Impact of Digital Ambidexterity on Circular Supply Chain through Sustainable Operational Excellence and Supply Chain Resilience

Abstract

In today’s competitive era, manufacturing firms face pressure to align their supply chain with circularity and sustainability imperatives. Despite the emergent interest in circular supply chain management (CSCM), the mechanisms through which digital capabilities support this transition remain unexplored. This study examines the role of digital ambidexterity to foster sustainability initiatives through supply chain resilience (SCR). Based on the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) and the natural resourced-based view (NRBV) theory, a framework was developed. A survey questionnaire data from 159 Pakistani manufacturing firms were gathered and analyzed through a structural equation model. The findings affirmed that digital ambidexterity capabilities significantly promote sustainable operations and SCR. However, the association between SCR and CSCM is insignificant. Theoretically, the study contributes by integrating DCV and NRBV to elucidate circularity and sustainability initiatives as a capability orchestrator. Practically, this study offers strategic insights for firms and policymakers to balance digital capabilities, resilience, circularity, and sustainability outcomes.