Responsible big data intelligence for green workforce effectiveness: moderating and mediating roles of green leadership

Purpose This study examines the impact of responsible big data intelligence (BDI) and stakeholder pressure on the development of an effective organizational green workforce, emphasizing the mediating and moderating roles of green leadership. Grounded in the natural resource-based view (NRBV), the research explores how technological capabilities, external pressures and leadership interact to create workforce sustainability. Design/methodology/approach The research employed a quantitative methodology, with data collected via a structured online survey among managers and executives in the UAE’s hospitality sector. IBM SPSS was used to perform tests for mediation and moderation with multiple linear regression. Findings The findings reveal that responsible BDI and stakeholder pressure significantly enhance the organizational green workforce effectiveness, with green leadership serving as both a mediator and moderator. The mediating effect of green leadership highlights its role in translating external pressures into sustainability-driven workforce behaviors, while its moderating effect strengthens the relationship between responsible BDI and green workforce. Practical implications These results highlight the importance of integrating technological advancements, stakeholder expectations and leadership strategies to drive sustainability. Moreover, it provides actionable insights for managers and policymakers to utilize BDI and leadership frameworks to enhance sustainability practices. Originality/value The study contributes to the literature on sustainable management, big data analytics, leadership and green human resource management. Theoretically, the study extends the application of NRBV by demonstrating the interactive role of technology, external forces and leadership in shaping workforce sustainability.