ESG Performance and Total Factor Productivity: The Moderating Role of Supply Chain Green Innovation and Human-AI Collaboration in the Telecommunications Industry

This study investigates the relationship between Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) in the telecommunications industry, using Xinjiang Mobile Communications Corporation as a case study. While prior research has established a connection between ESG initiatives and firm performance, the specific mechanisms through which this relationship functions in the telecommunications sector remain underexplored. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating structural equation modeling and fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), to examine how two critical moderating variables— supply chain green innovation and human-AI collaborative interactions—influence the ESG-TFP relationship. Data collected from 247 managers and suppliers affiliated with Xinjiang Mobile reveal that ESG performance positively impacts TFP, with this relationship being significantly enhanced when firms implement green innovations throughout their supply chains. Furthermore, effective human-AI collaborative frameworks within organizational operations strengthen the positive effects of ESG initiatives on productivity outcomes. The findings contribute to the growing body of literature on sustainable business practices in technology-intensive industries and offer practical implications for telecommunications firms seeking to enhance productivity through strategic ESG implementation.