Spurring sustainability commitment strategy of family-owned SMEs: A multi-analytical SEM & ANFIS perspective

The study seeks to understand the impact of leadership styles on the organizational strategy of sustainability commitment, utilizing the mediator role of employees' eco-friendly practices in family firms in Malaysia. To achieve this aim, dual-stage structural equation modeling (SEM) and neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were employed to analyze the leadership style of Malaysian family firms. This study collects empirical data from 427 employees belonging to Malaysian family firms via a structured questionnaire. Results demonstrate supportive, authentic, and paternalistic leadership styles affect the sustainability commitment strategy of organizations. Moreover, employees' eco-friendly best practices fully mediate the link between leadership styles and the organizational strategy of sustainability commitment. Findings of non-compensatory relationships also indicated employees' eco-friendly best practices is the most determinant of the strategy of sustainability commitment, followed by authentic leadership, supportive leadership, and paternalistic leadership.