RETRACTED ARTICLE: Strategic enterprise management in the age of energy transition: a roadmap for sustainable business practices

China's rapid economic growth in recent years has raised concerns about resource utilization and environmental sustainability. This study aims to assess the efficiency landscape of China's sectors between 2015 and 2021 using data envelopment analysis (DEA) to identify areas for improvement and inform sustainable development strategies. The study findings shown that the average technical efficiency score across all sectors was 0.75, indicating room for improvement. Large efficiency variations were observed, with the manufacturing sector exhibiting the highest score (0.82) and the construction sector the lowest (0.68). Inefficiencies were largely attributable to excessive resource inputs, particularly in energy-intensive sectors. Sectors lagging in efficiency displayed higher environmental footprints, highlighting the negative externalities of inefficient resource utilization. Targeted interventions focusing on resource optimization, technological upgrades, and green infrastructure development are necessary to improve sectoral efficiency and promote sustainable development in China.