Title: The impact of responsible leadership on triple bottom line performance, amid the mediating roles of workforce diversity and organisational inclusion

Authors: Rong Yao Lim; Yashar Salamzadeh; Bahaudin G. Mujtaba; Pelin Vardarlier

Addresses: Graduate School of Business, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia ' Faculty of Business and Technology, University of Sunderland, Reg Vardy Centre, Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St. Peter's, St Peters' Way, Sunderland SR6 0DD, UK ' Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33314-7796, USA ' Business Administration Department, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Balıkesir University, Çağış Campus 10463 Bigadiç/Balıkesir, Turkey

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of responsible leadership on the triple bottom line (TBL) performance based on the social, financial, and environmental dimensions of service provider organisations within the context of Industry 4.0. It further examines the mediating roles of workforce diversity and organisational inclusion in this relationship. A survey methodology was employed, with data collected from 123 employees of service providers. Structural equation modelling is used to analyse the hypothesised relationships between responsible leadership, workforce diversity, organisational inclusion, and TBL performance. The findings reveal that responsible leadership has a significant and positive direct effect on both social and financial performance. Additionally, workforce diversity was found to play a mediating role in the relationship between responsible leadership and all aspects of TBL performance. This investigation contributes to the literature by examining the mediator roles of diversity and inclusion in the relationship between responsible leadership and performance.

Keywords: responsible leadership; triple bottom line; TBL; workforce diversity; organisational inclusion; Malaysia; Industry 4.0.

DOI: 10.1504/JIBED.2025.148815

Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 2025 Vol.17 No.2, pp.237 - 262

Received: 18 Mar 2025
Accepted: 29 May 2025
Published online: 26 Sep 2025 *

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