A structural model for assessing the impact of Lean-Green barriers on sustainable performance

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of internal and external barriers on Lean-Green manufacturing during its post-implementation phase. Examining the impact of Lean-Green manufacturing on the environmental, economic and social performance of organisations is also an aim of the study. The study further explores the inter-relationships between environmental, economic and social performance. Design/methodology/approach: Data was gathered from the Zimbabwean manufacturing industry, of which 302 valid responses were obtained and analysed through structural equation modelling using SMART PLS. Findings: The results showed that both internal and external barriers impede organisations from improving economic, social and environmental performance measures, and hence, deserve attention. Research limitations/implications: The study concentrated on Zimbabwe’s manufacturing industry; hence, the results may need further validation before they can be adopted by other countries and industries. Practical implications: Through analysing the impact of internal and external barriers on Lean-Green, organisations can understand which barriers greatly affect them and they can allocate resources accordingly to address them. Originality/value: Existing studies focused on identifying and ranking the barriers faced during Lean-Green implementation. This study identifies the Lean-Green barriers that are faced post-implementation and examines their relationship with Lean-Green Manufacturing and sustainable performance. Thus, outlining a clear picture of the extent to which these barriers hinder the attainment of sustainable development improvements.