Decoding Green Innovation Through Multitier Carbon‐Adjusted Supply Chain Complexity
基于适应性理论，研究碳意识元素融入供应商-企业网络如何影响焦点企业的绿色创新绩效，发现复杂供应链网络中的企业绿色创新水平更高，且战略导向和运营灵活性可增强这一效应。
ABSTRACT This study examines whether incorporating carbon‐conscious elements into supplier–firm networks influences the green innovation performance of focal firms, grounded in adaptive theory. We construct a measure of supplier‐to‐firm supply chain complexity that captures horizontal, vertical, and geographic dimensions, explicitly integrating carbon emission considerations. Empirical results indicate that firms situated within more complex supply networks tend to exhibit higher levels of green innovation, and these relationships remain consistent after addressing potential endogeneity. Additional analyses suggest that a firm's strategic orientation and operational flexibility can enhance the positive effect of supply chain complexity, although the magnitude of this moderating role differs across the distinct dimensions. The evidence implies that managerial commitment to R&D and organizational adaptability can help convert the challenges posed by carbon‐intensive, complex supply chains into avenues for environmentally focused innovation and competitive positioning. By introducing a carbon‐adjusted, multidimensional perspective on supply chain complexity, this study offers a framework for understanding how structural and spatial characteristics of supply chains contribute to eco‐innovation outcomes.