Digital technology implementation: The mediating role of the duality of digital technology affordance in open innovation practices

Abstract

The current wave of digital transformation has placed enterprises under dual pressure from technological changes and the challenges of openness. These two factors are closely intertwined, interact with each other, and are highly complex and uncertain. The implementation of digital technology (DT) is a key driving force, providing crucial support for enterprises to cope with an open innovation environment. Our study seeks to reveal the mechanism of the impact of DT implementation on enterprises’ open innovation practices. Initially, this study introduces a novel concept of DT affordance composed of two dimensions: technological affordance and data resource affordance. Subsequently, DT affordance is employed to elucidate why DT implementation drives open innovation practices, and the duality mediating mechanism of DT affordance is proposed. We then differentiate between two types of digital transformation modes-business pull mode and technology push mode-and explore the interaction effects of the duality of DT affordance. Enterprise survey data indicate that the dual mediating mechanism of DT affordance is significant and technological affordance plays a more substantial role in the business-pull mode. Finally, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our research.