Open innovation, digital transformation, the mediating effect of technological maturity and diversity

The impact of the interaction of independent and cooperative innovation on firm digitization: the moderating role of managerial discretion

“…First, we examined the impact of this interaction on firms' strategic decisions using digitization as a predictor, and found that there is a negative correlation between the interaction of independent and cooperative innovation and digitization, which may be complementary to the results of previous studies on the relationship between innovation and digitalization. For example, Luan et al (2024) found that open innovation facilitates firm digital transformation, and Huang et al (2023) find that directors and officers liability negatively firm exploratory innovation, which in turn digitization. Despite the relevance of these cited studies, they only emphasize the role of a particular innovation in digitization, and do not capture the interaction between different strategies of innovation (Huang et al, 2023;Luan et al, 2024).…”

“…For example, Luan et al (2024) found that open innovation facilitates firm digital transformation, and Huang et al (2023) find that directors and officers liability negatively firm exploratory innovation, which in turn digitization. Despite the relevance of these cited studies, they only emphasize the role of a particular innovation in digitization, and do not capture the interaction between different strategies of innovation (Huang et al, 2023;Luan et al, 2024). Based on their work, we further examine the interaction effect of independent and cooperative innovation.…”

“…Previous research has explored the antecedents of enterprise digitization both internally and externally (Chen and Tian, 2022; Luo and Yu, 2022; Huang et al ., 2023). Regarding internal factors, such as the chief executive officer (CEO) background, directors and officers liability insurance, internationalization of the top management team (TMT), leadership, information technology investments, open innovation, exploratory innovation, and dynamic capabilities, they play an important role in company digital development (Kane et al ., 2015; Porfírio et al ., 2021; Gómez-Cruz et al ., 2022; Luo and Yu, 2022; Zhu et al ., 2022; Chen et al ., 2023; Chung and Kim, 2023; Zhang et al ., 2023a, b; Luan et al ., 2024). Regarding external factors, such as market competition, digital technology, intellectual property protection, government policies, and tax incentives, they are also related to digital development (Chen and Tian, 2022; Luo and Yu, 2022; Zhu et al ., 2022).…”

“…Although research on the antecedents of enterprise digitization is extensive, some important factors remain neglected, such as less research on the impact of the interaction of internal and external factors on enterprise digitization (Zhang et al ., 2023a, b), especially the interaction between internal innovation (independent innovation) and external innovation (cooperative innovation) (Xu and Zhang, 2008; Hagedoorn and Wang, 2012; Zhang et al ., 2019; Delgado-Verde et al ., 2021; Huang et al ., 2023; Luan et al ., 2024; Lee et al ., 2024). Although existing studies have explored the impact of innovation on firm digitization (Gómez-Cruz et al ., 2022; Chen et al ., 2023; Chung and Kim, 2023; Huang et al ., 2023; Luan et al ., 2024), only the impact of open innovation and exploratory innovation on digitization has been explored (Huang et al ., 2023; Luan et al ., 2024). Considering that in the context of open innovation, numerous firms have been building their innovation capabilities by simultaneously pursuing both internal and external innovations (Hagedoorn and Wang, 2012; Howard et al ., 2016; Del Vecchio et al ., 2020; Xie et al ., 2023), this omission appears crucial.…”

“…First, it anticipates digitization by combining independent innovation and cooperative innovation. Previous studies have explored the role of open and exploratory innovation for digitization (Gómez-Cruz et al ., 2022; Huang et al ., 2023; Luan et al ., 2024), but less attention has been paid to the interaction of various innovation strategies. Therefore, based on resource constraint theory, this study explores the impact of the interaction between independent and cooperative innovation on enterprise digitization, a finding that provides a useful addition to the study of the relationship between firm innovation and digitization (Laursen and Salter, 2006; Hess and Rothaermel, 2011; Kane et al ., 2015; Chen and Tian, 2022; Luo and Yu, 2022; Huang et al ., 2023).…”