Exploring the interplay of intellectual capital, environmental compliance, innovation and social media usage in enhancing business performance in Vietnamese manufacturers

Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study is to examine the relationships among intellectual capital (IC), environmental compliance, corporate innovation and social media usage with respect to their influence on overall business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical model and related hypotheses are offered, all of which are grounded in both the resource-based view and social network theory. The data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire, and 330 responses from manufacturing firms in Vietnam were deemed appropriate for data analysis using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

IC and social media usage have significantly positive effects on corporate innovation and business performance. Moreover, corporate innovation substantially enhances business performance. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that corporate innovation plays a partly mediating role in the research model. Meanwhile, IC fully mediates the relationship between environmental compliance and business performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers valuable insights into intellectual capital, innovation, environmental compliance and social media usage for governments, practitioners and academics. Managers can incorporate social media usage strategies into their operational practices, enhancing environmental compliance, fostering innovation and ultimately promoting company success. Furthermore, the findings lead to practical recommendations for manufacturers seeking to adopt the CE model as part of taking a green production approach.

Originality/value

Organizational researchers have an ongoing interest in examining the connections among IC, innovation, environmental compliance and social media usage. Nevertheless, few papers have empirically investigated the interconnections among these constructs and their impact on organizational performance. This study examines these connections and provides concrete evidence for them.

Citation

Truong, B.T.T., Nguyen, P.V., Vrontis, D. and Inuwa, I. (2024), "Exploring the interplay of intellectual capital, environmental compliance, innovation and social media usage in enhancing business performance in Vietnamese manufacturers", Journal of Intellectual Capital, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIC-10-2023-0233