Fostering sustainable logistics businesses: the role of innovation ecosystems and institutional contexts for logistics firms in China
Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics
ISSN: 1355-5855
Article publication date: 17 January 2022
Issue publication date: 4 January 2023
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on institution embeddedness and the resource-based view, the authors develop a theoretical framework and empirically examine how intra-national innovation ecosystems and environmental institutions impact logistics service providers' (LSPs) technological innovation (TI) and green practices.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors test the theoretical framework based on survey data of 328 Chinese LSPs. Archival datasets complement the survey data.
Findings
The research reveals that intra-national institutional forces of formal and informal environment-related institutions can mitigate LSPs' reliance on their firm-specific advantages when engaging in TI and green practices. Results from a three-way interaction indicate that intra-national innovation ecosystems positively moderate the effects of environmental institutions.
Research limitations/implications
The research has three critical implications. First, the study reveals the contingency role of intra-national environment-related institutions and innovation ecosystems in shaping green logistics. Second, the study finds new results about the roles of informal environmental institutions. Finally, intra-national innovation ecosystems can override environmental institutions in influencing the green practices of LSPs.
Originality/value
Taking a unique angle of institution embeddedness coupled with the resource-based view, the authors examined how intra-national ecosystems and environmental institutions impact LSPs' TI and green practices.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge using the data based on the Chinese Private Enterprises Survey, which was conducted by the Privately Owned Enterprises Research Project Team (member organizations include the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, State Administration for Market Regulation, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Society of Private Economy and the United Front Work Department of CCP). Research Center for Private Enterprises at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (RCPE-CASS) is the authorized organization that manages and issues the survey data. The authors appreciate the data support from the above organizations.
Citation
Liu, Y., Chung, H.F.L. and Mi, L. (2023), "Fostering sustainable logistics businesses: the role of innovation ecosystems and institutional contexts for logistics firms in China", Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 35-53. https://doi.org/10.1108/APJML-06-2021-0412
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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