From Digital and Policy Dependence to ESG ‐Led Responsible Transformation: New Evidence From Dynamic QCA Analysis

ABSTRACT How to enhance high‐quality development efficiency (HQDE) through the synergy of internal and external factors remains a critical question for listed logistics enterprises. Drawing on panel data from 44 Chinese enterprises from 2020 to 2022, we adopt a configurational approach by integrating the Three‐stage DEA model with Dynamic QCA to explore the driving configurations and their evolution. Guided by the Resource‐Based View, Stakeholder Theory, and Dynamic Capabilities Theory, we identify three configurations that lead to high HQDE: ESG‐led responsible transformation, digital‐driven competitiveness, and policy‐oriented development. The results reveal a shift from digital‐driven and policy‐oriented models toward ESG‐led transformation, highlighting the strategic role of ESG performance and corporate social responsibility. These findings demonstrate that internal capabilities and institutional conditions interact through multiple configurations, and that high HQDE results from dynamic alignment rather than isolated resource advantages.