Technological Turbulence, Circular Economy Practices, and Digitalization as Determinants of Innovative Culture in High-Growth Firms

Abstract

In a business environment characterised by technological turbulence and an increasing societal demand for greater sustainability, companies seeking to enhance their growth are compelled to foster organisational cultures that promote continuous innovation. This study examines how environmental technological turbulence and circular economy practices influence the innovation culture of high-growth firms, taking into account the mediating role of organisational digitalisation. The research is based on data collected from a sample of 183 Spanish high-growth companies, analysed through partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that both technological turbulence and circular economy practices exert a significant direct influence on innovation culture, and that digitalisation partially mediates these relationships, acting as a mechanism for strategic transformation. The study contributes to theoretical advancement by integrating technological and environmental factors into a single explanatory model and offers practical implications for the design of organisational strategies aimed at sustainable and innovation-driven growth.