Causal Model of Green Intellectual Capital and Green Innovation on Firm Performance of SMEs in the Manufacturing Sector Thailand
Keywords:
Firm Performance, Green Innovation, Green Intellectual Capital, Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises, SustainabilityAbstract
This study aims to examine a causal model linking green intellectual capital and green innovation to the firm performance of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). The theoretical foundation is based on the Resource-Based View (RBV), which posits that valuable and inimitable resources contribute to sustainable competitive advantage. Data was collected from 384 executives of manufacturing SMEs in Kalasin Province. The findings reveal that green intellectual capital exerts a significant positive effect on green innovation, indicating that environmental knowledge, skills, and organizational structures play an essential role in driving innovative environmental practices. Green innovation also demonstrates a positive influence on firm performance, reflecting its contribution to enhancing production efficiency, reducing costs, and improving market competitiveness. Furthermore, green intellectual capital has a direct and significant impact on performance, confirming the importance of developing green human capital and supportive environmental management systems. The results additionally show that green innovation acts as a key mediating mechanism between green intellectual capital and firm performance, suggesting that organizations fully benefit from their green intellectual resources when they are transformed into tangible innovations. Overall, the study highlights the importance of simultaneously strengthening green intellectual capital and promoting green innovation as strategic pathways to enhance competitive capability and support long-term sustainability for manufacturing SMEs.
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