Technology Strategy Towards Sustainable Manufacturing Performance: A Conceptual Framework of the Mediating Role of Leadership Style

The rapid advancement of Industry 4.0 has created new opportunities for manufacturing firms to enhance sustainable manufacturing performance through the strategic adoption of advanced technologies. However, existing studies have largely examined technology strategy, leadership, and sustainability as separate research streams, resulting in limited understanding of the organisational mechanisms through which technological capabilities are transformed into sustainable outcomes. Addressing this gap, this conceptual paper develops a conceptual framework that explains the relationship between technology strategy and sustainable manufacturing performance through the mediating role of leadership style. The framework was developed through a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed academic studies published between 2014 and 2025 and synthesised using a narrative approach. Guided by the Resource-Based View (RBV), Technology–Organisation–Environment (TOE) framework, and leadership theory, the review identifies technology strategy as a multidimensional organisational capability encompassing technological investments, innovation capabilities, digital manufacturing technologies, production system design, and other strategic technology capabilities that collectively support sustainability outcomes. The findings suggest that transformational and digital leadership facilitate organisational change, align technological initiatives with strategic objectives, and enable firms to effectively translate technological capabilities into economic, environmental, and social performance improvements. Unlike previous conceptual studies that examine these constructs independently, the proposed framework integrates multiple dimensions of technology strategy with leadership style as a mediating mechanism, providing a clearer explanation of how technological capabilities contribute to sustainable manufacturing performance. The study contributes by developing a conceptual model and research propositions for future empirical validation while offering practical insights for manufacturing organisations and policymakers seeking sustainable competitive advantage in the Industry 4.0 era.

Technology Strategy, Sustainable Manufacturing, Leadership Style

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