HOW DIGITAL ORIENTATION TRANSLATES INTO ESG OUTCOMES: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE

Authors

  • JINKUI LI School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
  • SITI RAHYLA RAHMAT School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia.
  • YI HUANG Department of Business Administration, Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Haking Wong), Hong Kong, China.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i4.1293

Keywords:

digital orientation, digital transformation, supply chain resilience, ESG performance

Abstract

Amid escalating pressures for both digital transformation and sustainable value creation, an important yet insufficiently resolved question is how firms convert a digital strategic posture into meaningful environmental, social, and governance (ESG) outcomes. Existing research has largely emphasized direct associations between digitalization and sustainability performance, while offering limited insight into the organizational capabilities through which digital strategy translates into effective ESG outcomes. Addressing this theoretical and empirical gap, the present study draws upon the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities perspective to investigate whether supply chain resilience (SCRE) serves as a key capability mechanism connecting digital orientation and ESG performance. Digital orientation enables firms to improve information processing, strengthen inter-organizational coordination, and enhance adaptability under uncertain environments, thereby contributing to more resilient supply chain structures. Using survey data collected from 500 firms and employing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), this study examines the structural relationships among digital orientation, supply chain resilience, and ESG performance. The findings reveal that digital orientation exerts a significant positive effect on supply chain resilience, while supply chain resilience positively influences ESG performance. Moreover, supply chain resilience fully mediates the relationship between digital orientation and ESG, supporting an indirect-only mediation pattern. The study contributes by providing a more nuanced capability-based explanation of how firms align digital strategic initiatives with sustainable performance outcomes and offers practical implications for managers seeking to enhance ESG performance through resilient supply chain capabilities.

References

[1] Ambrosini, V., Bowman, C. (2009): What are dynamic capabilities and are they a useful construct in strategic management? – International Journal of Management Reviews 11(1): 29-49.

[2] Bag, S., Rahman, M.S., Chiarini, A. (2025): Building sustainable supply chain resilience: Insights from a mixed-method study. – Business Strategy and the Environment 34(2): 2103-2127.

[3] Barba-Sánchez, V., Meseguer-Martínez, Á., Gouveia-Rodrigues, R., Raposo, M.L. (2024): Effects of digital transformation on firm performance: The role of IT capabilities and digital orientation. – Heliyon 10(6): 12p.

[4] Barney, J.B. (1991): Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. – Journal of Management 17(1): 99-120.

[5] Brahmana, R.K., Kontesa, M. (2024): Does digital orientation enhance firm performance? – Vision: The Journal of Business Perspective 10p.

[6] Cepeda-Cardona, J., Arias-Pérez, J. (2025): Bridging digital orientation and firm performance through employee-driven digital innovation: Is technostress a red flag or a red herring? – International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management 74(9): 3009-3031.

[7] Chowdhury, M.M.H., Quaddus, M. (2017): Supply chain resilience: Conceptualization and scale development using dynamic capability theory. – International Journal of Production Economics 188: 185-204.

[8] Christopher, M., Peck, H. (2004): Building the resilient supply chain. – The International Journal of Logistics Management 15(2): 14p.

[9] Hair, J.F., Howard, M.C., Nitzl, C. (2020): Assessing measurement model quality in PLS-SEM using confirmatory composite analysis. – Journal of Business Research 109: 101-110.

[10] Kindermann, B., Schmidt, C.V.H., Fengel, F., Strese, S. (2024): Expanding the boundaries of digital orientation research: Scale development and validation. – Journal of Business Research 185: 14p.

[11] Kraus, S., Durst, S., Ferreira, J.J., Veiga, P., Kailer, N., Weinmann, A. (2022): Digital transformation in business and management research: An overview of the current status quo. – International Journal of Information Management 63: 18p.

[12] Li, K., Bashiri, M., Lim, M.K., Akpobi, T. (2025): How to improve supply chain sustainable performance by resilience practices through dynamic capability view: Evidence from Chinese construction. – Resources, Conservation and Recycling 212: 14p.

[13] Lin, Y., Li, S. (2025): Supply chain resilience, ESG performance, and corporate growth. – International Review of Economics & Finance 97: 13p.

[14] Liu, J., Song, R., Fu, Y. (2025): Digital finance empowering corporate ESG performance: The dual-engine role of digital transformation and green technological innovation. – Sustainability 17(23): 23p.

[15] Oh, H.J., Lee, B., Ma, H.H., Jang, D., Park, S. (2024): A preliminary study for developing perceived ESG scale to measure public perception toward organizations' ESG performance. – Public Relations Review 50(1): 10p.

[16] Pettit, T.J., Fiksel, J., Croxton, K.L. (2010): Ensuring supply chain resilience: Development of a conceptual framework. – Journal of Business Logistics 31(1): 1-21.

[17] Ponomarov, S.Y., Holcomb, M.C. (2009): Understanding the concept of supply chain resilience. – The International Journal of Logistics Management 20(1): 124-143.

[18] Sarstedt, M., Hair, J.F., Cheah, J.H., Becker, J.M., Ringle, C.M. (2019): How to specify, estimate, and validate higher-order constructs in PLS-SEM. – Australasian Marketing Journal 27(3): 197-211.

[19] Truant, E., Broccardo, L., Dana, L.P., Cappa, F. (2024): Environmental, social and governance issues in supply chain management: A systematic literature review. – Journal of Cleaner Production 434: 17p.

[20] Tukamuhabwa, B.R., Stevenson, M., Busby, J., Zorzini, M. (2015): Supply chain resilience: Definition, review and theoretical foundations for further study. – International Journal of Production Research 53(18): 5592-5623.

[21] Verhoef Gillan, S.L., Koch, A., Starks, L.T. (2021): Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance. – Journal of Corporate Finance 66: 24p.

[22] Warner, K.S.R., Wäger, M. (2019): Building dynamic capabilities for digital transformation: An ongoing process of strategic renewal. – Long Range Planning 52(3): 326-349.

[23] Xie, X., Zhu, H., Zhao, J. (2024): How effective is digital transformation? Heterogeneous insights from listed companies' ESG performance. – Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 11: 14p.

[24] Xu, J., Yin, J. (2025): Digital transformation and ESG performance: The chain mediating role of technological innovation and financing constraints. – Finance Research Letters 71: 10p.

[25] Yuan, Y., Dai, H., Ma, J. (2025): The impact of corporate ESG performance on supply chain resilience: A mediation analysis based on new quality productive forces. – Sustainability 17(10): 22p.

[26] Zhang, M., Huang, Z. (2024): The impact of digital transformation on ESG performance: The role of supply chain resilience. – Sustainability 16(17): 18p.

[27] Zhang, X., Wang, Z., Luo, W., Guo, F., Wang, P. (2025): How digital orientation affects innovation performance? Exploring the role of digital capabilities and environmental dynamism. – Systems 13(5): 19p.

[28] Zhu, Y., Zhang, Z. (2024): Supply chain digitalization and corporate ESG performance: Evidence from supply chain innovation and application pilot policy. – Finance Research Letters 67: 9p.

Downloads

Published

2026-08-31

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

HOW DIGITAL ORIENTATION TRANSLATES INTO ESG OUTCOMES: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE. (2026). Quantum Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 7(4), 141-154. https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7i4.1293