Does training provision matter? Unravelling the impact of digital transformation on environmental sustainability

Abstract

Purpose Many firms are now pursuing large-scale change initiatives to accelerate their digital transformation (DT) and sustainable development. However, the success rate of DT projects is still low, and the extent to which DT enables firms to improve environmental sustainability (ES) remains unclear. Recently, researchers have argued that DT is more about people transformation rather than technology. Based on the contingent resource-based view, this study investigates how DT influences ES and examines the moderating role of training provision (TP). Design/methodology/approach Survey data gathered from manufacturers in China were analysed to test the proposed theoretical framework. Findings The results indicate that DT has a positive impact on ES, and that this effect is positively moderated by TP. Practical implications The empirical findings provide insights for managers to understand the success of digital sustainability transformation requires necessary digital knowledge and skills derived from TP. Originality/value This study provides an initial examination of digital sustainability, which is a new stream of literature for the digital age, and further extends existing knowledge by demonstrating the importance of people (i.e. TP) in strengthening the effectiveness of DT on ES.