Exploring the mechanism of digital technology affordance on manufacturing enterprises’ digital competitive advantage
Abstract
Purpose
Digital technology is crucial to improving a firm’s core competitiveness. However, the existing research on the relationship therein shows heterogeneity. Using digital technology can enhance competitive advantage, which is crucial for enterprises and scholars. Thus, based on the digital technology affordance theory, this study explores the relationship between digital technology affordance and digital competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach
Survey data were collected from 509 large and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in China, and multiple regression and structural equation modelling were used to test the hypotheses. Specifically, we discuss the mediating role of digital business capability and the moderating role of organisational legitimacy.
Findings
Editability, association and visibility positively affect digital competitive advantage, and their coordination is strong. Further, they can help enterprises gain a competitive advantage through the mediating role of digital business capability (digital strategy, digital integration and regulation). However, the influence effect and action path differ per in different dimensions. Organisational legitimacy positively moderates the mediating effect of digital integration and regulation, and there is a moderated mediating effect. However, the moderating effect on the mediating effect of digital strategy is not significant.
Originality/value
Existing studies neglect the relationship between the coordination of digital technology functions and digital competitive advantage. This study provides a new theoretical explanation for an in-depth understanding of these issues. These findings promote the development of innovation theory and provide valuable insights for guiding the application of digital technology in enterprises.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We appreciate the comments of the anonymous reviewers, which help to improve the quality of this study. I would also like to thank the editors for their timely responses. Additionally, we would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.
Citation
Zhu, J. and Jin, Y. (2024), "Exploring the mechanism of digital technology affordance on manufacturing enterprises’ digital competitive advantage", European Journal of Innovation Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-01-2023-0103
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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