Human-Digital Symbiosis and Green Intelligent Manufacturing

In the context of deepening digital integration in manufacturing and the growing emphasis on sustainable development, this study investigates how human–digital symbiosis (HDS) influences employees' organizational perceived green intelligent manufacturing performance. Using robust organizational-level data from two-year, multi-period surveys of 315 manufacturing firms in China's Yangtze River Delta, the authors find that HDS significantly enhances organizational green intelligent manufacturing outcomes. This effect is further strengthened by organizational digital technology acceptance, digital technology proficiency, and firms' financial slack. Heterogeneity analysis reveals variation across job positions, an inverted U-shaped relationship with firm sizes, and stronger effects in high-tech industries. Robustness checks confirm the validity of these findings. Moving beyond unidirectional digital empowerment, this study conceptualizes HDS as a dual enablement mechanism, offering new theoretical insights and practical guidance for firms simultaneously pursuing green and digital transformation.