Leveraging green information systems and big data analytics infrastructure flexibility for sustainable performance: the mediating role of green technological turbulence in energy companies

Purpose The purpose is to understand how green information systems (GIS) and big data analytics (BDA) infrastructure flexibility contribute to sustainable practices through green technological turbulence (GTT) and how they help energy companies achieve comprehensive sustainability outcomes. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 600 participants via an online survey from energy companies listed on Borsa Istanbul. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is used with Jamovi and Excel to analyze the data. In the research, six mediation hypotheses and one direct effect hypothesis are examined for BDA infrastructure flexibility, GIS, GTT and sustainable performance (SuP). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and reliability and validity assessments were conducted in the measurement model. Findings The results confirm the seven hypotheses tested. In particular, GTT, GIS and BDA infrastructure flexibility have significant mediation effects on environmental, economic and social performance. Furthermore, BDA infrastructure flexibility has a positive effect on GIS. These findings highlight the critical role of managing technological turbulence to achieve sustainability goals in the energy sector. Research limitations/implications The research is limited to energy companies listed on Borsa Istanbul, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other sectors or geographic regions. Practical implications The findings provide valuable insights into using GIS and BDA infrastructure flexibility to improve sustainability outcomes, especially for energy companies investing in renewable energy. Managers can use these technologies to overcome green technological turbulence and thereby improve the overall performance of their companies in terms of environmental, economic and social objectives. Social implications The research extends the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities theory (DCT) by showing how GIS and BDA infrastructure flexibility can be used as strategic resources and dynamic capabilities, respectively, to achieve sustainable outcomes through the mediation effect of technological turbulence. The importance of GCT as a critical mediator in sustainability-related technological adoption is emphasized. Originality/value The research contributes to the literature by empirically validating the mediation effect of GTT in the context of GIS, BDA infrastructure flexibility and SuP in the energy sector, with a particular focus on renewable energy investments. It offers a unique integration of the RBV and DCT to explain how firms can navigate technological uncertainty to enhance sustainable performance.