GREENING THE UNIVERSITY: CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION AND SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE THROUGH PROCUREMENT PRACTICES IN PALESTINE

ABSTRACT This research aims at investigating the relationship between Green Procurement Practices (GPP), Green Organizational Cultures (GOC), and Sustainable Performance (SP) within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Palestine, specifically the role of GOC in mediating the relationship between GPP and SP using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Data from employees and procurement department managers at Palestinian HEIs was collected using a structured questionnaire. Following that, a PLS-SEM approach was employed to test the hypotheses and analyze the relationship, and the model was tested for reliability and validity through values of composite reliability, Cronbach’s alpha, and average variance extracted, and relationships were established based on path coefficients, T-Values, and P-Values. Mediation was tested using the Bootstrapping technique. Statistical findings reveal both direct and indirect relationships between GPP and SP. The mediating role of GOC was statistically validated, highlighting its importance in enhancing the impact of GPP on SP. Results confirm that GPP significantly fosters GOC, which positively influences SP, emphasizing the value of integrating green practices and culture within institutions to achieve SP. While the findings of this research offer valuable insights to policy makers into the relationship between GPP and SP and the mediating role of GOC, this research is limited by the small population of employees and managers in procurement departments in HEIs, which resulted in a small sample size, potentially restricting the generalizability of results. Additionally, the reliance on self-administered questionnaires could potentially introduce bias. Future research may consider targeting larger sectors with more diversity and consider checking institutional policies or creating policy guides for institutions to be adapted and tailored to each institution's needs. The research contributes to the body of knowledge in this field and offers insights for policymakers to align procurement strategies with SP. This research adds to the existing body of literature on GPP and SP by investigating the mediating role of GOC in this relationship within HEIs, providing insights on how GPP influences GOC finally achieving Sustainable outcomes. The findings provide practical recommendations for decision-makers in procurement departments at HEIs, potentially promoting the adoption of such practices in other sectors.