Data-Driven Supply Chain Practice and Sustainable RMG Performance: The Mediating Roles of Organizational Agility and Eco-Efficiency Moderated by Green Absorptive Capacity

Abstract

Amidst rapid global scaling of Bangladesh's RMG industry, achieving sustainability via effective digital transformation unlocks immense potential for accelerating SDG goal attainment progress to ensure long-term competitiveness. Grounded in the Dynamic Capabilities View and Absorptive Capacity Theory, this research examines the mechanisms where data-driven supply chain practices (DDSCP) influence sustainable RMG performance (SRP) through the mediating role of organizational agility and eco-efficiency. Employing a quantitative, cross-sectional design, data from 215 supply chain and operational managers in Bangladesh were analyzed using PLS-SEM. The findings challenge deterministic technological narratives where DDSCP directly affects SRP and is notably minimal. Instead, the true value of digitalization is realized through the significant mediating roles of organizational agility and eco-efficiency. Importantly, while Green Absorptive Capacity directly enhances sustainable performance, it does not moderate the DDSCP-SRP relationship, acting as an independent operational baseline rather than a digital synergist in this developing context. This research advances supply chain literature by demonstrating that digital tools alone are insufficient, they require agile organizational reconfiguration and rigorous eco-efficient routines to achieve sustainable excellence. These insights provide actionable strategies for manufacturers and policymakers navigating stringent global compliance paradigms.