Is training a green innovation driver? The mediating role of knowledge acquisition

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to contribute to empirical research on green innovation drivers. This paper analyzes the relationships between training, knowledge acquisition, green innovation and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is carried out on a sample of 373 Spanish companies from a wide variety of sectors. This research has used the partial least squares (PLS) model to test the hypotheses. Findings It is found that green innovation and knowledge acquisition improve firm performance, and that knowledge acquisition has a mediating effect between training and green innovation. Practical implications The findings of this article indicate that green innovation allows the company to obtain benefits while reducing the negative environmental impact, then managers should bet on ecological innovation. This study also shows that there is an indirect effect of training on green innovation and, therefore, managers must invest in training as a mechanism to increase knowledge acquisition and, thus, green innovation. Originality/value This paper analyzes two research areas that have received little attention: the role of human resource management in green innovation and the relationship between a given driver and green innovation. In the first, it analyzes whether training increases green innovation, and in the second, it considers the effect of training on knowledge acquisition and on green innovation, specifically, it studies whether knowledge acquisition mediates the relationship between training and green innovation.

Green learning orientation and corporate environmental performance: the mediation role of green knowledge acquisition-management and the moderating role of CEO-gender

“…To improve the firm’s performance, companies use their acquired knowledge (Kianto et al , 2017). Green knowledge management bridges green knowledge acquisition and corporate environmental performance once the top management puts more focus on eco-friendly and green innovation in firms through encouraging employees to bring new knowledge and supporting them to acquire green knowledge (Pérez-Luño et al , 2019; Barba-Aragón & Jiménez-Jiménez, 2023). In this way, organizations align corporate strategies with green knowledge management to achieve the firm’s sustainable performance (Shahzad et al , 2020a, 2020b).…”