Exploring the Duality of Formal and Informal Controls in Driving Eco-Innovations

Eco-innovations are crucial for addressing environmental challenges. Based on a survey of 301 large German firms, we explore the roles of formal and informal environmental management control systems (EMCSs) in translating external perceived stakeholder pressure (PSP) into eco-innovations. By employing partial least squares structural equation modeling, the findings indicate that both formal and informal EMCSs positively and partially mediate the relationship between PSP and eco-innovation. Building on the natural resource-based view (NRBV), our study contributes to the accounting literature by exploring the taxonomy of formal and informal controls. The results demonstrate the important role of informal EMCSs alongside formal EMCSs in developing the capabilities necessary to channel PSP toward eco-innovations, emphasizing the role of management controls in sustainable development. Furthermore, we contribute to quantitative research on the role of management controls in the field of environmental sustainability and innovation. The implications of our study are relevant for managers as formal and informal controls are anchored differently in the firm and therefore require different approaches to create a balance of both.