Congruence and Discrepancy: Matching Effect of Searching and Integration on Green Product Development Performance

The development of green products in manufacturing enterprises is challenged by limited independent innovation capabilities and insufficient green technology. Based on knowledge-based theory, this study investigates the influence of boundary-spanning green technology search (BGTS) and technology integration capability (TIC) on green product development performance (GPDP). Using polynomial regression analysis with response surface methodology (PRA with RSM) on data from 341 companies, the following findings were obtained: (1) Higher levels of BGTS and TIC congruence are associated with higher GPDP compared to lower levels of congruence. (2) The degree of discrepancy between the BGTS and TIC has an inverted U-shaped relationship with GPDP. (3) GPDP is higher in the “low BGTS–high TIC” combination than in the “high BGTS–low TIC” combination. (4) Green technology innovation capability mediates the relationship between BGTS-TIC congruence and GPDP. (5) Strategic foresight positively moderates the relationship between the BGTS-TIC congruence and green technology innovation capability. These findings enrich the research content of organizational search theory, deepen the research of green technology innovation, expand research on the development of green products, and provide a decision-making reference for manufacturing enterprises’ green transition practices.