nicolas Eugster & Paul-Olivier Klein & Oskar Kowalewski, 2023. "Family Ownership and Carbon Emissions," Working Papers 2023-ACF-01, IESEG School of Management.
    15. Zhang, Yimeng & Ma, Xinyu & Pang, Jianing & Xing, Hailong & Wang, Jian, 2023. "The impact of digital transformation of manufacturing on corporate performance — The mediating effect of business model innovation and the moderating effect of innovation capability," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    16. Battistoni, Elisa & Gitto, Simone & Murgia, Gianluca & Campisi, Domenico, 2023. "Adoption paths of digital transformation in manufacturing SME," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    17. Soluk, Jonas & Decker-Lange, Carolin & Hack, Andreas, 2023. "Small steps for the big hit: A dynamic capabilities perspective on business networks and non-disruptive digital technologies in SMEs," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    18. Madden, Laura & McMillan, Amy & Harris, Oneil, 2020. "Drivers of selectivity in family firms: Understanding the impact of age and ownership on CSR," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 11(2).
    19. Joern Block & Christopher Hansen & Holger Steinmetz, 2023. "Are Family Firms Doing More Innovation Output With Less Innovation Input? A Replication and Extension," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 47(4), pages 1496-1520, July.
    20. Zhong, Xi & Ren, Ge, 2023. "Independent and joint effects of CSR and CSI on the effectiveness of digital transformation for transition economy firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:33:y:2024:i:5:p:4351-4374. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0836 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.