In an era marked by ever-increasing environmental concern and technological novelty, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has come to serve as one key instrument for evaluating environmental performance of organizations. Conversely, much literature has neglected possible strategies for aligning digital transformation (DT) with LCA activities as digital technologies care about dissemination. This study fills the gap by examining how non-technological assets such as data-driven culture (DDC) and digital capabilities (DC) spur digital transformation in LCA practice. Building on Resource-Based View (RBV), this study sees DDC as an organizational resource and DC as a human resource that mediates the effects of DDC on DT. Data were collected through an online survey among 229 Italian companies in the agri-food sector, an environment where the institutionalization of LCA adoption occurs. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypothesized relationships. The results suggest that while DDC has no direct effects on DT, it promotes digital capabilities among employees, which in turn affect DT, thereby confirming a full mediation effect. The research supports the idea that transformation of practice relative to sustainability needs actual digital innovation and therefore cannot be achieved by just introducing new technologies. Instead, an important aspect of this process is to bring about a cultural change and the development of human skills. As much as technology influences the advancement of sustainability schemes, such as LCA, it could be unaffecting just by itself. A data culture must grow to foster an environment where data are valued, disseminated, and applied in decision-making, whilst employees should have digital capabilities that help them to draw insights from data, take action, and innovate. Conversely, if cultural and human elements are taken into consideration, the application of the technologies will be enhanced and maximized.
Unleashing Digital Transformation in LCA: The Interplay between Data-Driven Culture and Digital Capabilities
Nicola Capolupo
2025-01-01
Abstract
In an era marked by ever-increasing environmental concern and technological novelty, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has come to serve as one key instrument for evaluating environmental performance of organizations. Conversely, much literature has neglected possible strategies for aligning digital transformation (DT) with LCA activities as digital technologies care about dissemination. This study fills the gap by examining how non-technological assets such as data-driven culture (DDC) and digital capabilities (DC) spur digital transformation in LCA practice. Building on Resource-Based View (RBV), this study sees DDC as an organizational resource and DC as a human resource that mediates the effects of DDC on DT. Data were collected through an online survey among 229 Italian companies in the agri-food sector, an environment where the institutionalization of LCA adoption occurs. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test hypothesized relationships. The results suggest that while DDC has no direct effects on DT, it promotes digital capabilities among employees, which in turn affect DT, thereby confirming a full mediation effect. The research supports the idea that transformation of practice relative to sustainability needs actual digital innovation and therefore cannot be achieved by just introducing new technologies. Instead, an important aspect of this process is to bring about a cultural change and the development of human skills. As much as technology influences the advancement of sustainability schemes, such as LCA, it could be unaffecting just by itself. A data culture must grow to foster an environment where data are valued, disseminated, and applied in decision-making, whilst employees should have digital capabilities that help them to draw insights from data, take action, and innovate. Conversely, if cultural and human elements are taken into consideration, the application of the technologies will be enhanced and maximized.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
