The influence mechanism of firm green technology cooperation: a supply chain perspective with evidence from chinese cases

Abstract

To address growing environmental challenges, focal firms are increasingly pursuing green technology cooperation within their supply chains. However, limited research has yet proposed a theoretical framework for green technology cooperation among firms from the perspective of supply chain. This study employs a multiple-case study of four Chinese focal firms to construct a theoretical framework explaining the mechanism of green technology cooperation. By integrating Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) theory and institutional theory, this framework identifies the influencing factors about focal firms’ willingness to cooperate in green technology from three dimensions, i.e., macro environment, supply chain environment and organisational preparation. It further explains how this willingness translates into performance improvement through three pathways: goal matching, collaborative innovation, and risk sharing. This framework deconstructs the complexity of focal firms’ green technology cooperation behaviour, reveals the black box of the transformation from cooperation willingness to performance, and offers insights for enhancing green technology application across supply chains.