A Study on Influence of Select Variables on Mediation of Green Information Technology Capital in Mining Industry

Abstract

Aims: The primary objective of the paper is to investigate the influence of Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (ECSR), Organizational Culture (OC), and Top Management's Commitment (TMC) on Environmental Performance (EP) in the mining industry. The study specifically examines how Green Information Technology Capital (GITC) mediates the relationships between these variables. The research aims to provide insights into how mining companies can effectively integrate sustainability strategies into their operations to reduce negative environmental impacts. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the mining industry sector over a period of six months. Methodology: The study employed a quantitative research method using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with data collected from a sample of mining industry companies over a period of six months. The research design is quantitative, aiming to test known hypotheses regarding the relationships between ECSR, OC, TMC, GITC, and EP. The analysis was conducted using Smart PLS software, which is a popular tool for SEM in the context of partial least squares (PLS) path modeling. The study contributes to the understanding of how ECSR, OC, and TMC interact with GITC to influence EP in the mining industry, providing insights for sustainable business practices and environmental sustainability strategies. Results: The analysis revealed that ECSR has a positive but insignificant influence on EP (P > 0.05), while it significantly negatively influences GITC (P < 0.05). GITC, in turn, shows a significant positive influence on EP (P < 0.05), underscoring the importance of green information technology in improving environmental performance. Organizational Culture (OC) did not have a significant direct impact on EP (P > 0.05) but had a significant positive influence on GITC (P < 0.05), which then positively impacted EP. Top Management's Commitment (TMC) did not have a significant direct effect on EP (P > 0.05) and had a significant negative influence on GITC (P < 0.05). The mediating role of GITC was significant for the effects of ECSR and OC on EP, but not for TMC. Conclusion: The study highlights the critical role of Green Information Technology Capital (GITC) as a mediator in enhancing environmental performance within the mining industry. While Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility (ECSR) and Organizational Culture (OC) contribute positively to environmental performance through GITC, Top Management's Commitment (TMC) requires further exploration due to its complex interaction with GITC. These findings emphasize the necessity for companies to invest in green technology to achieve better environmental outcomes.