Journal of Management Research and Review (JMRR) · Research article · Open access

Sustainability Practices Intention in Food Manufacturing SMEs: A Dual-Mediation Model of Innovation Capability and Green Technology Capability

Tan Hee Keat, Shishi Kumar Piaralal, Nur Amalina Zulkefli, Nainatul Farzuha Nor, Santhi Raghavan

18 May 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 5, pp. 273-279

DOI: 10.65150/EP-jmrr/V2E5/2026-06

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Abstract

Sustainability has become a strategic imperative for food manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Particularly, in highly regulated environments such as Malaysia, where compliance with food safety, Halal certification, and environmental standards is increasingly stringent. Despite growing scholarly attention, existing research remains fragmented and provides limited theoretical explanation of how internal organizational resources are translated into Sustainability Practices Intention (SPI), especially in resource-constrained SME contexts. Addressing this gap, this paper develops a theory-integrated conceptual framework explaining the transformation of organizational resources into sustainability-oriented intentions. Grounded in the Natural Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capability Theory, and the Triple Bottom Line framework, the study proposes a dual-mediation model in which innovation capability and green technology capability function as parallel but distinct mechanisms linking organizational support and human resource quality to SPI. The framework advances current literature by distinguishing between general adaptive capability and sustainability-specific technological capability, thereby offering a more precise explanation of how SMEs operationalize sustainability beyond compliance-driven approaches. By integrating multiple theoretical perspectives into a unified model, the study extends understanding of sustainability practices intention and highlights capability development as a central driver of sustainability adoption in SMEs. Practically, the model provides guidance for managers and policymakers in designing targeted interventions that strengthen both innovation and green technology capabilities to enhance sustainability implementation in the food manufacturing sector.

Keywords: Sustainability Practices Intention, Innovation Capability, Green Technology Capability, Organizational Support, Human Resource Quality, Food Manufacturing SMEs.

Tan Hee Keat, Shishi Kumar Piaralal, Nur Amalina Zulkefli, Nainatul Farzuha Nor, & Santhi Raghavan (2026). Sustainability Practices Intention in Food Manufacturing SMEs: A Dual-Mediation Model of Innovation Capability and Green Technology Capability. Journal of Management Research and Review, 2(5), 273-279. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jmrr/V2E5/2026-06

@article{Tan2026,
  title   = {Sustainability Practices Intention in Food Manufacturing SMEs: A Dual-Mediation Model of Innovation Capability and Green Technology Capability},
  author  = {Tan Hee Keat and Shishi Kumar Piaralal and Nur Amalina Zulkefli and Nainatul Farzuha Nor and Santhi Raghavan},
  journal = {Journal of Management Research and Review},
  year    = {2026},
  volume  = {2},
  number  = {5},
  pages   = {273-279},
  doi     = {10.65150/EP-jmrr/V2E5/2026-06},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jmrr/V2E5/2026-06}
}

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