Search Results (127)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), adopted by the European Union in 2018, aims to enhance consumer trust and market efficiency by strengthening data protection. The concurrent stringent compliance requirements raise operational costs and could reshape competition by favoring larger firms with greater regulatory capacity. While the GDPR reduces data-related risks and promotes global digital trade through its extraterritorial reach, the potential advantage to larger firms could incentivize strategic responses such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A) to consolidate market power. Given the rapid expansion of Chinese digital firms in e-commerce, social media, and cloud services across the EU, this study examines how the GDPR has affected their cross-border M&A activities between 2014 and 2021. Based on difference-in-difference analysis, the study finds that the GDPR did not have a statistically significant impact on the number or value of mergers and acquisitions by Chinese digital firms in the EU in the short term. This suggests that firms may enhance their institutional adaptability by strengthening their compliance capabilities. However, institutional and cultural differences pose long-term entry barriers for the firms. The study contributes by highlighting how firms adjust internationalization strategies under stringent regulatory regimes, offering policy-relevant insights for governments and regulatory authorities. Full article

As plant-based diets catalyze a global shift toward sustainable consumption, Chinese plant-based food firms are experiencing rapid growth and seeking to expand their international footprint. This study investigates the mechanisms underlying the internationalization performance of these firms by integrating the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework with a configurational perspective. We operationalize nine antecedents across three dimensions: the technological dimension (technological maturity, supply chain resilience, and digital transformation), the organizational dimension (food safety certification intensity, strategic partnership intensity, and talent acquisition intensity), and the environmental dimension (market adaptability, compliance and risk management, and product line breadth). Utilizing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) on a sample of N = 29 publicly listed Chinese plant-based firms, this research identifies three distinct equifinal pathways to superior internationalization performance. The first is the Collaboration-Compliance configuration (Organization–Environment-driven), which is primarily characterized by the synergy between strategic partnerships and regulatory risk management. The second is the Supply Chain-Compliance-Product Diversification configuration (Technology-Environment-driven), where international success is predicated on the interplay among supply chain resilience, institutional compliance, and product variety. The third is the Full-Factor Synergy configuration (Technology-Organization-Environment jointly driven), which emphasizes a holistic coupling of technological innovation, organizational coordination, and external institutional adaptation. By uncovering these complex causal mechanisms, this study moves beyond traditional linear analysis to reveal how diverse capability configurations can lead to equivalent internationalization outcomes. The findings provide actionable strategic guidance for firms navigating the global plant-based market and offer theoretical insights for policy frameworks supporting sustainable dietary transitions. Full article

Blockchain offers significant potential to enhance transparency, traceability, and trust in e-commerce supply chains, yet adoption among small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remains uneven due to its simultaneous advantages and implementation complexity. This study conceptualizes blockchain adoption as the outcome of an organizational evaluative system shaped by digital readiness and dual cognitive assessments. Using survey data from 548 Chinese e-commerce SMEs, we examine how AI familiarity, representing digital preparedness, shapes perceived benefits and perceived costs, thereby influencing adoption intention. Structural equation modeling shows that AI familiarity increases perceived benefits, reduces perceived costs, and strengthens adoption intention both directly and indirectly, suggesting that prior technological exposure recalibrates internal benefit–cost evaluations. Perceived benefits promote adoption intention, whereas perceived costs inhibit it, confirming the central role of evaluative integration. Response surface analysis reveals that adoption intention depends on the configuration of benefits and costs: intention rises when benefits exceed costs, and benefits exert a stronger influence, indicating asymmetric weighting. Multi-group SEM suggests that the structural relationships remain broadly stable across domestic- and internationally oriented firms. By modeling blockchain adoption as a structured evaluative process conditioned by digital readiness, this study contributes to a more integrated understanding of organizational technology adoption under digital complexity. Full article

Against the background of climate uncertainty, market volatility, and evolving regulatory environments, firms embedded in agricultural value chains face increasing pressure to maintain sustainable growth. This study examines China’s A-share-listed Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) firms to explore how internal organizational factors and external institutional conditions jointly shape firm-level sustainable growth capability. This setting is characterized by strong ecological dependence, strict quality regulation, deep policy embeddedness, and supply-chain sensitivity. Drawing on the resource-based view, dynamic capability theory, contingency theory, and the institutional environment perspective, this study applies fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to 2023 cross-sectional data from 59 A-share-listed TCM firms. The results show that no single condition constitutes a necessary condition for high sustainable growth capability. Instead, high sustainable growth capability is mainly achieved through three configurational pathways: innovation-driven growth, policy-supported development, and market-responsive strategy. Low sustainable growth capability follows asymmetric pathways, mainly reflected in the mismatch between innovation capability and the institutional environment, and the coexistence of high financing constraints and low agility response. The findings indicate that sustainable growth capability is not the result of isolated factors, but a context-specific configurational outcome shaped by innovation, agility response, internationalization, equity governance, ESG performance, government support, marketization level, and financing conditions. This study provides a configurational explanation for growth research on agriculture-related firms and offers differentiated pathway implications for managers and policymakers. Full article

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping enterprise operations, yet evidence remains limited on how firms in Poland acquire AI capabilities, which AI technologies they adopt, and where they apply them functionally. This study examines (i) AI acquisition modes, (ii) types of AI technologies used, and (iii) application areas and assesses how these patterns differ by firm characteristics (size, operating scope, ownership structure, sector, and market experience). Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 118 enterprise representatives in Poland (February–July 2025), of whom 49.15% reported using AI and were included in the detailed usage analysis. Using Ward’s minimum variance method, we identify systematic associations between firm characteristics and AI acquisition choices, technology types, and application domains. The findings suggest that larger, internationally active, and foreign-owned firms tend to combine multiple acquisition sources and report more advanced AI technologies and broader application portfolios, while smaller firms more often rely on ready-made solutions and narrower use cases. This study concludes with practical recommendations for managers regarding staged AI adoption, capability building, and governance. Full article

This study investigates how greenwashing affects firm value and whether corporate governance can mitigate its negative impact. The analysis is based on 760 companies in the energy, basic materials, and industrial sectors in Indonesia during 2020–2024. Moderated regression analyses using a random effect model were conducted to test the hypotheses. The results show that greenwashing has a significant negative relationship with firm value. As hypothesized, corporate governance weakens this negative effect, indicating it reduces greenwashing’s impact. This study offers novelty by combining the presence of CSR committees and internationally experienced directors as measures of corporate governance to examine their moderating role in the relationship between greenwashing and firm value. Full article

This study investigates the export strategies of agri-food SMEs through two terroir products: La Tête de Moine AOP from the Bellelay region and Tunisian olive oil from the Sfax region. Grounded in the resource-based view (RBV), it explores how firm-level and territorially embedded resources shape export performance. A two-stage qualitative design combining semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions was employed in both contexts. Analysis reveals that the La Tête de Moine AOP sector stands out from the olive oil sector due to certain resources and capacities, which are collective reputation, product traceability, cooperative management, forecasting, and long-term planning systems, centralized knowledge management, shared brand, financial advantages, and territorial social capital. Tunisian olive oil export strategy differs from the cheese sector through market responsiveness, upstream integration, and product innovation. The findings highlight the critical role of territorial capital and collective organization in enhancing sustainable competitiveness and reveal how distinct resource configurations shape SME internationalization in developed versus emerging economies. Practical recommendations are proposed to create a more relevant resources–capabilities collection, aiming at creating a sustainable competitive advantage for SMEs exporting terroir food. Full article

Sustainability in the agri-food sector has become a cornerstone of global efforts to combat climate change, ensure food security through climate-smart agriculture, and strengthen economic resilience. Sustainability reporting within agri-food systems has gained increasing regulatory significance with the introduction of mandatory frameworks such as the Turkish Sustainability Reporting Standards (TSRSs). This article searches for the sustainability reports of agri-business firms listed in BIST in Turkey. Although TSRS reporting is not yet mandatory for the agribusiness sector, this study examines the first TSRS-aligned sustainability reports published by eight agri-food companies, excluding the retail sector. The analysis assesses how effectively these reports address sector-specific environmental and social challenges defined in the GRI 13 Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fishing Sector Standard and their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a structured content analysis approach, disclosure patterns were examined at both thematic and company levels. The findings indicate that TSRS-aligned reports place strong emphasis on environmental and climate-related disclosures, particularly emissions, climate adaptation and resilience, water management, and waste. In contrast, agro-ecological and land-based impacts—such as soil health, pesticide use, and ecosystem conversion—are weakly addressed. Economic disclosures are predominantly framed around climate-related financial risks and supply chain traceability, while social reporting focuses mainly on occupational health and safety, employment practices, and food safety, with limited attention to labor and equity issues across the broader value chain. Company-level results reveal marked heterogeneity, with internationally active firms demonstrating deeper alignment with GRI 13 requirements. From an SDG alignment perspective, high levels of coverage are observed across all companies for SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). By contrast, SDGs critical to agro-ecological integrity and social equity—namely SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 15 (Life on Land)—are weakly represented or entirely absent. Overall, the results suggest that while TSRS-aligned reporting enhances transparency in climate-related domains, it achieves only selective alignment with the SDG agenda. This underscores the need for a stronger integration of sector-specific sustainability priorities into mandatory sustainability reporting frameworks. Full article

Amid the rapid growth of the digital economy and increasing global competition, the role of digital–intelligent technologies in enabling corporate internationalization has gained significant attention. From the perspective of “digital–intelligent synergy,” this study constructs a mediated moderation model to explore the impact mechanism of digital–intelligent synergy on corporate internationalization. The findings indicate that data assets, artificial intelligence, and digital–intelligent coupling coordination significantly enhance overseas revenue. Green technology innovation mediates this relationship, while investor stability exerts an asymmetrical moderating effect. This strengthens both the direct effect of digital–intelligent synergy on internationalization and its impact on green innovation, though not the path from green innovation to international performance. Further analysis indicates that self-use data assets significantly promote firm internationalization, while transactional data assets do not. Both AI technology and applications markedly enhance overseas expansion. For digital–intelligent coupling coordination, the level of coordination—not merely coupling intensity—positively affects internationalization level. By integrating green innovation and investor behavior perspectives, this study reveals the complex mechanisms through which digital–intelligent synergy empowers internationalization, offering theoretical and policy insights for corporate global expansion in the digital–green transition era. Full article

This study analyzes the relationship between family control and the internationalization of family firms in Mexico. Grounded in the resource-based view and socioemotional wealth theory, it addresses the theoretical problem of how familiness and governance mechanisms influence strategic decisions in emerging markets. Based on 326 observations of family businesses (51) listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) from 2009 to 2016, and using a probit regression model, five hypotheses are tested regarding the effects of family directors, board independence, CEO duality, tenure, and ownership concentration on internationalization. The results show that board independence and chair tenure foster internationalization, while ownership concentration and family directors discourage it. The findings contribute to understanding the need for governance reforms that promote more independence and leadership stability to foment internationalization strategies among family businesses in emerging markets. Full article

ISO 22000:2018 is an internationally recognized Food Safety Management System (FSMS) standard applicable to all food supply chain operators, regardless of size or complexity. This study examines the organizational, financial, and strategic effects of ISO 22000 certification on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Greece. In addition to exploring theoretical benefits and implementation challenges, the study employs empirical analysis of financial indicators across certified and non-certified firms. The results of this study confirmed that ISO 22000 certification enhances capital efficiency, profitability, and external market competitiveness. Full article

The digital transformation of multinational enterprises (MNEs) in emerging economies has gained increasing interest in academic circles and business communities. However, how and when digital transformation affects green innovation in MNEs remains unknown. Using the theory of organizational learning, this study explores the relationship between digital transformation and the green innovation performance of MNEs, reveals the underlying theoretical mechanisms (i.e., absorptive capacity), and identifies the moderating role of the degree of internationalization and state ownership. Data from Chinese listed MNEs from 2010 to 2019 were used to examine mediating and moderating effects, and robustness tests were performed. The results show that (1) digital transformation can enhance green innovation in MNEs by improving their absorptive capacity; (2) a high degree of internationalization can strengthen the positive relationship between digital transformation and absorptive capacity; and (3) the positive effect of digital transformation on absorptive capacity is stronger in state-owned MNEs than in private MNEs. This study provides a comprehensive theoretical framework for understanding how and when digital transformation affects green innovation in MNEs. The results provide insights into digital transformation and can inform policies regarding green innovation performance and sustainable development in firms. Full article

Corporate greenwashing has emerged as a pervasive and systemic threat to global sustainability efforts, undermining regulatory effectiveness and obstructing progress toward multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As environmental opportunism increasingly diffuses across interconnected industrial supply networks, it evolves from isolated corporate misconduct into a chain-level governance challenge with significant systemic risks. Traditional governance mechanisms—whether market-based self-regulation or top-down administrative control—have proven insufficient, while the effectiveness of hybrid approaches integrating administrative coordination with market dynamics remains largely unexplored. This study investigates China’s Chain Leader Policy, a novel hybrid governance model that combines formal administrative authority with market coordination mechanisms to systematically address environmental opportunism across industrial supply networks, and its impact on mitigating greenwashing. Employing a multi-period difference-in-differences design on 12,334 firm-year observations of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2023, we find that the policy reduces corporate greenwashing by 10.8% through four pathways: stabilizing supply–demand relationships, reducing coordination costs, fostering green collaborative innovation, and enhancing external scrutiny via social networks. Coercive isomorphism strengthens these effects, while mimetic isomorphism weakens them; impacts are more pronounced in state-owned enterprises, firms with stronger green awareness and higher levels of internationalization, and in more concentrated industries. By operationalizing embedded autonomy theory in an environmental governance context, this research extends theoretical understanding of hybrid governance mechanisms, offers robust empirical evidence for designing policies to curb greenwashing, and provides a replicable framework for achieving corporate environmental sustainability worldwide. Full article

This paper examines the internationalization dynamics of the Turkish HVAC industry in Germany through a qualitative design based on 24 semi-structured interviews with senior executives. The analysis demonstrates that conformity with EU and German standards, product quality, and continuous innovation are decisive drivers of international expansion. At the same time, economic volatility and regulatory complexity constitute major constraints. Organizational capabilities—particularly internationally experienced managers, R&D capacity, and strategic partnerships—are shown to enhance firms’ competitiveness. Furthermore, diaspora networks provide relational capital that facilitates trust and market embeddedness. The study contributes to international business literature by identifying critical success factors for Turkish HVAC firms in a highly competitive European context. Full article

To address water sustainability challenges, this study investigates how public water concern influences corporate water responsibility (CWR) and how managerial green cognition moderates this relationship. Drawing on institutional theory and cognitive theory, we analyze a panel of 1292 publicly listed high-water-consuming firms in China from 2015 to 2024. The results show that public water concern significantly improves CWR by increasing legitimacy pressure, while its effect through government water governance attention is not statistically significant. Furthermore, managerial green cognition—including both economic and moral dimensions—positively moderates this relationship. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the moderating effect is stronger in firms with more female directors, older executives, and internationally experienced teams. These findings contribute to refining institutional theory in the context of environmental responsibility and highlight the critical role of executive cognition and demographic structure in corporate sustainability behavior. Full article