Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCA

Strengthening ESG (Environmental, social, and governance) performance is vital for high-quality green development of Chinese enterprises, especially for a large number of SRDI (Specialization, Refinement, Distinctiveness, and Innovation) enterprises. On this basis, this study develops a “context-con...

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Main Authors: Yang Zitao, Zhang Zixiao, Hu Huaxia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Sustainable Futures
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266618882500382X
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author Yang Zitao
Zhang Zixiao
Hu Huaxia
author_facet Yang Zitao
Zhang Zixiao
Hu Huaxia
author_sort Yang Zitao
collection DOAJ
description Strengthening ESG (Environmental, social, and governance) performance is vital for high-quality green development of Chinese enterprises, especially for a large number of SRDI (Specialization, Refinement, Distinctiveness, and Innovation) enterprises. On this basis, this study develops a “context-configuration-capability” framework, drawing on optimal distinctiveness and existence/non-existence philosophy, combining NCA and fsQCA methods, and uses 87 SRDI listed companies to explore multi-state paths for enhancing corporate ESG performance.. The study finds that: (1) The ESG performance of SRDI enterprises is not driven by a single factor but is the result of the resonance and synergy among context, configuration, and capability conditions; (2) Three paths—strengthening cognition, capital raising, and technological improvement—along with government-driven transformation, can significantly enhance ESG performance in SRDI enterprises; (3) there are complementary and substitutive dynamic relationships between different conditional configurations, further enhancing the diversity and flexibility of the paths; and (4) compared to contextual conditions, configurational conditions and capability conditions produce key resonance effects in improving ESG performance. This study not only enriches the theoretical foundation of the “context-configuration-capability” framework, but also provides practical guidance on multipath resonance for SRDI enterprises in their pursuit of ESG excellence.
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spelling doaj-art-ffcddd5033044804b9076d67913c91e22025-08-20T03:32:12ZengElsevierSustainable Futures2666-18882025-12-011010081710.1016/j.sftr.2025.100817Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCAYang Zitao0Zhang Zixiao1Hu Huaxia2School of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaSchool of public administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Liulin Campus, Wenjiang District, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China; Corresponding author: Zhang Zixiao, School of public administration, Southwestern University of Finance and EconomicsSchool of Management, Wuhan University of Technology, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaStrengthening ESG (Environmental, social, and governance) performance is vital for high-quality green development of Chinese enterprises, especially for a large number of SRDI (Specialization, Refinement, Distinctiveness, and Innovation) enterprises. On this basis, this study develops a “context-configuration-capability” framework, drawing on optimal distinctiveness and existence/non-existence philosophy, combining NCA and fsQCA methods, and uses 87 SRDI listed companies to explore multi-state paths for enhancing corporate ESG performance.. The study finds that: (1) The ESG performance of SRDI enterprises is not driven by a single factor but is the result of the resonance and synergy among context, configuration, and capability conditions; (2) Three paths—strengthening cognition, capital raising, and technological improvement—along with government-driven transformation, can significantly enhance ESG performance in SRDI enterprises; (3) there are complementary and substitutive dynamic relationships between different conditional configurations, further enhancing the diversity and flexibility of the paths; and (4) compared to contextual conditions, configurational conditions and capability conditions produce key resonance effects in improving ESG performance. This study not only enriches the theoretical foundation of the “context-configuration-capability” framework, but also provides practical guidance on multipath resonance for SRDI enterprises in their pursuit of ESG excellence.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266618882500382XSRDI enterprisesContext-configuration-capabilityMutual generation of existence and non-existenceESG performanceQualitative analysis of fuzzy-sets (fsQCA)Necessary condition analysis (NCA)
spellingShingle Yang Zitao
Zhang Zixiao
Hu Huaxia
Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCA
Sustainable Futures
SRDI enterprises
Context-configuration-capability
Mutual generation of existence and non-existence
ESG performance
Qualitative analysis of fuzzy-sets (fsQCA)
Necessary condition analysis (NCA)
title Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCA
title_full Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCA
title_fullStr Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCA
title_full_unstemmed Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCA
title_short Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCA
title_sort decoding multi paths context configuration and capability resonance of esg performance in srdi enterprises configuration analysis based on fsqca and nca
topic SRDI enterprises
Context-configuration-capability
Mutual generation of existence and non-existence
ESG performance
Qualitative analysis of fuzzy-sets (fsQCA)
Necessary condition analysis (NCA)
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266618882500382X
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AT huhuaxia decodingmultipathscontextconfigurationandcapabilityresonanceofesgperformanceinsrdienterprisesconfigurationanalysisbasedonfsqcaandnca