Organizational creativity and sustainability-oriented innovation as drivers of sustainable development: overcoming firms' economic, environmental and social sustainability challenges

Abstract

PurposeSustainable development is key to firms' competitiveness, survival, growth and profitability, although sustainability emerges as a great challenge. The aim of this study is to analyze the links between organizational creativity (which integrates sustainability orientation), sustainability-oriented innovation and the multidimensionality of firms' sustainability performance.Design/methodology/approachA total of 417 valid responses from manufacturing SMEs were collected through a questionnaire. PLS-SEM is the statistical technique used in the hypothesis testing.Findings Organizational creativity (which integrates sustainability orientation) and sustainability-oriented innovation are positively associated with economic sustainability performance, environmental sustainability performance and social sustainability performance; sustainability-oriented innovation has a partial mediation effect on the relationship between organizational creativity and economic, environmental, and social sustainability performance; and organizational creativity (which integrates sustainability orientation) has a positive effect on sustainability-oriented innovation.Originality/valueSustainability orientation is integrated into organizational creativity without limiting it, sustainability-oriented innovation encompasses innovation and sustainability in all its breadth without forgetting the innovation process openness, and firm's sustainability performance has a multidimensional approach. Such innovation and creativity contribute – in an interconnected way – to sustainable development, as well as overcoming sustainability challenges and firms' barriers to sustainability. Likewise, the aforementioned creativity must be implemented throughout the company, even beyond its contribution to the innovation process. Thus, the implementation of new ideas, thoughts, perspectives, views, and mental models – fruit of the described creative process – will generate new models and paths in which firms' profitability, growth and survival are related with overcoming environmental and social problems.

Conceptualising the relationship between green dynamic capability and SME sustainability performance: the role of green innovation, organisational creativity and agility

“…Creativity could be the key driver in generating unconventional ideas and solutions to solve these critical issues. Various research has been conducted to indicate a link between creativity and SP (Przychodzen et al, 2016;Awan et al, 2019;Souto, 2021). Creativity can drive innovation resulting in an increase in SP (Przychodzen et al, 2016;Souto, 2021).…”

“…Various research has been conducted to indicate a link between creativity and SP (Przychodzen et al, 2016;Awan et al, 2019;Souto, 2021). Creativity can drive innovation resulting in an increase in SP (Przychodzen et al, 2016;Souto, 2021). Ferreira et al (2020) stated that creativity influences innovative capability, which improves a firm's performance, which, in turn, is a key dimension of SP.…”

“…Moreover, research on dynamic capability (DC) and sustainability in the perspective of green dynamic capability (GDC) is scarce (Li, 2022). Additionally, research on the relationships among GI, organisational creativity (OC) and organisational agility (OA) and sustainability performance (SP), all of which are interconnected, is underexplored and limited (Lazaretti et al, 2020;Lopes de Sousa Jabbour et al, 2020;Shahzad et al, 2020;Souto, 2021). This paper aims to establish the linkages of variables that can improve SP of SMEs.…”

Guest editorial: Creativity management and manufacturing firms' performance

“…Sustainability orientation is integrated into organizational creativity and sustainability-oriented innovation encompasses innovation and sustainability in all its breadth that will contribute to a feasible organizational development. In this regard, the article Organizational creativity and sustainability-oriented innovation as drivers of sustainable development: overcoming firms' economic, environmental, and social sustainability challenges , by Souto (2021), aims to analyze the links between organizational creativity (which integrates sustainability orientation), sustainability-oriented innovation and the multidimensionality of firms' sustainability performance. The study focuses on an SME context since sustainability studies of SMEs are still scarce, especially the link between creativity and SMEs performance has received less attention.…”

Hubungan Antara Manajemen Pengetahuan Dan Keberlanjutan Organisasi: Peran Sertifikasi Iso 9001

“…Keberlanjutan organisasi adalah masalah yang signifikan bagi semua jenis perusahaan untuk mengurangi risiko, menghadapi situasi yang tidak pasti, dan mencari stabilitas di pasar yang berubah dengan cepat (Carayannis, Sindakis, & Walter, 2015). Souto (2021) mendefinisikan keberlanjutan sebagai "urat nadi dari inovasi organisasi dan teknologi yang berpengaruh pada bottom-line dan top-line." Selain sensitivitas manajerial, ada juga kebutuhan yang kuat untuk pembelajaran berkelanjutan dan manajemen pengetahuan (Zaim & Chiabrishvili, 2018) untuk mencapai keberlanjutan organisasi.…”