Does green intellectual capital matter for green ambidexterity? Insights from the hotel industry

Abstract

This study addresses a significant gap in the literature by examining the influence of intellectual capital (human, social, and structural capital) on organisational ambidexterity within the context of five-star chain hotels in Egypt, while also exploring the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation and the mediating role of organisational culture in this relationship. While prior research has explored intellectual capital and organisational ambidexterity separately, few studies have integrated these concepts within the luxury hotel industry, particularly in emerging markets like Egypt. Using survey data from 98 managers in five-star chain hotels, the study reveals that intellectual capital has a significant and positive impact on organisational ambidexterity. Additionally, entrepreneurial orientation slightly moderates this relationship, while organisational culture fully mediates it. These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of how intellectual capital drives ambidexterity and how entrepreneurial orientation and organisational culture shape this dynamic. Practically, the study suggests that hotels should integrate environmental measures into their core business objectives, ensuring sustainability goals are embedded in their mission and vision to enhance resource allocation, decision-making, and performance monitoring. By doing so, sustainability becomes a central operational focus rather than a peripheral concern.