Title: Green intellectual capital and entrepreneurial orientation enabling environmental performance: mediating role of innovation capability in Indian manufacturing SMEs

Authors: Manigandan Raman; Naga Venkata Raghuram Jeedigunta; Geetha Krishnan; Sailatha Karpurapu; Keerthi Jain

Addresses: VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology (Deemed to be University), Vellore, Tamilnadu-632014, India ' VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology (Deemed to be University), Vellore, Tamilnadu-632014, India ' VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology (Deemed to be University), Vellore, Tamilnadu-632014, India ' VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology (Deemed to be University), Vellore, Tamilnadu-632014, India ' VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology (Deemed to be University), Vellore, Tamilnadu-632014, India

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the influence of green intellectual capital (green human capital, green structural capital, green rational capital) and entrepreneurial orientation on environmental performance with the mediating role of innovation capability. This study utilises the natural resource-based view theory. The data was collected from a sample of 186 manufacturing SMEs in India. The descriptive analysis is through SPSS. The hypothesis testing was through structural equation modelling, predictive relevance, and effect size in smart PLS software. The results demonstrate that green intellectual capital positively impacts environmental performance. Moreover, the study confirms that innovation capability positively mediates the relationship between green intellectual capital, entrepreneurial orientation, and environmental performance. This study provides valuable insights for government and manufacturing SME owners and managers. The study contributes to advancing the literature and mediating the role of innovation capability role to achieve sustainable performance in SMEs.

Keywords: green intellectual capital; GIC; entrepreneurial orientation; environmental performance; innovation capability; natural resource-based view theory; NRBV; Indian manufacturing SMEs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLIC.2024.138686

International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, 2024 Vol.21 No.3, pp.306 - 332

Received: 29 Aug 2023
Accepted: 22 Dec 2023

Published online: 24 May 2024 *

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