How does knowledge seeking and knowledge generation promote green supply chain management? An empirical study from China

ABSTRACT

Acquiring and using knowledge resources is essential for companies to implement green supply chain management. It can help companies understand market information, government policies, and customer needs, as well as help companies carry out technological innovation and product design and development to maintain their competitive advantages. This research develops a conceptual model based on the knowledge-based theory, as well as the mediating effect of green self-efficacy and the moderating effect of knowledge application. The research hypotheses are verified using data from 264 companies in 8 industries in central China. The results show that knowledge seeking and knowledge generation can prompt enterprises to implement green supply chain management (GSCM). Green self-efficacy plays a mediating role between knowledge seeking, knowledge generation and green supply chain management. Knowledge application has played a positive role in regulating the relationship between knowledge seeking and green self-efficacy, and between knowledge generation and green self-efficacy.

KEYWORDS:

• Knowledge seeking
• knowledge generation
• knowledge application
• green self-efficacy
• green supply chain management

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 71804056]; Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education of China [grant number 18YJC630250].