IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/opmare/v18y2025i3d10.1007_s12063-025-00561-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

How does digital supply chain transformation determine environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance? Mediating role of firm integration and moderating effect of organizational digital culture

Author

Listed:
  • Shaofeng Wang

    (Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade)

  • Hao Zhang

    (Zhejiang Shuren University)

Abstract

Digital technology has substantial potential to enhance both internal and external integration and firms’ supply chains’ Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. However, further exploration into these effects is needed. This study combines FTSE Russell’s ESG scores with data from 371 targeted questionnaire responses. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA), and Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), we discovered the following: 1) Digital supply chain transformation positively impacts various aspects of firm integration, including process synchronization and information sharing; 2) This transformation bolsters firm integration and later enhances ESG performance; 3) Organizational digital culture moderates the relationship between integration and ESG performance, indicating that a supportive digital culture amplifies these benefits. These insights can improve our understanding of digital supply chain transformation’s impact on ESG performance, offering firms actionable ESG management strategies and promoting sustainable development. Furthermore, this research provides valuable decision support for policymakers and relevant institutions in promoting sustainable digital supply chain transformation and ESG management practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Shaofeng Wang & Hao Zhang, 2025. "How does digital supply chain transformation determine environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance? Mediating role of firm integration and moderating effect of organizational digital cultu," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 960-986, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:opmare:v:18:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s12063-025-00561-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s12063-025-00561-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12063-025-00561-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12063-025-00561-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alessio Ronchini & Michela Guida & Antonella Moretto & Federico Caniato, 2024. "The role of artificial intelligence in the supply chain finance innovation process," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1213-1243, December.
    2. Fatemi, Ali & Glaum, Martin & Kaiser, Stefanie, 2018. "ESG performance and firm value: The moderating role of disclosure," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 45-64.
    3. Wang, Shaofeng & Zhang, Hao, 2024. "Green entrepreneurship success in the age of generative artificial intelligence: The interplay of technology adoption, knowledge management, and government support," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Bhawna & Parminder Singh Kang & Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, 2024. "Bridging the gap: a systematic analysis of circular economy, supply chain management, and digitization for sustainability and resilience," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 1039-1057, September.
    5. Troise, Ciro & Corvello, Vincenzo & Ghobadian, Abby & O'Regan, Nicholas, 2022. "How can SMEs successfully navigate VUCA environment: The role of agility in the digital transformation era," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    6. Ahmed Hamdy, 2024. "Supply chain capabilities matter: digital transformation and green supply chain management in post-pandemic emerging economies: A case from Egypt," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 963-981, September.
    7. Jiazhan Gao & Guihong Hua & Baofeng Huo, 2024. "Green finance policies, financing constraints and corporate ESG performance: insights from supply chain management," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1345-1359, December.
    8. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Shuke Fu & Jiabei Liu & Jiali Tian & Jiachao Peng & Chuyue Wu, 2023. "Impact of Digital Economy on Energy Supply Chain Efficiency: Evidence from Chinese Energy Enterprises," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-21, January.
    10. Gheorghe Minculete & Sebastian Emanuel Stan & Lucian Ispas & Ioan Virca & Leontin Stanciu & Marius Milandru & Gabriel Mănescu & Mădălina-Ioana Bădilă, 2022. "Relational Approaches Related to Digital Supply Chain Management Consolidation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-28, August.
    11. Lara Schilling & Stefan Seuring, 2024. "Linking the digital and sustainable transformation with supply chain practices," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(3), pages 949-973, February.
    12. Fabian Reck & Alexander Fliaster & Michael Kolloch, 2022. "How to Build a Network that Facilitates Firm‐level Innovation: An Integration of Structural and Managerial Perspectives," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(4), pages 998-1031, June.
    13. Martínez-Caro, Eva & Cegarra-Navarro, Juan Gabriel & Alfonso-Ruiz, Francisco Javier, 2020. "Digital technologies and firm performance: The role of digital organisational culture," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    14. Priyanshu Kumar Singh & R. Maheswaran, 2024. "Analysis of social barriers to sustainable innovation and digitisation in supply chain," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 5223-5248, February.
    15. Shuhui Jiang & Kang Chen, 2024. "Multidirectional analysis for sustainable development: An examination of sustainable policies, corporate social responsibility, and organizational performance," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(5), pages 4385-4396, October.
    16. Yingjia Zhong & Hongyan Zhao & Tianbao Yin, 2023. "Resource Bundling: How Does Enterprise Digital Transformation Affect Enterprise ESG Development?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, January.
    17. Dubey, Rameshwar & Bryde, David J. & Blome, Constantin & Dwivedi, Yogesh K. & Childe, Stephen J. & Foropon, Cyril, 2024. "Alliances and digital transformation are crucial for benefiting from dynamic supply chain capabilities during times of crisis: A multi-method study," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    18. Sujata Seshadrinathan & Shalini Chandra, 2025. "Trusting the trustless blockchain for its adoption in accounting: theorizing the mediating role of technology-organization-environment framework," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 11(1), pages 1-39, December.
    19. Scaliza, Janaina Aparecida Alves & Jugend, Daniel & Chiappetta Jabbour, Charbel Jose & Latan, Hengky & Armellini, Fabiano & Twigg, David & Andrade, Darly Fernando, 2022. "Relationships among organizational culture, open innovation, innovative ecosystems, and performance of firms: Evidence from an emerging economy context," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 264-279.
    20. Lin, Hsiu-Fen, 2022. "IT resources and quality attributes: The impact on electronic green supply chain management implementation and performance," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    21. Matthew Quayson & Chunguang Bai & Joseph Sarkis & Md Altab Hossin, 2024. "Evaluating barriers to blockchain technology for sustainable agricultural supply chain: A fuzzy hierarchical group DEMATEL approach," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 728-753, June.
    22. Mengdi Zhang & Wanting Yang & Zhiheng Zhao & Saurabh Pratap & Wei Wu & George Q. Huang, 2023. "Is digital twin a better solution to improve ESG evaluation for vaccine logistics supply chain: an evolutionary game analysis," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 1791-1813, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Lingwei Zhang & Hui Huang & Na Chen & Huangxin Chen, 2025. "Policy-Driven Supply Chain Digitalization and Corporate Sustainability: Evidence from China’s Innovation Pilot," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-28, September.
    2. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    3. Wang, Shaofeng & Zhang, Hao, 2025. "Enhancing environmental, social, and governance performance through artificial intelligence supply chains in the energy industry: Roles of innovation, collaboration, and proactive sustainability strat," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    4. Martín-Rojas, Rodrigo & Garrido-Moreno, Aurora & García-Morales, Víctor J., 2023. "Social media use, corporate entrepreneurship and organizational resilience: A recipe for SMEs success in a post-Covid scenario," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    5. Garcia-Perez, Alexeis & Cegarra-Navarro, Juan Gabriel & Sallos, Mark Paul & Martinez-Caro, Eva & Chinnaswamy, Anitha, 2023. "Resilience in healthcare systems: Cyber security and digital transformation," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    6. Li, Xue & Seah, Rachel Yan Ting & Yuen, Kum Fai, 2025. "Mental wellbeing in digital workplaces: The role of digital resources, technostress, and burnout," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    7. Jiazhan Gao & Guihong Hua & Baofeng Huo, 2024. "Green finance policies, financing constraints and corporate ESG performance: insights from supply chain management," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1345-1359, December.
    8. Iftikhar, Anas & Ali, Imran & Zhan, Yuanzhu & Stevenson, Mark & Tarba, Shlomo Y., 2025. "Firms’ strategic responses to rising uncertainty amid ongoing geopolitical tensions: The synergistic mediating role of network capability and innovation ambidexterity," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    9. Jiang, Guohai & Chen, Fuzhong & Gu, Mengyi, 2025. "Supply chain digitization and energy resilience: Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    10. Su, Jingqin & Zhang, Yajie & Wu, Xianyun, 2023. "How market pressures and organizational readiness drive digital marketing adoption strategies' evolution in small and medium enterprises," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    11. Shaofeng Wang & Hao Zhang, 2025. "Promoting sustainable development goals through generative artificial intelligence in the digital supply chain: Insights from Chinese tourism SMEs," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(1), pages 1231-1248, February.
    12. Sun, Yuan & Mou, Saiya & Zhu, Mengyi & Jeyaraj, Anand, 2025. "Impact of digital technology affordance on organizational resilience: An ambidextrous innovation perspective using a mixed-methods approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    13. Zhan, Huawang & Shen, Huayu & Guo, Hui, 2025. "Research on the impact of ESG scores on corporate substantive and strategic green innovation," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 4(1).
    14. Ahmed, Adeel & Bhatti, Sabeen Hussain & Gölgeci, Ismail & Arslan, Ahmad, 2022. "Digital platform capability and organizational agility of emerging market manufacturing SMEs: The mediating role of intellectual capital and the moderating role of environmental dynamism," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    15. Ailing Liu & Shaofeng Wang, 2024. "Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and entrepreneurial performance: implications for entrepreneurs," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 2389-2412, December.
    16. Xie, Weihong & Zou, Yukun & Guo, Haizhen & Li, Zhongshun, 2024. "What drives digital innovation cycles? Evidence from manufacturing enterprises in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    17. Wang, Shaofeng & Zhang, Hao, 2025. "Enhancing SMEs sustainable innovation and performance through digital transformation: Insights from strategic technology, organizational dynamics, and environmental adaptation," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    18. Hatem Abuseta & Kolawole Iyiola & Hasan Yousef Aljuhmani, 2025. "Digital Technologies and Business Model Innovation in Turbulent Markets: Unlocking the Power of Agility and Absorptive Capacity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-28, June.
    19. Yoon, Junghyun & Lee, Hee Yong & Dinwoodie, John, 2015. "Competitiveness of container terminal operating companies in South Korea and the industry–university–government network," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1-14.
    20. Sousa, Carlos M.P. & Bradley, Frank, 2008. "Antecedents of international pricing adaptation and export performance," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 307-320, July.

    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:spr:opmare:v:18:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s12063-025-00561-0. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.