Big data analytics capabilities and green innovation: a meta-analysis and necessary condition analysis

Big data analytics capabilities (BDAC) have emerged as a critical factor in driving innovation and achieving sustainable competitive advantages, particularly in the context of green innovation (GI). This study conducts both a meta-analysis and a necessary condition analysis (NCA) to investigate the relationship between BDAC and GI. Synthesizing findings from 28 independent studies (N = 48,887), we confirm a significant positive relationship between BDAC and GI. Furthermore, our results reveal that firm-level factors significantly moderate this relationship: the positive effect is stronger for large firms (vs. SMEs), service industries (vs. manufacturing), and green technological innovations (vs. non-technological innovations). At the country level, meta-regression analysis indicates that ecological sustainability and ICT infrastructure positively moderate the BDAC-GI link, while R&D investment shows a negative average moderating effect. However, the complementary NCA reveals that all three country-level factors—ecological sustainability, R&D investment, and ICT infrastructure—are necessary conditions, establishing critical thresholds that must be met for BDAC to effectively foster GI. By integrating these two analytical approaches, the study provides a comprehensive understanding of the BDAC-GI relationship, identifies indispensable contextual prerequisites, and discusses the theoretical and practical implications for leveraging BDAC for sustainable development, suggesting directions for further investigation.