test
Search publications, data, projects and authors

Free full text available

Thesis

English

ID: <

10670/1.uj4ja4

>

Where these data come from
The path of the adoption of digital technology to SMEs’ business performance : evidence from China

Abstract

Impressive developments in digital technology such as big data, virtual reality, cloud computing and artificial intelligence have been continually and thoroughly penetrating various fields, which have reshaped innovation landscape by accelerating growth of internet of everything, data-driven computation, platform support and intelligence industry. The mushrooming of digital technology is accelerating the integration with the real economy, driving the digital innovation to expand with full extent. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the basic units to promote employment, economic development and innovative activities. They are the largest and most dynamic parts in the market economy and thus digital innovation is central to the survival and growth of Chinese SMEs. Therefore, a clear understanding both of processes by which SMEs develop digital innovation and the benefits which flow from digital innovation in terms of market share and profit level is important. This thesis demonstrates the use of a conceptual framework, the digital innovation value chain (DIVC), and shows how the DIVC approach helps to understand the process in digital innovation for SMEs. The value of the DIVC is expressed in showing the key interrelationships in the process of digital innovation from adoption of digital technology (ADT) through digital innovation to business performance in terms of the market share and profit level. This research empirically showed that the ADT can have a positive influence on both business networks and personal networks for SMEs. Furthermore, the results indicated that heterogeneous networks including business networks and personal networks afforded by ADT allows SMEs to continuously deal with digital innovation activities. We extend existing knowledge about innovation value chain by empirically illustrating the importance of digital technology with respect to digital innovation activities, in particular for digital products innovation, digital service innovation and business model innovation , which has indirect influence on SMEs’ business performance. A key benefit of the DIVC approach is therefore its ability to emphasize the roles of different factors at various chain of the digital source-digital innovation-SMEs’ business performance nexus, and to show their indirect and direct impact. This research provides a contribution in the area of digital innovation aimed at categorizing dimensions of digital innovation by suggesting that digital innovation involve digital products innovation, digital service innovation and business model innovation according to review on previous studies of innovation. It extends existing knowledge about innovation value chain by empirically illustrating the importance of digital technology with respect to digital innovation activities, in particular for digital products innovation, digital service innovation and business model innovation. This research also corresponds with the need to make today’s digital innovation more fluid, thereby facilitating the diversity and flexibility of DIVC with regard to dynamic and boundless environment.

Your Feedback

Please give us your feedback and help us make GoTriple better.
Fill in our satisfaction questionnaire and tell us what you like about GoTriple!