Smart technologies and corporate sustainability: The mediation effect of corporate sustainability strategy

• Published in: Computers in industry Vol. 108; pp. 178 - 185
• Main Authors: Saunila, Minna, Nasiri, Mina, Ukko, Juhani, Rantala, Tero
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2019
• Subjects: Corporate sustainability; Corporate sustainability strategy; Economic sustainability; Environmental sustainability; Smart technologies; Social sustainability; Social sustainability; Corporate sustainability strategy; Corporate sustainability; Environmental sustainability; Smart technologies; Economic sustainability
• ISSN: 0166-3615; 1872-6194
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compind.2019.03.003

[Display omitted] •We explore the relation between smart technologies and corporate sustainability.•Smart technologies influence on economic sustainability.•Smart technologies affect environmental sustainability via sustainability strategy.•Smart technologies affect social sustainability via sustainability strategy.•Sustainability strategy enables the smart technologies - corporate sustainability –link. The focus of this paper is on the relation between smart technologies and corporate sustainability. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the mediating role of corporate sustainability strategy between smart technologies and corporate sustainability. By building on a survey of 280 SMEs, the results show that corporate sustainability strategy fully mediates the relation between smart technologies and environmental sustainability, and smart technologies and social sustainability. Moreover, smart technologies have a direct significant influence on economic sustainability, but the relationship is also partly mediated by corporate sustainability strategy. Smart technologies do not have a direct influence on environmental or social sustainability.