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Sustainable Leadership in Frontier Asia Region: Managerial Discretion and Environmental Innovation

Author

Listed:
  • Qaisar Iqbal

    (Center for China-India-Pakistan Studies, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643000, China
    School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town 11800, Malaysia)

  • Noor Hazlina Ahmad

    (School of Management, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town 11800, Malaysia)

  • Yongmei Li

    (Center for China-India-Pakistan Studies, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong 643000, China)

Abstract

Climate change brings severe impact to frontier Asia in the shape of its significant negative effect on workability and livability. Drawing on the upper echelon theory (UET), this study aims to investigate the mechanism and conditional factors of a sustainable leadership–environmental performance relationship. Employing cluster sampling, this study has collected data from small and medium enterprises in frontier Asian countries—Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. In this study, the authors have collected 245 valid responses with a response rate of 41%. The authors have employed Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis to test the proposed hypothesis. The present empirical findings confirm the significant effect of sustainable leadership on environmental innovation and the significant effect of environmental innovation on environmental performance. The current study confirms that sustainable leaders indirectly influence environmental performance through environmental innovation. Nevertheless, its effect on environmental innovations does not amplify in the presence of managerial discretion. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first in its nature that has explored the integrated role of sustainable leadership, environmental innovation, managerial discretion, and environmental performance. Limitations and implications have been listed at the end of the study.

Suggested Citation

  • Qaisar Iqbal & Noor Hazlina Ahmad & Yongmei Li, 2021. "Sustainable Leadership in Frontier Asia Region: Managerial Discretion and Environmental Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:5002-:d:546269
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    Cited by:

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    4. Chih-Hsing Liu & Quoc Phong La & Yen-Ling Ng & Rullyana Puspitaningrum Mamengko, 2023. "Discovering the Sustainable Innovation Service Process of Organizational Environment, Information Sharing and Satisfaction: The Moderating Roles of Pressure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-26, July.
    5. Aymen Sajjad & Gabriel Eweje & Muhammad Mustafa Raziq, 2024. "Sustainability leadership: An integrative review and conceptual synthesis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 2849-2867, May.
    6. Said Yousef Dwikat & Darwina Arshad & Mohd Noor Mohd Shariff, 2022. "The Influence of Systematic Strategic Planning and Strategic Business Innovation on the Sustainable Performance of Manufacturing SMEs: The Case of Palestine," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-26, October.
    7. Jane Boeske, 2023. "Leadership towards Sustainability: A Review of Sustainable, Sustainability, and Environmental Leadership," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-18, August.
    8. Mukhamad Najib & Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman & Abror Abror & Riani Rachmawati & Megawati Simanjuntak & Prita Prasetya & Dwi Suhartanto & Farah Fahma, 2021. "Leaders’ Support of Sustainable Innovation and Business Sustainability in Developing Countries: Evidence from Small and Medium Food Processing Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-19, November.
    9. Qaisar Iqbal & Noor Hazlina Ahmad & Zeyun Li & Yongmei Li, 2022. "To walk in beauty: Sustainable leadership, frugal innovation and environmental performance," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(3), pages 738-750, April.
    10. Murtaza Haider & Randall Shannon & George P. Moschis & Erkko Autio, 2023. "How Has the COVID-19 Crisis Transformed Entrepreneurs into Sustainable Leaders?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, March.
    11. Wei Xuecheng & Noor Hazlina Ahmad & Qaisar Iqbal & Bai Saina, 2022. "Responsible Leadership and Sustainable Development in East Asia Economic Group: Application of Social Exchange Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    12. Marwan Mansour & Mohammad Fawzi Shubita & Abdalwali Lutfi & Mohammed W. A. Saleh & Mohamed Saad, 2024. "Female CEOs and Green Innovation: Evidence from Asian Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-20, October.
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