Green Strategies, Digital Capabilities, and Stakeholder Value: Synthesizing RBV/NRBV and Dynamic Capability Perspectives on Sustainable Competitive Advantage
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This research conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) to synthesize current knowledge on the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices, innovation, and digital transformation in shaping sustainable competitive advantage. Covering literature from 2000 to 2025, the review analyzes findings across industries and geographies to identify key mediators, moderators, and theoretical linkages. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, following PRISMA guidelines. A total of 59 peer-reviewed articles met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to thematic analysis using frameworks informed by the Resource-Based View (RBV), Natural RBV (NRBV), Dynamic Capabilities, Stakeholder Theory, and Signaling Theory. Results indicate that CSR and ESG initiatives contribute to sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) primarily through mediators such as corporate reputation, service quality, and innovation, while digital transformation acts as an enabler that strengthens transparency, operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement. Contextual moderators, including institutional trust, financing constraints, leadership diversity, and cultural factors, further condition these relationships. The review highlights methodological strengths (diverse designs, cross-industry evidence) and weaknesses (short-term focus, inconsistent measures, contextual narrowness). Theoretically, this review advances the RBV, NRBV, and dynamic capabilities frameworks, while integrating stakeholder and signaling theories to explain mechanisms of trust and legitimacy. Practically, it emphasizes the strategic integration of sustainability and digitalization as pathways to resilience and long-term competitiveness. The review concludes by identifying research gaps and calling for longitudinal, standardized, and context-sensitive studies to advance future scholarship.
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