Artificial Intelligence and Green Innovation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Competitive-Advantage Drive Toward Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. First of all write abstract into sustainability format (structured abstract)

2. I would suggest use of NRBV theory as it deals with green innovation and sustainability. 

3. Add strong theoretical contributions in the introduction section in light of RBV and NRBV Theories. Which is missing in this section. 

4. Start theoretical background by highlighting RBV theory and then why NRBV theory was given what were the critiques raised on RBV so that NRBV can be applied?

5. Discuss all the variables and their attributes in literature section which is missing. How these variables were measured (construct wise)

6. What are the issues related with convenience sampling instead of those issues why it has been used in this study?

7. There is adequate information can be added in material and method section such as research design, population and sampling, data collection instrument, (Adopted or adapted) what were the reliabilities of these scales reported in past studies? mention in this section, data collection methods etc. 

8. Combine Table 1 and Table 2 

9. Discussion section must discuss findings of hypotheses and their comparison with their past studies followed by Theoretical and practical implications 

10. Then conclusions and then limitations and future directions

11. Authors did not recommended variables, which can be used a moderators, mediators, control variables in future directions. 

12. it is better to report mediating results of Green innovation strategy (product innovation, process innovation and managerial innovation) separately with financial resources and sustainable competitive development. 

13. Check references styles carefully 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

I would like to thank the authors for submitting this paper to sustainability journal. The study explores the relationship between financial resources, green innovation strategies (GIS), and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in influencing sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) among SMEs in Turkey's construction sector. The topic of the paper is very interesting and timely. and aligns with sustainable development goals. I could see the efforts allocated for this paper. Please consider the below suggestions to enhance the quality of the paper. 

Abstract:

(1) The abstract should explicitly state the key findings and contributions of the study in a more concise manner.

(2)  It is best to avoid using "GIS" as an abbreviation for Green Innovation Strategies, as "GIS" is widely recognized as referring to Geographic Information Systems. Additionally, the authors have overused abbreviations throughout the study, which makes the text more difficult to read. Reducing the use of abbreviations and writing terms in full where possible would enhance clarity and readability.

Introduction:

(3) Make sure to have a consistent font size (i.e., lines 40-49). This applies for the entire paper. 

(4)  While the introduction provides context, it should better articulate the specific research gap this study fills.

(5)  The literature review should include more recent references (2022–2024) on AI adoption in SMEs and sustainable innovation.

Theoretical background and hypothesis development:

(6)  The rationale behind the hypotheses needs to be strengthened, particularly in explaining why AI is a crucial moderator. For example support with studies from literature where  AI is employed to automatically make predictions about strategic decision-making and problem-solving activities (i.e., "AI model for analyzing construction litigation precedents to support decision-making", "An Accurate-Pricing Estimate Game-Theoretic Model for Determining Price Escalations in Construction Projects during Economic Uncertainties", ...)

(7) Lines 193-194: "Therefore, to carry out eco-activities, they require external assistance, such as incentives from the government". Here it is very important to mention sustainable / green public procurement policies that incentives construction company to use green product in the construction (i.e., green cement). For example check this study "Modeling the Impact of Low-Carbon Procurement on Bidding Dynamics" that provides a Comprehensive overview of such policies in various regions. 

Materials and methods: 

(8) The reliability and validity assessments (Cronbach’s alpha, AVE) are well presented, but additional justification for choosing the specific indicators for GIS and AI adoption would improve robustness.

Discussion : 

(9)  More explanation on the practical implications of AI's moderating effect would help industry practitioners understand its importance.

(10) While the study suggests policy interventions, it would benefit from specific recommendations on how government incentives or financial support can enhance AI adoption in SMEs.

(11)  The paper acknowledges limitations but should suggest concrete areas for future research, such as longitudinal studies or comparative analyses across different SME sectors.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article titled “The Power of Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Green Innovation in SMEs Sustainable Competitive Advantage Drive: A New Insight Toward Achieving Sustainable Development Goals” presents a well-structured and relevant study on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and green innovation strategies (GIS) in fostering a sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Turkey’s construction sector. The study employs a Resource-Based View (RBV) framework and utilizes structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the relationships between financial resources (FR), green innovation, and AI adoption in achieving sustainability goals, particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Overall, this study provides a valuable contribution to the literature on sustainable business practices, AI adoption, and green innovation. The research is methodologically sound, theoretically grounded, and practically relevant. However, there are some areas for improvement.

While the article makes a strong theoretical and empirical contribution, several limitations are acknowledged. These include sample constraints (limited to Turkish SMEs), reliance on self-reported data, and the absence of external financial indicators. The authors recognize the need for future research to explore additional variables such as regulatory policies, industry dynamics, and cultural influences on green innovation adoption. These suggestions are well-founded and provide a solid direction for further academic inquiry.

While the article provides valuable insights into the relationship between financial resources, green innovation, and AI adoption in achieving sustainable competitive advantage for SMEs, one notable weakness is the limited discussion on policy frameworks that could support AI adoption and sustainability financing. Given the significance of financial constraints as a key barrier to sustainability investments among SMEs, a more comprehensive analysis of existing and potential policy mechanisms would greatly enhance the study’s practical relevance.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Accept in present form. All comments were addressed.