Publication Type

PhD Dissertation

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

12-2025

Abstract

At present, green innovation has become a key path for enterprises to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. However, existing research pays limited attention to how internal governance factors—especially top management team (TMT) heterogeneity—affect green innovation. Based on Upper Echelons Theory, managerial cognition theory, and institutional theory, this paper constructs a framework of “TMT heterogeneity–green strategic orientation–green innovation,” and explores the impact of different types of heterogeneity and the moderating role of regional innovation environments. Heterogeneity is categorized into conflict-type (gender, age, financial background) and complementary-type (educational, professional, overseas background) to better explain its mechanisms.

Using a sample of Chinese A-share listed firms, the study empirically examines six dimensions of TMT heterogeneity through high-dimensional fixed effects models and robustness tests. The results show: (1) Conflict-type heterogeneity inhibits green innovation, while complementary-type promotes it, validating the “dual effect” of conflict and complementarity. (2) Gender and financial background heterogeneity suppress green innovation by weakening green strategic orientation; occupational background heterogeneity promotes it via enhanced green orientation, while educational and overseas background heterogeneity do not show mediating effects. (3) The regional innovation environment strengthens the positive role of complementary-type heterogeneity and the negative effect of conflict-type, and also enhances the impact of green strategic orientation. (4) Industry type, pollution level, and ownership significantly affect the direction and intensity of these impacts, with more pronounced gender heterogeneity effects in high-tech sectors and stronger age heterogeneity effects in non-high-tech firms. Female executive ratio and listing years also shape heterogeneity outcomes.

This study contributes by refining the classification of TMT heterogeneity, introducing green strategic orientation as a key mediator, and considering contextual factors. It extends Upper Echelons Theory in the green innovation field and offers practical guidance for firms to optimize TMT diversity and enhance green innovation capacity.

Keywords

Top Management Team Heterogeneity, Green Innovation, Regional Innovation Environment, Green Strategic Orientation

Degree Awarded

Doctor of Bus Admin (CKGSB)

Discipline

Business Administration, Management, and Operations

Supervisor(s)

ZHANG, Man

First Page

1

Last Page

213

Publisher

SingaporeManagementUniversity

City or Country

Singapore

Copyright Owner and License

Author

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