Decoding multi-paths: Context, configuration and capability resonance of ESG performance in SRDI enterprises - configuration analysis based on fsQCA and NCA

IF 4.9 2区社会学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Sustainable Futures Pub Date : 2025-06-13 DOI:10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100817

Yang Zitao , Zhang Zixiao , Hu Huaxia

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Strengthening ESG (Environmental, social, and governance) performance is vital for high-quality green development of Chinese enterprises, especially for a large number of SRDI (Specialization, Refinement, Distinctiveness, and Innovation) enterprises. On this basis, this study develops a “context-configuration-capability” framework, drawing on optimal distinctiveness and existence/non-existence philosophy, combining NCA and fsQCA methods, and uses 87 SRDI listed companies to explore multi-state paths for enhancing corporate ESG performance.. The study finds that: (1) The ESG performance of SRDI enterprises is not driven by a single factor but is the result of the resonance and synergy among context, configuration, and capability conditions; (2) Three paths—strengthening cognition, capital raising, and technological improvement—along with government-driven transformation, can significantly enhance ESG performance in SRDI enterprises; (3) there are complementary and substitutive dynamic relationships between different conditional configurations, further enhancing the diversity and flexibility of the paths; and (4) compared to contextual conditions, configurational conditions and capability conditions produce key resonance effects in improving ESG performance. This study not only enriches the theoretical foundation of the “context-configuration-capability” framework, but also provides practical guidance on multipath resonance for SRDI enterprises in their pursuit of ESG excellence.

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解码多路径：SRDI企业ESG绩效的情境、配置与能力共振——基于fsQCA和NCA的配置分析

加强ESG（环境、社会和治理）绩效对于中国企业，特别是大量的SRDI（专业化、精细化、独特性和创新）企业的高质量绿色发展至关重要。在此基础上，本研究借鉴最优独特性和存在/不存在哲学，结合NCA和fsQCA方法，构建了“情境-配置-能力”框架，并以87家SRDI上市公司为样本，探索提升企业ESG绩效的多状态路径。研究发现：(1)SRDI企业ESG绩效不是由单一因素驱动的，而是环境、配置和能力条件之间共振协同的结果；(2)强化认知、融资和技术改进三条路径，加上政府驱动转型，可以显著提升自主研发企业的ESG绩效；(3)不同条件配置之间存在互补替代的动态关系，进一步增强了路径的多样性和灵活性；(4)与情境条件相比，配置条件和能力条件在提高ESG绩效方面产生了关键的共振效应。本研究不仅丰富了“情境-配置-能力”框架的理论基础，也为SRDI企业追求ESG卓越提供了多路径共振的实践指导。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Sustainable Futures Social Sciences-Sociology and Political Science

CiteScore

9.30

自引率

1.80%

发文量

审稿时长

71 days

期刊介绍： Sustainable Futures: is a journal focused on the intersection of sustainability, environment and technology from various disciplines in social sciences, and their larger implications for corporation, government, education institutions, regions and society both at present and in the future. It provides an advanced platform for studies related to sustainability and sustainable development in society, economics, environment, and culture. The scope of the journal is broad and encourages interdisciplinary research, as well as welcoming theoretical and practical research from all methodological approaches.