Open Innovation Ecosystems and Competitive Advantage in Green Technologies: A Systematic Review
Keywords:
Sustainable innovation, Firm resilience, Absorptive capacity, Learning orientation, Knowledge managementAbstract
Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between sustainable innovation capabilities and firm resilience. It aims to identify the key drivers, underlying mechanisms, and barriers that influence how sustainable innovation contributes to organizational adaptability and long-term success in volatile environments.
Methodology/approach: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using the Scopus database, targeting peer-reviewed publications from 2019 to 2024 across the fields of business, management, economics, and social sciences. Following PRISMA guidelines, 60 high-quality articles were selected and analyzed through thematic synthesis to extract key conceptual and empirical insights.
Findings: The study reveals that sustainable innovation is driven by external pressures, including stakeholder expectations, customer demand, and regulatory frameworks. Learning orientation, absorptive capacity, and knowledge management emerged as key mechanisms linking innovation capabilities to resilience. Institutionalizing sustainability into firm strategy and culture enhances resilience outcomes. However, internal misalignment, limited resources, and cultural resistance remain significant barriers to progress.
Practical implications: Firms can strengthen resilience by embedding sustainability into their core strategic, operational, and cultural frameworks. Leadership commitment, strategic alignment, and targeted investments in capability building are essential for overcoming internal obstacles and realizing the full potential of sustainable innovation.
Originality/value: This study offers an integrative review of how sustainable innovation capabilities foster firm resilience. It contributes theoretically by bridging insights from the Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Stakeholder Theory, and provides actionable guidance for firms seeking competitive and adaptive advantage in the face of global challenges.
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