Resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency: Synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms' digital capabilities

As environmental concerns receive increasing attention, investments in environmental resources have grown, leading to numerous green technology innovations (GTI). Yet, amid limited resources, exploring green technology innovation efficiency (GTIE) becomes a more meaningful topic. Efficient allocatio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rui Zhao, Jing Xu, Yanling Zhao, Yingbin Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Innovation & Knowledge
Subjects:
O32
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X25001052
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849706586840236032
author Rui Zhao
Jing Xu
Yanling Zhao
Yingbin Feng
author_facet Rui Zhao
Jing Xu
Yanling Zhao
Yingbin Feng
author_sort Rui Zhao
collection DOAJ
description As environmental concerns receive increasing attention, investments in environmental resources have grown, leading to numerous green technology innovations (GTI). Yet, amid limited resources, exploring green technology innovation efficiency (GTIE) becomes a more meaningful topic. Efficient allocation of environmental resources is beneficial for enhancing GTIE. However, in the digital era, the process of digital capabilities in empowering environmental resource orchestration to enhance GTIE remains unclear. Therefore, based on institutional theory and resource orchestration theory (ROT), this study aims to scientifically assess firms’ GTIE and explore the synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms’ digital capabilities. Malmquist index combined data envelopment analysis (Malmquist-DEA) was used to evaluate the GTIE of firms from a dynamic perspective. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA) method was utilized to investigate synergy effects. The results reveal that: (1) The constructed input-output indicators provide a comprehensive measure of GTIE, and the listed firms’ GTIE shows an upward trend along time; (2) The synergy between environmental resource orchestration and digital capabilities fosters GTIE through mutual enhancement or compensation of competitive advantages. Specifically, digital capabilities enable the efficient acquisition and deployment of environmental resources, while environmental resource orchestration drives greater demand for digital infrastructure. (3) Their synergy further developed four resource allocation patterns, including Pressure Response Model (PRM) and Active Competitive Model (ACM) associated with High-GTIE, as well as Stereotyped Development Model (SDM) and Blind Development Model (BDM) associated with Nonhigh-GTIE. This research provides beneficial insights and guidelines for governments and corporates to implement GTI practices.
format Article
id doaj-art-556f6ffbc98d463da3c58ebe449c1f5b
institution DOAJ
issn 2444-569X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Journal of Innovation & Knowledge
spelling doaj-art-556f6ffbc98d463da3c58ebe449c1f5b2025-08-20T03:16:08ZengElsevierJournal of Innovation & Knowledge2444-569X2025-07-0110410076010.1016/j.jik.2025.100760Resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency: Synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms' digital capabilitiesRui Zhao0Jing Xu1Yanling Zhao2Yingbin Feng3School of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR ChinaSchool of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR ChinaSchool of Management Science and Real Estate, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China; Research Center for Construction Economy and Management, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, PR China; Corresponding author.School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith NSW 2751, AustraliaAs environmental concerns receive increasing attention, investments in environmental resources have grown, leading to numerous green technology innovations (GTI). Yet, amid limited resources, exploring green technology innovation efficiency (GTIE) becomes a more meaningful topic. Efficient allocation of environmental resources is beneficial for enhancing GTIE. However, in the digital era, the process of digital capabilities in empowering environmental resource orchestration to enhance GTIE remains unclear. Therefore, based on institutional theory and resource orchestration theory (ROT), this study aims to scientifically assess firms’ GTIE and explore the synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms’ digital capabilities. Malmquist index combined data envelopment analysis (Malmquist-DEA) was used to evaluate the GTIE of firms from a dynamic perspective. Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FsQCA) method was utilized to investigate synergy effects. The results reveal that: (1) The constructed input-output indicators provide a comprehensive measure of GTIE, and the listed firms’ GTIE shows an upward trend along time; (2) The synergy between environmental resource orchestration and digital capabilities fosters GTIE through mutual enhancement or compensation of competitive advantages. Specifically, digital capabilities enable the efficient acquisition and deployment of environmental resources, while environmental resource orchestration drives greater demand for digital infrastructure. (3) Their synergy further developed four resource allocation patterns, including Pressure Response Model (PRM) and Active Competitive Model (ACM) associated with High-GTIE, as well as Stereotyped Development Model (SDM) and Blind Development Model (BDM) associated with Nonhigh-GTIE. This research provides beneficial insights and guidelines for governments and corporates to implement GTI practices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X25001052O32
spellingShingle Rui Zhao
Jing Xu
Yanling Zhao
Yingbin Feng
Resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency: Synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms' digital capabilities
Journal of Innovation & Knowledge
O32
title Resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency: Synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms' digital capabilities
title_full Resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency: Synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms' digital capabilities
title_fullStr Resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency: Synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms' digital capabilities
title_full_unstemmed Resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency: Synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms' digital capabilities
title_short Resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency: Synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms' digital capabilities
title_sort resource allocation pattern to green technology innovation efficiency synergy between environmental resource orchestration and firms digital capabilities
topic O32
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X25001052
work_keys_str_mv AT ruizhao resourceallocationpatterntogreentechnologyinnovationefficiencysynergybetweenenvironmentalresourceorchestrationandfirmsdigitalcapabilities
AT jingxu resourceallocationpatterntogreentechnologyinnovationefficiencysynergybetweenenvironmentalresourceorchestrationandfirmsdigitalcapabilities
AT yanlingzhao resourceallocationpatterntogreentechnologyinnovationefficiencysynergybetweenenvironmentalresourceorchestrationandfirmsdigitalcapabilities
AT yingbinfeng resourceallocationpatterntogreentechnologyinnovationefficiencysynergybetweenenvironmentalresourceorchestrationandfirmsdigitalcapabilities