Green intellectual capital and employee environmental citizenship behavior: the mediating role of organizational agility and green creativity

PurposeThis study utilizes social exchange theory to investigate the relationship between green intellectual capital and employee environmental citizenship behavior through serial mediation of organizational agility and employee green creativity.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a multi-level and multi-wave dataset of 425 employees and 70 managers nested within 35 manufacturing firms. The authors followed a 2-2-1-1 research framework in which organizational green intellectual capital (a level 2 variable) influenced employee environmental citizenship behavior (a level 1 outcome variable), which was then mediated by organizational agility (a level 2 variable) and employee green creativity (a level 1 variable). This study used Jamovi for hypotheses testing.FindingsThe findings suggest a positive relationship between green intellectual capital and organizational agility, leading positively to employee environmental citizenship behavior and employee green creativity. It indicates that green intellectual capital positively relates to employee environmental citizenship behavior via serial mediation effects of organizational agility and employee green creativity.Practical implicationsThis study provides valuable insights for manufacturing firms and policymakers. The study encourages environmental conservation and restoration efforts by individuals and organizations, supporting initiatives to protect the environment. Findings may help manufacturing firms and policymakers towards mitigating environmental harm to achieve their sustainability objectives.Originality/valueThis study enhances our understanding of the link between green intellectual capital and employee environmental citizenship behavior through indirect path of organizational agility and employee green creativity.