IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/buseth/v35y2026i3p1561-1572.html

Green Leadership Support as a Catalyst for Innovative Behavior: A Study of Green Absorptive Capacity and Work Climate in UAE Hotels

Author

Listed:
  • Islam Bourini
  • Osama Khassawneh
  • Mohamad Behery
  • Yaprak Anadol
  • Tamara Mohammad

Abstract

This study investigated how green absorptive capacity influences employee perceptions of a green work climate and their engagement in green innovative behavior. It also examines the moderating role of green leadership support in shaping these relationships. Guided by the resource‐based view, the research explores how environmental knowledge capabilities and supportive organizational conditions contribute to sustainability‐focused innovation. Survey data were collected from employees at twelve four‐ and five‐star hotels in the United Arab Emirates and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings show that green absorptive capacity significantly enhances perceptions of a green work climate, which in turn leads to increased green innovative behavior. The results further reveal that green leadership support strengthens the effect of green work climate on green innovative behavior. These insights extend the resource‐based view by demonstrating that organizational resources must be integrated with a supportive climate to achieve innovation outcomes. The study offered practical recommendations for firms aiming to embed sustainability into their core operations by investing in environmental knowledge systems, cultivating green workplace values, and reinforcing leadership support for environmental initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Islam Bourini & Osama Khassawneh & Mohamad Behery & Yaprak Anadol & Tamara Mohammad, 2026. "Green Leadership Support as a Catalyst for Innovative Behavior: A Study of Green Absorptive Capacity and Work Climate in UAE Hotels," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(3), pages 1561-1572, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:buseth:v:35:y:2026:i:3:p:1561-1572
    DOI: 10.1111/beer.70003
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/beer.70003
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/beer.70003?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Islam Bourini & Osama Khassawneh & Tamara Mohammad, 2024. "Towards sustainability in the services industry: Does green top management support stimulate an organization's green operational performance? A moderated mediation model," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(8), pages 7788-7799, December.
    2. Amal Benkarim & Daniel Imbeau, 2021. "Organizational Commitment and Lean Sustainability: Literature Review and Directions for Future Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-24, March.
    3. Singh, Sanjay Kumar & Giudice, Manlio Del & Chierici, Roberto & Graziano, Domenico, 2020. "Green innovation and environmental performance: The role of green transformational leadership and green human resource management," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    4. MacKenzie, Scott B. & Podsakoff, Philip M., 2012. "Common Method Bias in Marketing: Causes, Mechanisms, and Procedural Remedies," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 542-555.
    5. Yu-Shan Chen, 2008. "The Driver of Green Innovation and Green Image – Green Core Competence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(3), pages 531-543, September.
    6. Abbasi, Kashif Raza & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Zhang, Jinjun & Irfan, Muhammad & Alvarado, Rafael, 2022. "Analyze the environmental sustainability factors of China: The role of fossil fuel energy and renewable energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 390-402.
    7. Islam Bourini, 2021. "The Effect Of Supportive Leader On Employees’ Absorptive Capacity Towards Innovative Behaviour," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 25(01), pages 1-25, January.
    8. Hasan Evrim Arici & Muzaffer Uysal, 2022. "Leadership, green innovation, and green creativity: a systematic review," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(5-6), pages 280-320, April.
    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. Muhammad Sadiq & Mei Kei Leong & Ansa Savad Salim & Zhou Jiayao, 2025. "Fostering entrepreneurial success through the predictive role of knowledge management, green creativity, green social behavior, dynamic capabilities, business environment and green service innovation," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-27, December.
    2. Tongkyu Kim & Hyeonyu Son & Yu Ri Kim & Jiyeon Han & Yunze Cho & Taewoo Roh, 2026. "Can Technological and Customer Competencies Enable the Firm to Be Greener? Simultaneous Consideration of Resource‐Based View and Social License to Operate," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(3), pages 2480-2497, July.
    3. Tan, Lay Peng & Casidy, Riza & Arli, Denni, 2025. "Drivers of strategic green marketing orientation: An SME owner-manager perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    4. Endah Rahayu Lestari & Nimas Mayang Sabrina Sunyoto, 2023. "Fostering green innovation in achieving sustainable performance," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 47(3), pages 413-434, August.
    5. Bekolo Ngoa Celestin & Kouame Dangui Dorcas, 2024. "Eco-innovation in Waste Recycling Industry in Ghana: Modeling the Upper Echelon Behavioral Drivers of Grass Root Innovation Among SEED Award Winners," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(2), pages 21582440231, May.
    6. Margarida Rodrigues & Mário Franco, 2023. "Green Innovation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): A Qualitative Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-12, March.
    7. Chen Liu & Dongmin Kong, 2021. "Business strategy and sustainable development: Evidence from China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 657-670, January.
    8. Yann Truong, 2025. "Green Innovations and Toxic Emissions of Manufacturing Firms: Do Green Innovative Firms Pollute Less?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(5), pages 6831-6842, September.
    9. Leal-Rodríguez, Antonio L. & Ariza-Montes, Antonio J. & Morales-Fernández, Emilio & Albort-Morant, Gema, 2018. "Green innovation, indeed a cornerstone in linking market requests and business performance. Evidence from the Spanish automotive components industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 185-193.
    10. Wen, Jun & Zhao, Xin-Xin & Fu, Qiang & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2023. "The impact of extreme weather events on green innovation: Which ones bring to the most harm?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    11. Pereira, Vijay & Nair, Asha KS. & Bhattacharyya, Som Sekhar, 2025. "Exploring and investigating the complementarity and multidimensionality of innovation for sustainability research: Past present and future," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    12. Jinxia Jiao & ChenGuang Liu & Yan Xu & Zirong Hao, 2022. "Effects of strategic flexibility and organizational slack on the relationship between green operational practices adoption and firm performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 561-577, May.
    13. Arnaldo Coelho & Jorge Ferreira & Catarina Proença, 2024. "The impact of green entrepreneurial orientation on sustainability performance through the effects of green product and process innovation: The moderating role of ambidexterity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(4), pages 3184-3202, May.
    14. Zahid Yousaf & Magdalena Radulescu & Crenguta Sinisi & Abdelmohsen A. Nassani & Mohamed Haffar, 2022. "How Do Firms Achieve Green Innovation? Investigating the Influential Factors among the Energy Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-14, March.
    15. Abdullah Kaid Al‐Swidi & Mohammed A. Al‐Hakimi & Hamid Mahmood Gelaidan & Saheim Khalaf A. J. Al‐Temimi, 2022. "How does consumer pressure affect green innovation of manufacturing SMEs in the presence of green human resource management and green values? A moderated mediation analysis," Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 1157-1173, October.
    16. Rosalia Castellano & Gennaro Punzo & Giuseppe Scandurra & Antonio Thomas, 2022. "Exploring antecedents of innovations for small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises' environmental sustainability: An interpretative framework," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1730-1748, May.
    17. Ahmad Abo Yahya & Pouya Zargar, 2023. "Achieving Corporate Sustainability through Green Human Resource Management: The Role of CSR in the Banking Industry of a Developing Country," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    18. Farida Saleem & Sheela Sundarasen & Muhammad Imran Malik, 2025. "Green Leadership and Environmental Performance in Hospitals: A Multi-Mediator Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-19, June.
    19. Jianzhong Xu & Jiaqi Zhai, 2020. "Research on the Evaluation of Green Innovation Capability of Manufacturing Enterprises in Innovation Network," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-20, January.
    20. Huang, Xiaoqi & Liu, Wei & Zhang, Zhan & Zhao, Zhihui, 2022. "Intensive judicial oversight and corporate green innovations: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).

    More about this item

    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:wly:buseth:v:35:y:2026:i:3:p:1561-1572. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/26946424 .

    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.