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Article

Influences of Green Human Resources Management on Environmental Performance in Small Lodging Enterprises: The Role of Green Innovation

by
Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih
1,2,*,
Ahmed Hasanein
2 and
Ibrahim Elshaer
1,3
1
Management Department, College of Business Administration, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa 31982, Saudi Arabia
2
Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Helwan University, Cairo 12612, Egypt
3
Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2020, 12(24), 10371; https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410371
Submission received: 12 November 2020 / Revised: 1 December 2020 / Accepted: 8 December 2020 / Published: 11 December 2020

Abstract

:
Small lodging enterprises encompass a major proportion of the lodging industry worldwide. Nonetheless, limited research has addressed the HRM-innovation-performance link on these enterprises. This research draws on ability, motivation, opportunity (AMO) theory and resource-based view (RBV) theory to examine the influences of green human resources management (GHRM) practices by owner-managers of small lodging enterprises on their enterprises’ green innovation and environmental performance. More specifically, the research examines the direct influence of GHRM on the environmental performance of small lodging enterprises and the indirect influence through green innovation. A self-administered questionnaire was given to owner-managers of small lodging enterprises in Greater Cairo, Egypt. The results of structural equation modeling (SEM) showed direct, positive and significant influences of owner-managers’ green ability, motivation and opportunity on both enterprise green innovation and environmental performance. The ability of owner-managers was the most influential GHRM practices on both green innovation and environmental performance. Moreover, the results showed that the influence of GHRM on environmental performance was doubled with green innovation, reflecting the value and vital role of green innovation in small lodging enterprises’ environmental performance. Several policy-level, theoretical and practical implications are identified and discussed.

1. Introduction

The environmental performance of organizations has gained growing attention from scholars and practitioners over the past few decades. Governments’ emphasis on environmental performance as a part of their policies to sustain the natural resources or surrounding environment and achieve the United Nations sustainable development goals (UNSDGs). Environmental performance plays a vital role in persevering the natural environment from the negative impacts (e.g., pollution, environmental releases, wastes) and sustaining enterprises’ overall performance [1,2]. However, a recent study [2] showed that research often concentrates on the environmental performance of large businesses with limited studies on small enterprises. Additionally, in the hospitality and tourism context, studies often focus on the environmental practices management from two sides: either customer perspective [3] or employees’ awareness about environmental practices [4]. However, “there is a lack of empirical studies that link human resources management (HRM) to environmental performance” in the hospitality context, e.g., lodging enterprises [1], p. 83, which is especially true for small lodging enterprises.
There is a lack of empirical evidence on the relationship between green human resources management (GHRM), green innovation and overall environmental performance of small lodging enterprises. GHRM includes practices intended at the green and ecological effect of the organization and is often related to an enterprise’s environmental strategy [5]. It incorporates the environmental management objectives of the organization into the HR functions (e.g., employee selection and hiring, orientation and development, remuneration and empowerment) [6]. Green innovation can broadly be defined as the development of eco-friendly products, services and procedures by adopting organizational practices. This includes using greener and fewer raw materials through the product design process, using eco-design ideas and aiming to reduce pollution, reduce water, electricity and other raw materials consumption [7,8]. Environmental performance relates to the green outcomes of enterprises from green initiatives to eliminate the negative environmental impacts [1,2].
Studies on HRM and enterprises’ innovation in general (see, for example, [2,9,10]) suggested that HRM positively and significantly influences product and/or service innovation. Furthermore, enterprises that apply green innovation are more likely to exhibit positive performance [11], and this significantly reduces negative environmental impact and enhances enterprise environmental performance [7,12]. Nonetheless, there is a lack of empirical evidence to support these arguments, especially in relation to small lodging enterprises.
This research examines the direct influence of GHRM on the environmental performance of small lodging enterprises, i.e., small hotels, and the indirect influence through green innovation. Small lodging enterprises encompass the greatest proportion of the lodging industry worldwide [13], which is also the case in Egypt [14]. Nonetheless, to the best of researchers’ knowledge, there is no published research addressing these issues on small lodging enterprises. This research gives a better understanding of the interrelationship between GHRM, green innovation and their environmental performance of small lodging enterprises. The research builds on ability, opportunity and motivation (AMO) theory [15] for the proper understanding of GHRM influences on green innovation and ultimately on environmental performance. The research also draws on the resource-based view (RBV) theory [16] to examine the role of owner-manager as a critical resource for achieving green innovation and environmental performance. More specifically, the research examines the direct impact of owner-managers’ green ability, motivation and opportunity on their small lodging enterprises’ environmental performance and the indirect impact through green innovation. Like other enterprises, small lodging enterprises have major environmental impacts [17]. This research shows how the environmental performance of small lodging enterprises could be enhanced through GHRM adopted by their owner-managers.
The research adopts AMO theory to predict the link between GHRM practices, enterprise green innovation and environmental performance. Research (e.g., [15,18]) has confirmed that proper HRM practices positively influence both employee and organizational performance. However, research often adopts AMO theory to examine HRM practices regarding employees’ ability, motivation and opportunities to predict their attitudes, behaviors and job performance [19] and influences on enterprise performance [20]. An intensive review of research in the past twenty years relating GHRM practices and their association or influences with green innovation and/or environmental performance (see Appendix A) showed limited studies in the hospitality industry, especially in relation to small lodging enterprises. GHRM was assessed in previous studies using either a unidimensional scale of HRM practices from an employee perspective [1]; or a multidimensional scale, i.e., various items for assessing employee recruitment and selection; training and development, performance management, pay and reward, and involvement [5]. Other research applied the AMO theory to examine GHRM practices from a top management perspective [2]. Recent research [2] showed that to better understand, predict and assess the influences of GHRM on green innovation and enterprise environmental performance, it is crucial to examine the GHRM practices by leadership or enterprise management. This is because the high-performance HRM practices by leadership directly and significantly affect employee ability, opportunity and motivation as well as their performance [19]; hence overall green innovation and environmental performance of enterprises [2]. This research adopts AMO theory to examine to what extent owner-managers’ green ability, motivation and opportunity contribute to enterprise green innovation and environmental performance. The research also draws on RVB theory [16] to examine how owner-managers strategically use their enterprises’ resources to achieve green innovation and environmental performance.

2. Review of Literature

2.1. GHRM and Green Innovation

Organizations with green innovation are wildly successful businesses [7]. Several studies (e.g., [11,12,21]) showed that organizations with green innovation have a better performance than their competitors, as they influence their green capabilities and resources to identify the needs of customers quickly and effectively and add key benefits and resources to the organization. Studies also have shown that HRM has a significant and positive effect on product/service innovation [10,22]. Research also has shown that strategic HRM positively effects on firm’s product or service innovation [9].
A recent study [2] has examined the impact of GHRM on green innovation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), using the RBV theory [23] and the AMO theory [15]. The results showed that the adoption of GHRM practices, particularly green ability, opportunity and motivation, promoted SMEs’ capability for products, services and procedures innovation. Owner-managers adoption of GHRM practices was found to directly, positively and significantly influence green innovation in their SMEs. The same study stressed the role of leadership as a strategic and key resource in influencing employee green ability, motivation and opportunity; thus, enterprise green innovation. This research draws on both AMO and RVB theories that owner-manager ability, motivation and opportunity are key determinants of green innovation. Thus, the following hypotheses could be proposed in relation to small lodging enterprises:
Hypothesis 1 (H1).
Green ability of owner-manager in small lodging enterprises has a positive effect on green innovation.
Hypothesis 2 (H2).
Green motivation of owner-manager in small lodging enterprises has a positive effect on green innovation.
Hypothesis 3 (H3).
Green opportunity of owner-manager in small lodging enterprises has a positive effect on green innovation.

2.2. GHRM and Environmental Performance

Green enterprises should emphasize the green values and awareness of their employees about the environment to support green performance [5,24]. Standardizing GHRM objectives, obligations, and assessment improve enterprises’ green performance [25]. Several studies, e.g., [5,26,27,28,29,30], addressed the relationship between GHRM and environmental performance. Studies showed that GHRM raises green consciousness [5], green creativity [26,28], green innovation [26,30] as well as green performance [26,27,29,31].
Research has confirmed that GHRM practices improve green performance [3]. Moreover, enterprises implementing official green management systems (i.e., GHRM) indicated a high level of green performance [32]. A recent study [2] on SMEs showed that GHRM (i.e., ability, motivation and opportunity) had a positive but indirect influence on environmental performance. This research also argues that the green ability, motivation and opportunity of owner-managers could have an influence on the environmental performance of their small lodging enterprises. Thus, the following hypotheses could be proposed regarding small lodging enterprises:
Hypothesis 4 (H4).
Green ability of owner-manager in small lodging enterprises has a positive effect on environmental performance.
Hypothesis 5 (H5).
Green motivation of owner-manager in small lodging enterprises has a positive effect on environmental performance.
Hypothesis 6 (H6).
Green opportunity of owner-manager in small lodging enterprises has a positive effect on environmental performance.

2.3. Green Innovation and Environmental Performance

Green innovation is related to the enterprises’ green management agenda, which encourages green performance [33]. Green product/service and processes innovation decreases business’s negative impact and increases the financial and social performance of businesses by reducing costs and waste [34]. Earlier research [35,36,37] revealed that enterprises’ green innovation might be anticipated as proactive practices to increase green performance.
Green performance is concerned with enterprises’ efforts to fulfill and exceed social expectations versus the green nature [38] in a way that goes further simple agreements with values and principles [39]. It includes green impacts of enterprises’ procedures, products, and consumed resources to fulfill the best fit with allowed green desires [40]. Numerous studies [39,40,41,42] suggested that green performance relies on green products, services and process innovation.
Previous research examined the impact of green suppliers and innovation on green performance and competitive advantage from different industries in Taiwan [43]. The major results showed that green innovation, especially product, process and managerial innovation, has a direct positive influence on enterprises’ green performance. Another recent study on SMEs [2] revealed that green innovation has a positive effect on environmental performance. Therefore, the following hypothesis could be proposed regarding small lodging enterprises:
Hypothesis 7 (H7).
Green innovation of small lodging enterprises has a positive effect on environmental performance.

2.4. The Role of Green Innovation in the Relationship between GHRM and Environmental Performance

Previous studies, e.g., [9,10,22,44,45,46], showed that GHRM practices positively influence green innovation. Moreover, green innovation is considered a major tool for the success of their business performance [31,47,48,49] to achieve its green goals. There is evidence that HRM bundles positively affect employee attitude and behavior; thus, overall performance [19]. More specifically, GHRM was found to have a direct and positive effect on environmental performance and an indirect effect through employee commitment and eco-friendly behavior [1]. According to the results of a recent study on SMEs in the manufacturing industry [2], green innovation fully mediates the relationship between GHRM and green performance. It was found that green leadership directly affects GHRM, whereas GHRM affects environmental performance through green innovation. Therefore, the following hypotheses can be proposed:
Hypothesis 8 (H8).
Green innovation of small lodging enterprises mediates the relationship between an owner-manager’s green ability and environmental performance.
Hypothesis 9 (H9).
Green innovation of small lodging enterprises mediates the relationship between an owner-manager’s green motivation and environmental performance.
Hypothesis 10 (H10).
Green innovation of small lodging enterprises mediates the relationship between an owner-manager’s green opportunities and environmental performance.
The research hypotheses are summarized in the research conceptual framework (Figure 1).

3. Methodology

3.1. Research Population and Sample

The population of the current study includes all owner-managers of small lodging enterprises in Egypt. Small lodging enterprises in the current study include all small lodging enterprises that are operated and financed by their owner-managers [13]. The communication with different authorities in Egypt showed that there is no published database about small lodging enterprises; notwithstanding, there is evidence that encompasses the major proportion of the lodging industry in Egypt [14]. A total of 700 questionnaires were self-administrated to the owner-managers of these small lodging enterprises using the drop and collect approach, which improved the response rate greatly [50]. This research sample was compared favorably with similar research on small enterprises, e.g., [2,43]. Participants in this research were identified via a personal network. The research team works in the Colleges of Tourism and Hotel Management in Egypt. Hence, they have a proper network with hospitality enterprises, including small lodging enterprises. The collection process yield 525 valid forms for analysis.

3.2. Measure

All reflective measures with their related items were derived from existing scales in previous studies; a five-point rating scale was employed, where 1 = (strongly disagree) and 5 = (strongly agree). GHRM was measured by three dimensions based on abilities, motivation, opportunities (AMO) theory and derived from [5,51]. Green abilities measure has 6 items (i.e., “Great effort goes in to select right person”; “Considerable importance given to green staffing process” (as shown in Table 1). The green motivation measure has 4 items, and the green opportunities scale has 3 variables (see Table 1). The Cronbach’s alpha for the three GHRM was acceptable and ranged from 0.935 to 0.959 (Table 1). Four variables (a = 0.945) were employed from [31] to operationalize green product innovation (i.e., “My company uses materials that produce least pollution; My company uses materials that are easy to recycle, reuse, and decompose”). Finally, 5 items (a = 0.971) were employed to measure environmental performance adopted from [32,52] (see Table 1).

3.3. Data Analysis

To observe any difference in the mean scores between early and late collected responses, an independent sample t-test was conducted. No statistical differences were detected (p > 0.05), which approves that nonresponse bias is not a problem [53].
To detect expected common method variance (CMV), several suggestions from [54] were followed: (1) all respondents were assured that their data were kept confidential and anonymous. (2), the instrument was constructed where dependent variables come first, then independent variables come second [55]. (3), the instrument was pilot tested with 15 practitioners 15 academic and modified accordingly. (4), Harman’s single-factor analysis was employed, all variables are exposed to EFA (exploratory factor analysis), and the extracted option is fixed to the value of 1 and no rotation method. Consequently, one dimension is emerged to explain 39.5% of the variance. Taken together, the previous steps indicate that CMV is not a problem.
The mean (M) values (as shown in Table 1) are ranged from 3.93 and 4.27, the standard deviation (SD) values are between 0.873 to 1.064, which signals that the study data are dispersed and less concentrated around the mean [56].

4. Results

4.1. The Profile of Respondents

The respondents were mostly males (93.3%) (Table 2). The majority of them were also aged between 46 and 60 years old (47.7%), whereas 32.3% of the participants were aged below 45 years. The majority of them were also university graduates (56.6%) or even higher (19.9%). Most of these small lodging enterprises have employees between 11 and 25 (57.9) or less than 11 employees, 26.4% (Table 2). The vast majority of these employees were temporary employees and hourly paid (70.5%), and only 29.5 were in a full-time job. Most of the participated enterprises were in operation between 10 and 20 years (Table 2).

4.2. Measurement Model

Cronbach’s alpha values were assessed to test the reliability of the instruments’ variables in this paper [57], and its values are acceptable and are ranged from 0.935 to 0.971. The validity of the employed construct was approved by employing first-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with Amos vs. 18 to test the study contract’s’ convergent and discriminant validity (see Figure 2). As revealed in Table 2, the CFA model has good fit χ2 (199, N = 525) = 797.393, p < 0.001, normed χ2 = 4.007, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.041, standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.048; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.960 (see Table 1). As per [58] suggestions, the measure (s) possess convergent validity if the item loading on its symmetrical dimension exceeds 0.7 [59]. Additionally, composite reliability (CR) should be greater than 0.70, and the average variance extracted (AVE) should exceed 0.50. All the dimensions employed in this research paper met the previous conditions [58]. All loadings were between 0.80 and 0.96, which exceeds the preferable threshold of 0.7, with t-values greater than 24.355 (Table 1). The CR values exceed 0.7, and the AVE values for all factors are greater than the suggested 0.50 threshold (Table 3), which ensures the convergent validity as recommended by [58].
To test discriminant validity, previous studies’ suggestions [57,58] were adopted. The AVE square root for every single dimension should exceed the values of the shared correlation of the other dimensions in both row and column [58]. Moreover, the AVE values should be greater than the MSV value (maximum shared value) for each construct [57] (Table 3). As shown in Table 1 and Table 3, the discriminant validity conditions were met and assured.

4.3. Structural Model

SEM with the maximum-likelihood method was employed to test the research hypotheses. SEM is an appropriate data analysis technique in this study as it permits the test of concurrent and simultaneous relationships staking into account the measurement error [60]. Overall, the SEM model shows a good fit to data (χ2 = 950.208, df = 202, p < 0.001; CFI = 0.931; SRMR = 0.048; RMSEA = 0.044) (Table 4). Moreover, the model has acceptable explanatory impacts, as the dependent variables can explain 0.43 of variance in green innovation; and 0.48 of variance in environmental performance.
Table 4 and Figure 3 show the results of testing the direct and indirect hypotheses in the current study. The SEM results give an evidence that approve the direct positive and significant impacts of green abilities on both green innovation (β = 0.45, t-value = 10.712, p < 0.001), and environmental performance (β = 0.28, t-value = 5.573, p < 0.001), accordingly hypotheses H1, and H4 were supported. Likewise, green motivation was found to has positive and significant effects on both green innovation (β = 0.35, t-value = 9.078, p < 0.001), and environmental performance (β = 0.25, t-value = 4.864, p < 0.001), accordingly hypotheses H2, and H5 were supported. Similarly, green opportunities have positive and significant influences on green innovation (β = 0.32, t-value = 8.868, p < 0.001) and environmental performance (β = 0.20, t-value = 4.562, p < 0.001), hence hypotheses H3, and H6 were supported. Finally, the SEM results approves the high positive and significant impact of green innovation on environmental performance (β = 0.55, t-value = 13.907, p < 0.001), which support hypothesis H7.
The mediation effects were assessed as per suggestions from [60,61,62]. Full mediation can only be approved if the indirect effects are significant, but the indirect is not; if both direct and indirect effects are significant, then partial mediation is confirmed [61,62]. Consequently, the SEM results in Table 3 show the significant direct and indirect relationships in this study, which indicates that green innovation can partially act as a meditation dimension in the relationships between GHRM (green abilities, green motivation, and green opportunities) and environmental performance. The earlier outcome is confirmed by investigating the SEM standardized indirect impacts from GHRM to environmental performance. The direct effect of green abilities on environmental performance increased from (β = 0.28, p < 0.001) to a total effect of (β = 0.41, p < 0.001). Similarly, the direct effect of green motivation to environmental performance (β = 0.25, p > p < 0.001) increased to a total effect of (β = 0.37, p < 0.001). Finally, the direct effect of green opportunities on environmental performance (β = 0.20, p < 0.001) increased to a total effect of (β = 0.31, p < 0.001). The previous results further support the partial mediation of green innovation in the relationship between GHRM (abilities, motivation, and opportunities) and environmental performance.

5. Discussion

The current research examined the interrelationship between GHRM, i.e., green ability, motivation and opportunity, and green innovation, as well as the environmental performance of small lodging enterprises in Egypt. The results coincide with previous studies (e.g., [2,10,22]) that GHRM practices, especially green ability, motivation and opportunity, positively influence green innovation and environmental performance [1,2]. The ability of owner-managers was the most influential GHRM practices on both green innovation and environmental performance. This means that owner-managers’ green ability (i.e., their abilities for recruiting and selecting the right staff with environmental values and developing their environmental skills and knowledge) significantly and positively contribute to green innovation and environmental performance than green motivation and opportunity.
The results also showed that the direct influence of GHRM on environmental performance was lower than the indirect influence through green innovation. The influences of GHRM on environmental performance was almost doubled with green innovation. Owner-managers agreed that green innovation in their small lodging enterprises has a significant and positive influence on the relationship between GHRM and environmental performance. This raises the value of green innovation in products/services and/or processes in small lodging enterprises. This finding is in agreement with previous research on SMEs [2] that green innovation plays a significant mediating role between GHRM and environmental management.
The results also advance previous studies in relation to the influence of GHRM practices, especially green ability, motivation and opportunity on environmental performance [2,32,63]. Furthermore, the results support previous studies on the direct, positive and significant influence of green innovation on environmental performance [2,43]). The results, interestingly, supported all hypothesized relationships in relation to small lodging enterprises. The results confirmed the role of owner-managers as a key strategic resource in achieving green innovation and environmental performance through GHRM.
None of the GHRM practices (green abilities, motivation, and opportunities) has insignificant impacts on green innovation and environmental performance, which means that the GHRM should be employed as a multidimensional construct to improve green innovation and environmental performance. The impact power of the GHRM practices (abilities, motivations, and opportunities) on green innovation and environmental performance are not equivalent. The impacts of green abilities on green innovation and environmental performance have more power than the impact of green opportunities and green motivations on green innovation and environmental performance. This result highlights the importance of the management’s ability to select the right person, recruiting only those who possess environmental values, and designing employee’s environmental training on enhancing green innovation and environmental performance (i.e., reduced overall costs and lead–time, improve quality and reputation of the hotels).

6. Implications of the Study

The study has policy-level, theoretical and practical implications. Regarding the policy implications, the results send an important message to governments and policymakers about small lodging enterprises that in order to achieve positive environmental performance, policymakers should work closely with owner-managers of small lodging enterprises to enhance their green ability, motivation and opportunity to positively influence green innovation and ultimately achieve positive environmental impacts. Small lodging enterprises often have limited financial resources and HRM support [13,14]; hence, support programs, e.g., training programs and workshop, should be directed to owner-managers of these small lodging enterprises to enhance their green abilities, motivate them and maximize their opportunities, which impact positively on green enterprise innovation and environmental performance. Small lodging enterprises should gain greater attention from policymakers due to their economic and social contribution, especially with the limited resources that they have in comparison to larger businesses.
The study also has several theoretical implications. First, the study advances the use of both AMO theory and RVB theory in understanding the influence of owner-managers’ green ability, motivation and opportunity on green innovation and environmental performance. Earlier studies often use AMO theory to examine the influence of HRM practices relating to employees. The current study contributes to small enterprises in the service industry, especially the small lodging industry. The RVB theory was also adopted to examine the link between owner-managers practices and enterprise performance. Supporting a recent study [2], the results showed that the green ability of owner-managers is a strategic and key resource for enhancing green innovation and environmental performance. Second, the study showed that GHRM practices by owner-managers are crucial for achieving green innovation and environmental performance. Third, the study confirmed the mediating role of green innovation in the relationship between GHRM and environmental performance. This maximizes the role of green innovation in achieving a positive environmental impact.
The study also has some implications for owner-managers in small lodging enterprises. First, owner-managers need to put more emphasis and investment in GHRM practices, especially green ability, since it significantly influences product/service green innovation and environmental performance of the enterprise. Attention needs to be paid to selecting the right staff with environmental values, developing their environmental skills and knowledge, rewarding them from environmental management, and involving them in team working to resolve environmental issues. Second, the study showed that environmental practices depend on the achievement of GHRM practices and green innovation. It can also be achieved by a combination of these two antecedents together. This environmental performance has become crucial not only for small lodging enterprises but also for the whole tourism industry that is dominated by small enterprises.

7. Limitations and Opportunities for Further Research

The current study is concerned with small lodging enterprises in Egypt. The classification of small enterprises often differs from one country to another and sometimes from one industry to another. The current study considers hotels with less than 50 workers, with the majority of fewer than 25 workers. The respondents in this study are the owner-managers of small lodging enterprises in Egypt, thus restraining the generalization of the research results. It would therefore be worthwhile to collect data from different contexts (country and/or industry). Further research could examine the results of the current study in different categories of small tourism enterprises, e.g., restaurants or travel agencies. The results could also be examined in different country contexts. Second, the cross-sectional sample collection method employed in this research is an additional limitation. In any research in which causality may be inferred (by employing SEM), longitudinal research is recommended to approve more solid inferences [64].

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, A.E.E.S. and I.E.; methodology, I.E. and A.E.E.S. and A.H.; software, I.E.; validation, A.E.E.S. and I.E.; formal analysis, I.E. and A.E.E.S.; investigation, A.H. and A.E.E.S. and I.E.; resources, A.H.; data curation, A.E.E.S. and I.E.; writing—original draft preparation, I.E. and A.E.E.S. and A.H.; writing—review and editing, A.E.E.S. and I.E.; visualization, I.E.; supervision, I.E.; project administration, A.E.E.S. and I.E. and A.H.; funding acquisition, A.E.E.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research and Innovation, Ministry of “Education” in Saudi Arabia, for funding this research work through the project number (IFT20108).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Abbreviations

List of abbreviations:
HRMHuman resources management
GHRMGreen human resources management
AMO theoryAbility, motivation, opportunity theory
RBV theoryResource-based view theory
SEMStructural equation modeling
UNSDGsUnited nation sustainable development goals
SMEsSmall and medium enterprises
CMVCommon method variance
EFAExploratory factor analysis
MMean value
SDStandard deviation
CFAConfirmatory factor analysis
RMSEASquare error of approximation
SRMRStandardized root mean squared residual
CFIComparative fit index
CRComposite reliability
AVEAverage variance extracted
MSVMaximum shared value

Appendix A

Table A1. Major past studies related to green human resources management (GHRM) and association with green innovation and/or environmental performance.
Table A1. Major past studies related to green human resources management (GHRM) and association with green innovation and/or environmental performance.
AuthorsSummary/Key FindingsCountries and RegionsIndustryMethodology
Melnyk et al. (2003)The results showed that firms having gone through an environmental management system (EMS) certification experienced a greater impact on performance than other firms that have not certified their EMS.United States of AmericaManufacturingANOVA test/regression analysis
Chan (2005)The results remind foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) in China of the opportunities to enhance corporate environmental and financial performance through the adoption of environmental strategies.People’s Republic of China (PRC)GeneralStructural equation modeling/multi-group analyses
Chen et al. (2006)The study found that the performances of the green product innovation and green process innovation were positively associated with the corporate competitive advantage. Investment in green product innovation and green process innovation is helpful to the businesses.Taiwan Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC)ManufacturingANOVA test
Verburg et al. (2007)Organizations with observed HRM practices fitting the professional bundle score significantly higher on measures of firm performance, employees’ going beyond the contract, and firm innovativeness.GenericGeneralt-test/correlation analysis
Darnall et al. (2008)The results showed that environmental Management Systems (EMSs) enhance an organization’s environmental performance.United States of AmericaGeneralLiterature review
Jiménez-Jiménez and Sanz-Valle (2008)The major findings showed that innovation contributes positively to business performance and human resource management enhances innovation.SpainIndustrial FirmsStructural equation modeling
Kammerer (2009)Green innovation is considered a major tool for the success of their business performance.GermanyManufacturinglogit analysis
Dwyer et al. (2009)Studies with a positive impact of the environment on financial performance are predominant. In addition, the findings show that the set of firms, industries and countries are varied.United States of AmericaManufacturingLiterature review
De Winne and Sels (2010)The results showed that both human capital (of owners/managers and employees) and HRM are important determinants of innovation in startups.BelgiumGeneralStructural equation modeling
De Saa-Perez and Díaz-Díaz (2010)The results suggested that high commitment to human resource management (HRM) has a positive influence on organizational innovation in processes. Additionally, the formalization of the HR policy in a plan and job stability also increases innovation in processes.Canary IslandsGeneralNegative binomial model
Jackson and Seo (2010)GHRM scholars could contribute to improved organizational effectiveness and emphasis the green values and awareness of their employees about the environment to support green performance.United States of AmericaGeneralLiterature review
Chiou et al. (2011)A prominent result of this study is that greening the supplier through green innovation contributes significant benefits to the environmental performance and competitive advantage of the firm.Taiwan Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC)GeneralStructural equation modeling
Wei et al. (2011)Strategic human resources management (SHRM) has a positive impact on firms’ product innovation, and this relationship is stronger for firms with a developmental culture.People’s Republic of China (PRC)GeneralMultiple regression analysis
Lin et al. (2013)The findings showed that market demand is positively correlated to both green product innovation and firm performance, while green product innovation performance is also positively correlated to firm performance.VietnamManufacturingRegression analysis
de Burgos-Jiménez et al. (2013)The results showed a positive effect of environmental protection on mid-term financial performance. Financial performance has a positive and significant correlation with environmental proactivity and environmental performance.WalesGeneralRegression analysis
Renwick et al. (2013)Understanding how GHRM practices influence employee motivation to become involved in environmental activities lags behind that of how organizations develop green abilities and provide employees with opportunities to be involved in environmental management. Organizations are not using the full range of GHRM practices, and this may limit their effectiveness in efforts to improve EM.GenericGeneralLiterature review
Chen and Chang (2013)The results showed that green dynamic capabilities and green transformational leadership positively influence green creativity and green product development performance. Additionally, positive relationships between green product development performance and their two antecedents—green dynamic capabilities and green transformational leadership—are partially mediated by green creativity.Taiwan Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC)Electronics IndustryStructural equation modeling
Chen et al. (2015)The major findings showed that market orientation positively affects environmental strategy, which, in turn, influences both environmental product quality and employees’ environmental involvement. These latter two variables consequently have a positive influence on environmental performance.People’s Republic of China (PRC)ManufacturingStructural equation modeling
Fu et al. (2015)Human resource management (HRM) practices, labeled high-performance work systems (HPWS), influences organizational innovation in professional service firms (PSFs). Moreover, employees’ innovative work behaviors mediate the relationship between HPWS and two types of PSFs’ innovation performanceIrelandAccountingHierarchical regression analysis
Dubey et al. (2015)The main results suggested that green performance relies on green products, services and process innovation.IndiaManufacturingHierarchical regression
Weng et al. (2015)The major findings found that green innovation had a positive effect on environmental performance.Taiwan Province, People’s Republic of China (PRC)Manufacturing and service firmsStructural equation modeling
O’Donohue and Torugsa (2016)The findings revealed that Green HRM positively moderates the association between proactive environmental management and financial performance.AustraliaManufacturingStructural equation modeling
Guerci et al. (2016)The results showed that green HRM practices (i.e., green hiring, green training and involvement, and green performance management and compensation) play in mediating the relation between pressures on environmental issues from two specific external stakeholders (i.e., customers and regulatory stakeholders) and environmental performance.ItalyManufacturingStructural equation modeling
Jabbour and de Sousa (2016)The study showed that green HRM objectives, obligations, and assessment improve enterprises’ green performance.GenericGeneralLiterature review
Kratzer et al. (2017)The major results revealed that enterprises’ green innovation might be anticipated as proactive practices to increase green performance.RussiaManufacturingTukey’s post hoc test
Adegbile et al. (2017)The study showed that green innovation is related to an enterprise’s green management agenda, which encourages green performance.GenericGeneralLiterature review
Albort-Morant et al. (2017)The empirical results showed that both absorptive capacity and relationship learning exert a significant positive effect on the dependent variable and that relationship learning moderates the link between absorptive capacity and green innovation performance.SpainManufacturingStructural equation modeling
Del Giudice et al. (2018)The results supported that innovation has a better performance than their competitors, as they influence their capabilities and resources to identify the needs of customers quickly and effectively and add key benefits and resources to the organizationGenericGeneralLiterature review
Allameh (2018)The main findings showed that the three dimensions of social capital, namely the structural, relational, and cognitive social capital, had positive effects on knowledge sharing; knowledge sharing had positive effects on three components of intellectual capital (human capital, structural capital and relational capital); and intellectual capital dimensions, which in turn, lead to innovation.IranHotel industryStructural equation modeling
Jia et al. (2018)Drawing from the ability–motivation–opportunity (AMO) theory, the study showed that transformational leaders could inspire employees’ green passion through influencing GHRM and ultimately positively affect employees’ green creativity.People’s Republic of China (PRC)Medical FirmsStructural equation modeling/mediation test
Singh and El-Kassar (2019)The study recommended that the integration of green supply chain management, green human resource management practices, and big data management to enhance firms’ sustainable capabilities that lead to better sustainable performance.Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and LebanonGeneralStructural equation modeling
El-Kassar and Singh (2019)The major findings supported that green innovation is considered a major tool for the success of their business performanceMENA region andGCCGeneralStructural equation modeling
Oliva et al. (2019)The results suggested that green performance depends on green products, services and process innovation.BrazilGeneralSemi-structured interview
Zhou et al. (2018)The findings revealed that green transformational leadership is positively related to green product development performance. Moreover, both green transformational leadership and individual green values have positive influences on green psychological climate, which leads to the promotion of green product development performance in the organization.GenericGeneralCorrelation analysis/mediation test
Kim et al. (2019)The findings show that green human resource management enhances employees’ organizational commitment, their eco-friendly behavior, and hotels’ environmental performance.ThailandHotel industryStructural equation modeling
Singh et al. (2020)The results suggested that GHRM practices mediate the influence of green transformational leadership on green innovation. Furthermore, GHRM indirectly through green innovation influences a firm’s environmental performance.United Arab Emirates (UAE)ManufacturingStructural equation modeling

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Figure 1. The research conceptual framework.
Figure 1. The research conceptual framework.
Sustainability 12 10371 g001
Figure 2. The first-order CFA.
Figure 2. The first-order CFA.
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Figure 3. The research structural model. *** p < 0.001.
Figure 3. The research structural model. *** p < 0.001.
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Table 1. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) factor loading, t-value (CR), mean (M), and standard deviation (SD).
Table 1. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) factor loading, t-value (CR), mean (M), and standard deviation (SD).
Dimensions and VariablesFactor Loadingt-ValueMSD
Green Abilities [5,51], (a = 0.958), (CR = 0.956, AVE = 0.785, MSV = 0.245)
GR_ABl.1: Great effort goes in to select the right person0.887f4.120.955
GR_ABl.2: Hiring only those who possess environmental values0.83926.9634.040.873
GR_ABl.3: Considerable importance given to green staffing process0.79624.3554.050.935
GR_ABl.4: Every employee undergoes mandatory environmental training0.93734.8364.100.964
GR_ABl.5: Environmental training is designed to enhance employee’s environmental skills and knowledge0.95336.4614.130.896
GR_ABl.6: Employees use environmental training in their jobs.0.89330.8674.150.878
Green Motivation [5,51], (a = 0.957), (CR = 0.959, AVE = 0.855, MSV = 0.295)
GR_MO.1: Performance appraisal records environmental performance0.952f4.140.892
GR_MO.2: Performance appraisal includes environmental incidents, responsibilities, concerns and policy0.89935.2744.121.030
GR_MO.3: Employee gets reward for environmental management0.91737.5954.160.907
GR_MO.4: Employee gets reward for acquiring specific environmental competencies0.92942.6194.150.872
Green Opportunities (Sun et al., 2007; and 5), (a = 0.935), (CR = 0.939, AVE = 0.838, MSV = 0.295)
GR_OP.1: Employees are involved in becoming environmentally friendly0.959f4.210.926
GR_OP.2: Using teamwork for resolving environmental issues0.84530.0144.270.820
GR_OP.3: Employees discuss environmental issues in team meetings0.93842.1514.170.983
Green Innovation [31], (a = 0.945), (CR = 0.945, AVE = 0.811, MSV = 0.391)
GR_IN.1: My hotel uses materials that produce the least pollution0.915f3.930.916
GR_IN.2: My hotel uses materials that consume less energy and resources0.90433.7003.950.937
GR_IN.3: My hotel uses materials that design environment-friendly product0.85429.2733.950.926
GR_IN.4: My hotel uses materials that are easy to recycle, reuse, and decompose0.92736.1474.060.889
Environmental Performance [32,52] (a = 0.971) (CR = 0.972, AVE = 0.875, MSV = 0.524)
EN_P.1: Environmental activities significantly reduced overall costs0.865f4.071.057
EN_P.2: Environmental activities significantly reduced the lead times0.96535.2534.110.999
EN_P.3: Environmental activities significantly improved product/process quality0.94533.4964.071.064
EN_P.4: Environmental activities significantly improved the reputation of my hotel0.92531.8644.110.999
EN_P.5: Environmental activities significantly reduced waste within the entire value chain process0.97436.1054.101.004
Model fit: (χ2 (199, N = 525) = 797.393, p < 0.001, normed χ2 = 4.007, RMSEA = 0.041, SRMR = 0.048, CFI = 0.960, TLI = 0.964, NFI = 0.963, PCFI = 0.713 and PNFI = 0.707). Note: CR = composite reliability, AVE = average variance extracted, MSV = maximum shared value. f = Fixed to set the scales. M = mean, SD = standard deviation.
Table 2. The profile of owner-managers.
Table 2. The profile of owner-managers.
FrequencyPercentage
GenderMale49093.3
Female356.7
AgeLess than 30 years7514.3
30 to 45 years9518
46 to 60 years25047.7
More than 60 years10220
Education levelHigh school degree15529.5
University graduate29756.6
Post-graduate7319.9
Number of employees5 employees or less8516.2
6 to 10 employees10620.2
11 to 25 employees30457.9
26 to 50 employees305.7
Type of employeesSalary employees15529.5
Hourly employees37070.5
Years in operationLess than 10 years9818.7
10 to 20 years36068.6
Over 20 years6712.7
Table 3. Discriminant validity based on Fornell–Larcker criterion analysis.
Table 3. Discriminant validity based on Fornell–Larcker criterion analysis.
12345
Green innovation0.900
Green abilities0.5530.886
Green motivation0.3960.3340.924
Green opportunities0.4660.4860.5430.915
Environmental performance0.6250.7240.4380.4470.936
Note: bold diagonal numbers represent the average variance extracted (AVEs) for the related dimension.
Table 4. The results of the structural model.
Table 4. The results of the structural model.
HypothesesThe Research Structural Model
Beta (β)C-R
(t-Value)
SMCHypotheses Results
H1Green abilities → Green innovation0.45 ***10.712-Supported
H2Green motivation → Green innovation0.35 ***9.078-Supported
H3Green opportunities → Green innovation0.32 ***8.868-Supported
H4Green abilities → Environmental performance0.28 ***5.573-Supported
H5Green motivation → Environmental performance0.25 ***4.864-Supported
H6Green opportunities → Environmental performance0.20 ***4.562-Supported
H7Green innovation → Environmental performance0.55 ***13.907-Supported
Green innovation--0.43-
Environmental performance--0.48-
Model fit: (χ2 (202, N = 525) = 950.208, p < 0.001, normed χ2 = 4.704, RMSEA = 0.044, SRMR = 0.048, CFI = 0.931, TLI = 0.948, NFI = 0.932, PCFI = 0.734 and PNFI = 0.700); *** p < 0.001.
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Sobaih, A.E.E.; Hasanein, A.; Elshaer, I. Influences of Green Human Resources Management on Environmental Performance in Small Lodging Enterprises: The Role of Green Innovation. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10371. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410371

AMA Style

Sobaih AEE, Hasanein A, Elshaer I. Influences of Green Human Resources Management on Environmental Performance in Small Lodging Enterprises: The Role of Green Innovation. Sustainability. 2020; 12(24):10371. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410371

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sobaih, Abu Elnasr E., Ahmed Hasanein, and Ibrahim Elshaer. 2020. "Influences of Green Human Resources Management on Environmental Performance in Small Lodging Enterprises: The Role of Green Innovation" Sustainability 12, no. 24: 10371. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410371

APA Style

Sobaih, A. E. E., Hasanein, A., & Elshaer, I. (2020). Influences of Green Human Resources Management on Environmental Performance in Small Lodging Enterprises: The Role of Green Innovation. Sustainability, 12(24), 10371. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122410371

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