Exploring the linkages of green transformational leadership, organizational green learning, and radical green innovation

Abstract Radical green innovation is the necessary way for countries and firms to achieve sustainable development. Although the influencing factors of green innovation have attracted extensive attention, there is little research on the antecedents of radical green innovation. Drawing on organizational learning theory and attention‐based view, this study proposes R‐I ratio to measure the configuration of exploratory green learning and exploitative green learning, then analyzes the relationships among green transformational leadership, R‐I ratio and radical green innovation, and examines the moderating effects of green R&D investment and environmental regulatory pressure. Based on a sample of 243 manufacturing firms in China's strategic emerging industries, the empirical results reveal that green transformational leadership promotes R‐I ratio, and R‐I ratio has inverted U‐shaped relationship with radical green innovation. The results also find that green R&D investment plays U‐shaped moderating role in the relationship between green transformational leadership and R‐I ratio, and environmental regulatory pressure positively moderates the relationship between green transformational leadership and R‐I ratio. The study not only reveals the relationships of green transformational leadership, organizational green learning and radical green innovation, but also provides theoretical guidance and management practice for manufacturing firms and government to promote radical green innovation.