Green technology adoption: a multi level alignment framework from Vietnam in comparative perspective

Abstract

This study develops a multi-level alignment framework to explain green technology adoption in emerging economies, with a primary focus on Vietnam and comparative insights from China, Brazil, and Spain. Drawing on survey data from 380 decision makers in manufacturing and service firms, analyzed through covariance based structural equation modeling, the findings reveal that managerial intentions, shaped by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, provide the motivational foundation for adoption. However, intentions alone are insufficient unless supported by organizational capabilities, specifically absorptive capacity and dynamic capabilities, which both directly foster adoption and serve as the mechanisms that translate intentions into practice. Institutional pressures also play a significant role, as coercive and normative influences reinforce capability effects, while policy uncertainty expressed in abrupt regulatory reversals, weak enforcement, and unclear incentives undermines adoption outcomes. Comparative analysis highlights distinct national patterns with coercive dominance in China, normative reliance in Brazil, a fragile hybrid system in Vietnam, and more stable circular economy dynamics in Spain. By conceptualizing adoption as a multi-level alignment process, this study advances sustainability transition theory and provides practical guidance for managers seeking organizational resilience and for policymakers aiming to design credible and stable frameworks that foster sustainable green transitions.