IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i13p5371-d1421234.html

Digital Leadership and Sustainable Competitive Advantage: Leveraging Green Absorptive Capability and Eco-Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality Businesses

Author

Listed:
  • Hamada Hussein

    (Department of Tourism Guidance, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt)

  • Omaima Munawar Albadry

    (Management and Marketing Department, College of Business, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia)

  • Viju Mathew

    (College of Economics and Business Administration, University of Technology and Applied Sciences-Salalah, Sultanate 211, Oman)

  • Bassam Samir Al-Romeedy

    (Department of Tourism Studies, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt)

  • Omar Alsetoohy

    (Department of Hotel Management, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt)

  • Mahmoud Abou Kamar

    (Department of Hotel Management, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt)

  • Hazem Ahmed Khairy

    (Department of Hotel Management, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels, University of Sadat City, Sadat City 32897, Egypt)

Abstract

This study explores the influence of digital leadership (DL) on sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) in tourism and hospitality businesses, focusing on green absorptive capability (GAC) and eco-innovation (EI) as mediators. This study focused on middle-line management in travel agencies and hotels in Saudi Arabia. A total of 323 valid responses were collected and analyzed using WarpPLS 7.0, a PLS-SEM analysis tool. DL positively affected SCA, GAC, and EI. In addition, SCA was positively impacted by GAC and EI. Furthermore, this study found that GAC and EI significantly mediated the DL→SCA relationship. This study enhances the Dynamic Capabilities Theory, offering valuable insights for tourism and hospitality managers to utilize digital strategies and environmental initiatives for eco-conscious market competitiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamada Hussein & Omaima Munawar Albadry & Viju Mathew & Bassam Samir Al-Romeedy & Omar Alsetoohy & Mahmoud Abou Kamar & Hazem Ahmed Khairy, 2024. "Digital Leadership and Sustainable Competitive Advantage: Leveraging Green Absorptive Capability and Eco-Innovation in Tourism and Hospitality Businesses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-21, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:13:p:5371-:d:1421234
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/13/5371/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/13/5371/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Laurence Viale & Stéphano Vacher & Jeanne Bessouat, 2022. "Eco-innovation in the upstream supply chain: re-thinking the involvement of purchasing managers [L'éco-innovation dans la chaîne d'approvisionnement en amont : repenser l'implication des responsables des achats]," Post-Print hal-03695500, HAL.
    2. Filiou, Despoina & Kesidou, Effie & Wu, Lichao, 2023. "Are smart cities green? The role of environmental and digital policies for Eco-innovation in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    3. Mahmoud Abou Kamar & Omaima Munawar Albadry & Samar Sheikhelsouk & Mohammed Hasan Ali Al-Abyadh & Omar Alsetoohy, 2023. "Dynamic Capabilities Influence on the Operational Performance of Hotel Food Supply Chains: A Mediation-Moderation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Hau L. Lee & Christopher S. Tang, 2018. "Socially and Environmentally Responsible Value Chain Innovations: New Operations Management Research Opportunities," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 64(3), pages 983-996, March.
    5. Jianqi Qiao & Suicheng Li & Su Xiong & Na Li, 2023. "How Does the Digital Capability Advantage Affect Green Supply Chain Innovation? An Inter-Organizational Learning Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-22, July.
    6. Memon, Khalid Rasheed & Ooi, Say Keat, 2023. "Identifying digital leadership's role in fostering competitive advantage through responsible innovation: A SEM-Neural Network approach," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    7. Sumrin, Samina & Gupta, Suraksha & Asaad, Yousra & Wang, Yichuan & Bhattacharya, Saurabh & Foroudi, Pantea, 2021. "Eco-innovation for environment and waste prevention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 627-639.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bassam Samir Al-Romeedy & Thaib Alharethi, 2024. "Sustainable Tourism Performance Through Green Talent Management: The Mediating Power of Green Entrepreneurship and Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Henri Harapan Saragih & Muhammad Saifi & Nila Firdausi Nuzula & Saparila Worokinasih, 2024. "The Role of Corporate Agility in Advancing Sustainable Strategy: Examining the Influence of Shareholder Activism and Board Commitment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-18, December.
    3. Maria Siddique & Numair Ahmed Sulehri, 2026. "Digital transformation and responsible production-consumption: the mediating roles of green innovation and organizational learning, and the moderating effect of leadership agility in Pakistan’s textile industry," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 1-16, December.
    4. Ali Nawaz Khan & Huang Honglei & Mohsin Ali Soomro, 2026. "Dynamic Capabilities for Circular Economy: Leadership, Eco‐Innovation, and the Mediating Role of Digital Transformation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 4484-4494, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ahmad Ali Atieh & Alhareth Abu Hussein & Saheer Al-Jaghoub & Ahmad Fathi Alheet & Murad Attiany, 2025. "The Impact of Digital Technology, Automation, and Data Integration on Supply Chain Performance: Exploring the Moderating Role of Digital Transformation," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-24, January.
    2. Chen, Xilu & Ge, Erqi & Xu, Xianxiang & Zhou, Quan, 2025. "Does digitalization of government activities improve business environment? The influence of public service standardization," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 533-560.
    3. Flavian Omungu & Dr. Stanley Kavale, 2025. "Dynamic Capabilities and Performance of Telecommunication Companies in Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(2), pages 134-149, February.
    4. Gonzalo Wandosell & María C. Parra-Meroño & Alfredo Alcayde & Raúl Baños, 2021. "Green Packaging from Consumer and Business Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-19, January.
    5. Tao Ge & Yuan Chen, 2025. "Interregional Environmental Policy Coordination, Natural Resource Endowment, and Green Economic Development: A Quantitative Analysis of China’s Policy Tests," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-23, January.
    6. Xia, Jing & Zheng, Yan & Yang, Lehe & Xiao, Yujie, 2024. "Government intervention in green technology innovation: The carrot, the stick or both?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    7. Yingchao Lan & Aravind Chandrasekaran & Deepa Goradia & Daniel Walker, 2022. "Collaboration Structures in Integrated Healthcare Delivery Systems: An Exploratory Study of Accountable Care Organizations," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 1796-1820, May.
    8. repec:cam:camjip:2528 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Han, Myat Su & Chen, Weiming, 2021. "Determinants of eco-innovation adoption of small and medium enterprises: An empirical analysis in Myanmar," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    10. Li Chen & Hau L. Lee & Christopher S. Tang, 2022. "Supply chain fairness," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(12), pages 4304-4318, December.
    11. Andre P. Calmon & Diana Jue-Rajasingh & Gonzalo Romero & Jackie Stenson, 2022. "Operational Strategies for Distributing Durable Goods in the Base of the Pyramid," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 24(4), pages 1887-1905, July.
    12. Thu-Hang Hoang & Thi-Trang Tran & Lam Nha Tu Huynh & Dung Khanh Vo & Bao Gia Huynh & Tam Minh Thi Tran & Nguyen Dang Nguyen, 2025. "Advances and barriers in promoting green logistics 4.0 from a multi-stakeholder perspective–a systematic review," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 1-19, June.
    13. Saravanan Kesavan & Susan J. Lambert & Joan C. Williams & Pradeep K. Pendem, 2022. "Doing Well by Doing Good: Improving Retail Store Performance with Responsible Scheduling Practices at the Gap, Inc," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(11), pages 7818-7836, November.
    14. Xiangyu Chang & Yinghui Huang & Mei Li & Xin Bo & Subodha Kumar, 2021. "Efficient Detection of Environmental Violators: A Big Data Approach," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(5), pages 1246-1270, May.
    15. Song, Yanwu & Dong, Ying, 2024. "Influence of resource compensation and complete information on green sustainability of semiconductor supply chains," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    16. Ma, Xin & Talluri, Srinivas & Ferguson, Mark & Tiwari, Sunil, 2022. "Strategic production and responsible sourcing decisions under an emissions trading scheme," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 303(3), pages 1429-1443.
    17. Zhang, Haonan & Yu, Guanchen, 2024. "Reducing costs or increasing efficiency? Unveiling the effects and mechanisms of the digital economy on sustained green innovation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    18. Lee, Jun-Yeon & Choi, Sungyong, 2021. "Supply chain investment and contracting for carbon emissions reduction: A social planner's perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    19. Jónas Oddur Jónasson & Kamalini Ramdas & Alp Sungu, 2022. "Social impact operations at the global base of the pyramid," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(12), pages 4364-4378, December.
    20. Kamalini Ramdas & Alp Sungu, 2024. "The Digital Lives of the Poor: Entertainment Traps and Information Isolation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 70(12), pages 9089-9100, December.
    21. Jean Pfiffelmann & Olga Untilov & John Thøgersen & Romain Franck, 2025. "Conflicting consumer beliefs influencing eco-innovation adoption: Motives and barriers for accepting the laser marking of organic products," Post-Print hal-04957879, HAL.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:13:p:5371-:d:1421234. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.