Previous research presents mixed findings about the impact of environmental orientation (EO) on environmental performance (EP). Using the theoretical lens of resource orchestration theory (ROT) and contingency theory (CT), this study explores the relationships between EO, external environmental information exchange (EEIE) (with suppliers and customers), and EP. In particular, this study investigates the mediating role of EEIE between EO and EP, and the moderating effect of EO on the relationship between EEIE and EP. The proposed relationships were analysed through structural equation modelling and hierarchical linear regression analysis using survey data collected in Australia. The results reveal the partial mediating effect of EEIE on the EO-EP link, and the contingency effect of EO on the relationship between EEIE (with customers) and EP. Our study extends the boundaries of the current understanding by empirically testing both mediation and moderation within the same study, thereby presenting insights into how EO can positively influence EP, and under what circumstances. These findings provide managers with useful guidance on how EO can be complemented by external information sharing for environmental solutions.

先前的研究提出了关于环境导向 (EO) 对环境绩效 (EP) 影响的混合发现。本研究利用资源编排理论 (ROT) 和权变理论 (CT) 的理论视角，探讨了 EO、外部环境信息交换 (EEIE)（与供应商和客户）和 EP 之间的关系。本研究特别探讨了EEIE在EO与EP之间的中介作用，以及EO对EEIE与EP关系的调节作用。使用在澳大利亚收集的调查数据，通过结构方程建模和分层线性回归分析对提议的关系进行了分析。结果揭示了EEIE对EO-EP环节的部分中介作用，以及EO对EEIE（与客户）与EP关系的权变效应。我们的研究通过在同一研究中对中介和调节进行实证测试来扩展当前理解的界限，从而深入了解 EO 如何对 EP 以及在什么情况下产生积极影响。这些发现为管理人员提供了有用的指导，说明如何通过环境解决方案的外部信息共享来补充 EO。