Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 December 2026 | Viewed by 20765

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Constantin Bratianu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

UNESCO Department for Business Administration, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010374 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: knowledge management; knowledge dynamics; knowledge strategies; strategic management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ruxandra Bejinaru

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Management, Business Administration and Tourism, “Stefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, Suceava, Romania
Interests: knowledge dynamics; knowledge management; organizational learning; intellectual capital; entrepreneurship
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The scope of this Special Issue is to explore the role played by Knowledge management in designing and achieving Business sustainability in the context of knowledge economy. Knowledge became, in recent decades, a strategic resource that is crucial in developing dynamic capabilities and achieving competitive advantage. Knowledge-intensive businesses had almost an exponential evolution in recent years, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Managing uncertainty as a result of knowledge absence is based on the capacity of knowledge management to create new knowledge and to share it intra-organizational and inter-organizational stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship. Business development is strongly dependent on efficient knowledge management systems and knowledge strategies. The purpose of the present Special Issue is to reveal the dynamics between Knowledge management and Business sustainability, and to explore new ideas, theories, models, strategies and practical lessons which can be implemented by companies to increase their competitiveness and value creation for society. At the same time, they will contribute to the advancement of the knowledge foundations of business management and creating the wise companies, as described by Ikujiro Nonaka and Takeuchi Hirotaka. The topics we suggest for this Special Issue, but, not limited to, are the following:

Knowledge management capacity to create the premises for achieving business sustainability.
Knowledge management in times of crises and lessons learned for business development from the COVID-19 pandemic.
New models for knowledge dynamics which can explore knowledge management systems beyond the models created by Ikujiro Nonaka and his colleagues.
Knowledge dynamics and its role in developing dynamic capabilities and achieving competitive advantage and business sustainability.
Knowledge dynamics and its importance in business decision-making.
Knowledge creation, knowledge sharing and business innovation.
Knowledge risks and business risks.
Organizational learning and the learning organizations.
Organizational spirituality and the wise company.
Consumer knowledge management and consumer behavior.
Knowledge leadership and business performance.
Knowledge strategies and business sustainability.
Artificial intelligence impact on knowledge management and business sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Constantin Bratianu
Dr. Ruxandra Bejinaru
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

knowledge dynamics
knowledge sharing
knowledge management
knowledge risks
knowledge strategies
business strategies
business competitiveness
sustainability

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 2614 KB

Open AccessArticle

Möbius Strip Model for Augmenting Organizational Knowledge Creation Dynamics by Integrating Human and Artificial Knowledge: A New Driving Force for Business Sustainability

by Constantin Bratianu, Ruxandra Bejinaru and Doina Banciu

Sustainability 2026, 18(8), 3774; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18083774 - 10 Apr 2026

Viewed by 583

Abstract

The emergence of artificial knowledge created by the generative artificial intelligence applications challenges the theory developed by Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi concerning the organizational knowledge creation dynamics by showing its limits. It is necessary to reimagine this theory within a hybrid framework that integrates both human knowledge and artificial knowledge, being aware of their specific features. Several researchers have already suggested how the SECI (socialization–externalization–combination–internalization) cycle developed by Ikujiro Nonaka and Hirotaka Takeuchi can be augmented by introducing artificial knowledge next to human knowledge in each stage of that cycle. However, tacit knowledge is embodied, and it cannot be processed directly by generative artificial intelligence. Therefore, their suggestions ignore the nature and specific features of tacit and explicit knowledge, leading to non-coherent models. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new model based on the Möbius strip metaphor that contains an open SECI cycle coupled with an open artificial knowledge cycle. Knowledge is flowing continuously along the strip, converging in time toward a strange attractor. The value of the new model is given by its novelty of introducing an artificial knowledge cycle and augmenting with it the SECI model centred on human knowledge. The resulting model is more complex and allows a continuous flow of knowledge. Therefore, the organizational knowledge creation dynamics is not represented by a time-evolving spiral, but by the phase space of a strange attractor. The proposed model can be conceived as a new driving force of business sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1565 KB

Open AccessArticle

Stimulating Triple Bottom Line Organizational Performance Through Knowledge Sources and Green Innovation: A Mediation and Moderation Approach

by Umair Zia and Guicheng Li

Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 1931; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18041931 - 13 Feb 2026

Viewed by 452

Abstract

From a knowledge-based perspective, monopolizing knowledge is getting difficult and is an emerging source for innovation and organizational performance. This study explores to what extent knowledge sources stimulate green innovation to enhance organizational performance, with moderation affecting resource orchestrion capability. Data were collected from Chinese manufacturing industries during February and April 2025. This study employed SmartPLS 4.1.12, which is widely used to analyze complex models of mediation and moderation for first- and second-order constructs. The results show that knowledge sources, both internal and external, act as stimulants to promote green innovation and improve organizational performance. In addition, green innovation also positively mediates between knowledge sources and organizational performance. Furthermore, resource orchestration capability strengthens the relationship between knowledge sources and green innovation. Future research may broaden the concept beyond other industrial businesses. Green innovation, tacit knowledge management, affective trust, and task efficiency can also be explored to stimulate organizational performance. This study provides proof that knowledge sources are essential for green innovation. Managers and organization leaders should encourage knowledge sharing initiatives inside and outside the company to improve organizational performance and green innovation. This study fills existing research areas that have received limited empirical attention and improve understanding of knowledge sources, inside and outside organizations, to boost green innovation and overall performance. Mediation and moderation research explores knowledge sources to foster green innovation and organizational performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1101 KB

Open AccessArticle

Platform AI Resources and Green Value Co-Creation: Paving the Way for Sustainable Firm Performance in the Digital Age

by Yan Sun, Siwarit Pongsakornrungsilp, Pimlapas Pongsakornrungsilp, Sasawalai Tonsakunthaweeteam, Wari Wongwaropakorn and Sydney Chinchanachokchai

Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 8058; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17178058 - 7 Sep 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2041

Abstract

This study examines how platform-based artificial intelligence resources (PAIRs) influence sustainable performance in e-business ecosystems by shaping stakeholder cognition and behavior. Guided by the Resource-Based View (RBV), the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and institutional theory, we examine the psychological mechanisms—particularly trust in AI and environmental identity—that mediate the relationship between PAIRs and green value co-creation (GVC), with sustainable development (SD) acting as a moderating factor. Drawing on survey data from 466 platform managers in China’s digital economy hubs (Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin), covering diverse industries (e-commerce, consumer goods, healthcare), our data suggest that PAIRs may influence firm performance via GVC, and that this association appears to be stronger under high-SD contexts. Our results underscore the importance of responsible and psychologically informed AI design—such as algorithmic transparency, cognitive load reduction, and ethical calibration—to facilitate stakeholder trust and pro-environmental engagement. This research contributes both theoretically and practically to elucidating how AI integration in e-business can be leveraged for responsible innovation and sustainable value creation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 454 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Knowledge Management Capability Drives Sustainable Business Model Innovation: A Combination of Symmetric and Asymmetric Approaches

by Shuting Chen, Liping Huang and Aojie Zhou

Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6714; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156714 - 23 Jul 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2054

Abstract

In a business environment with rapidly growing digital technologies, knowledge management (KM) capability is an indispensable source for enterprise innovation activities. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of the specific KM capability that leads to sustainable business model innovation (SBMI). This study therefore aimed to investigate the internal relationship between KM capability and SBMI by leveraging dynamic capability theory. A hierarchical regression analysis (HRA) and a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) are used to analyze a sample of 115 Chinese innovative enterprises. The results indicate that organizational structure promotes information technology by improving human capital, and that information technology then stimulates collaboration depth by expanding collaboration breadth, thereby driving SBMI. Specifically, human capital, information technology, collaboration breadth, and collaboration depth play significant chain-mediating roles in the relationship between organizational structure and SBMI. This study contributes to the literature on KM and innovation management, extends the use of low-order and high-order dynamic capabilities in DCT, and assists managers in developing SBMI effectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 305 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Do Corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Factors Affect Financial Performance?

by Xinxin Che, Chenhua Song and Jining Li

Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10347; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310347 - 26 Nov 2024

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5120

Abstract

Responsible investments are becoming increasingly relevant in stakeholder decision-making, propelled by the emphasis on sustainable development. Specifically, enterprises should acknowledge the significance of creating value for multiple shareholders based on the environment, society, and corporate governance. In this article, we contribute to the theoretical and empirical literature on corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in China. This paper employs a two-way fixed-effect model to examine the influence of ESG activities on financial performance, focusing on 3268 Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share companies that have consistently participated in such activities from 2011 to 2022. The findings indicate that improvements in ESG practices positively influence corporate financial performance, with property rights and industry categorization moderating this relationship. Furthermore, agency cost, financing cost, social reputation, market power, and enterprise innovation partially mediate ESG performance and financial performance. This study encourages enterprises to integrate sustainable value creation into the national development strategy, thereby achieving harmonious economic and social development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability)

17 pages, 1308 KB

Open AccessArticle

Green Knowledge Sharing and the Green Performance Nexus: A Moderated Mediation Model

by Farida Saleem, Luisa Pinto and Muhammad Imran Malik

Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9654; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229654 - 6 Nov 2024

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5477

Abstract

Green knowledge sharing plays a pivotal role in enhancing businesses’ environmental performance by promoting sustainable practices, innovation, and operational efficiency. Using a knowledge-based view [KBV], the current investigation aims to explore a moderated mediation model to investigate the relationship between green knowledge sharing and green performance. Green creativity is proposed as an explanatory variable that explains the relationship between green knowledge sharing and green performance, while green human capital is proposed as a boundary condition for green knowledge sharing and green creativity relationships. Data from 266 respondents working at managerial levels in different firms with offices in Riyadh were collected using the snowball sampling technique and were used to analyze the proposed moderated mediation model. The findings indicate that green creativity significantly mediates the relationship between green knowledge sharing and green performance, and green human capital moderates the relationship between green knowledge sharing and green creativity. This study highlights the importance of knowledge sharing and creativity in enhancing green performance. It also suggests that organizations investing in green human capital can strengthen these relationships. The results also offer practical insights for policymakers and managers on how green knowledge sharing can foster sustainable environmental performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

29 pages, 573 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dividend Payments and Persistence of Firms’ Green Innovation: Evidence from China

by Tong Li and Nengsheng Luo

Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 7975; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187975 - 12 Sep 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2990

Abstract

Green innovation is an important driver for the sustainable development of the real economy and the realization of a green transformation. Previous studies have paid less attention to the relationship between dividend payments and the persistence of green innovation and neglected the mechanism of knowledge management on the relationship between the two. Using Chinese listed non-financial companies from 2007 to 2022, this paper empirically investigates the effect and mechanism of dividend payment on corporate green innovation persistence based on two perspectives: principal–agent theory and incentive theory, using Tobit and negative binomial models. It was found that there is a non-linear inverted U-shaped relationship between dividend payments and the persistence of green innovation. Dividend payments influence the persistence of green innovation through agency costs and knowledge management capabilities. Both independent director networks and knowledge spillovers have a positive impact on the relationship between the two. Based on firms’ characteristics, the inverted U-shaped relationship between dividend payment and green innovation persistence is found to be more significant for non-state-owned firms and high-tech firms. Depending on the shareholder type, the inverted U-shaped curve between dividend payments for shareholding managers and green innovation persistence is the steepest. This study enriches the relevant literature on green innovations. In addition, it provides companies with a reference for formulating appropriate dividend policies, improving knowledge management capabilities, and improving the persistence of green innovation at a firm level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Role of Knowledge Management in Designing and Achieving Business Sustainability

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (7 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI