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Stimulating environmental performance via green human resource management, green transformational leadership, and green innovation: a mediation-moderation model

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Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the environmental performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through green human resource management (GHRM), green transformational leadership (GTFL), and green innovation (GI). This study is based on resource-based view theory and ability-motivation-opportunity theory. We collected data from 315 manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises using a survey questionnaire. We applied structural equation modeling using Smart partial least squares to analyze the collected data. Results of the study indicate that green ability and green motivation have a significant impact on environmental performance and green innovation mediates the relationship between GHRM practices and environmental performance. Findings also revealed that green transformational leadership’s moderation strengthens the relationship between green ability and green innovation, but surprisingly weakens the relationship between green motivation, green opportunity, and green innovation. The paper provides a valuable understanding and novel approach for directors of SMEs in developing countries to improve their environmental performance through GHRM and green innovation.

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Data availability

The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are thankful to anonymous reviewers who raised valuable points to improve the quality of this manuscript.

Funding

This paper is partly supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China (No. 19ZDA081).

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  1. School of Economics and Management, North China Electric Power University, Beijing, 102206, China

    Fazal Hussain Awan, Liu Dunnan, Khalid Jamil & Rana Faizan Gul

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  1. Fazal Hussain Awan
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Contributions

FHA: he writes the literature review and draws a conceptual framework. LD: he draws the initial idea of this paper and writes the introduction, problem statement, and significance of the study. KJ: he is an expert in data analysis, and he analyzes collected data and writes methodology. RFG: he formats the paper and proofreads manuscript.

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Correspondence to Khalid Jamil.

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Table 8 Harman single factor test
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Awan, F.H., Dunnan, L., Jamil, K. et al. Stimulating environmental performance via green human resource management, green transformational leadership, and green innovation: a mediation-moderation model. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 2958–2976 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22424-y

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