A conceptual framework on finding the nexus between sustainability and desired outcomes for smart cities – the moderating role of green leadership

Purpose This paper aims to focus on the nexus between sustainability and desired outcomes for smart cities. The main focus is on how green leadership influences the relationship between smart and sustainable activities and stakeholder management. Design/methodology/approach The work is essentially a non-empirical review of the literature to develop a conceptual model to be tested in a subsequent study. Findings The findings indicate that smart cities and their sustainability activities can drive desired outcomes through green leadership. Also, green leadership has an indirect relationship with the desired outcomes of smart cities; hence, managers in the tourism and hospitality industries should cultivate their green leadership style to assist smart cities in accomplishing their goals. Research limitations/implications This research is conceptual, and the proposed model will need to be evaluated to be more valid. Furthermore, the model is restricted to the tourist and hospitality industry, limiting the generalization and application of the findings to that area. Furthermore, because sustainability activities and smart city leadership differ by region or country, the proposed model will be suitable for more developed economies with more developed sustainability policies. Practical implications This paper makes a novel theoretical contribution by using stakeholder management as a mediating variable and green leadership as a moderating variable concurrently. Originality/value This model suggests that smart and sustainability activities of cities can lead to desired outcomes for smart cities through effective stakeholder management and green leadership.