Digital transformation and disruptive green innovation: the role of organisational unlearning and organisational flexibility

Drawing upon knowledge management theory and dynamic capability theory, this study introduces two mediating variables, namely organisational unlearning and organisational flexibility, to unveil the underlying mechanism of how digital transformation empowers disruptive green innovation in enterprises and to enhance the theoretical comprehension of the implementation path of disruptive green innovation in enterprises. Quantitative data were gathered from 186 enterprises in China. Regression analysis was employed to test hypotheses. The results show that digital transformation exerts a positive impact on disruptive green innovation in enterprises. Organisational unlearning and organisational flexibility partially mediate the impact of digital transformation on disruptive green innovation. Moreover, organisational unlearning and organisational flexibility play a chain mediating role between digital transformation and disruptive green innovation. This study facilitates the deep integration of digital transformation and disruptive green innovation, providing theoretical and practical guidance for enterprises to more effectively implement and manage disruptive green innovation in the digital economy context.