Purpose: The primary aim of the current study is to validate the theoretical model presented by Demir (2021a, b, c) via empirical evidence. In this respect, the study intends to offer a holistic pathway for obtaining both external and internal advantages from the implementation of ISO 9001, with a particular emphasis on developing countries.Design/methodology/approach: The research utilized an empirical methodology to investigate the research objective. Data were collected from various sources, including employees and managers of the various companies. In this context, a model was developed, and 170 data points were collected from businesses in the Kurdistan region of Iraq in order to test the hypotheses in this model.Findings: After the collected data passed the reliability and validity test, the hypotheses designed were tested by applying the partial least squares method. When the results were examined, it was observed that organizational culture and organizational learning variables were the two key antecedents that these factors would emerge after applying ISO 9001 practices with discipline for a certain period of time and that organizational benefits could be obtained only as a result of them. Detailed results and suggestions were given to managers and theorists as a result of the analysis.Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature as an empirical application of the theoretical work written by Demir in 2021. Demir's work, which produced a theoretical concept based on many empirical and theoretical studies done before, still needs much more empirical work in developing countries.

This study aims to evaluate the impact of empowering leadership on green innovation and how such a leadership style can lead and drive the organization’s capability to innovate in green initiatives. This study focused on the beverage companies operating in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as most of the studies in a similar scope are conducted in high-tech companies, but this study focused on such a low-tech industry. To fill this gap, the researchers used a quantitative approach to collect data from staff working at these three selected major companies and analyze the data using SPSS and SMARTPLS - SEM. The sample consisted of 293 respondents randomly selected, and the researchers analyzed the reliability and validity of the scale used, and the path analysis and Structural model to test the hypothesis developed in this study. The effect size of EI on GI is large, as f2 is 0.547 and P=0.000. The findings show that empowering leadership can significantly and positively affect green innovation initiatives. The results recommend that when leaders trust, coach, and involve employees in decisions in order to empower the employees, in return, they actively innovate in green practices to develop green products and green processes.