Linking manufacturing digitalization and technological Innovation: The mediating role of dynamic capabilities

IF 12.5 1区社会学 Q1 SOCIAL ISSUES

Technology in Society Pub Date : 2025-08-15 DOI:10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.103041

Weimin Chen , Haiyan Lu , Luca Mora , Ting Chen , Dominik Beckers , Mengyun Hu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Amid the expanding digital economy and the progression of Industry 4.0 initiatives, both industry professionals and academic researchers are increasingly focused on unraveling the mechanisms by which manufacturing digitalization drives technological innovation. Build upon the resource-based view and dynamic capability theory, this study develops a theoretical framework and proposes research hypotheses to investigate how manufacturing digitalization and dynamic capabilities influence technological innovation, with particular attention to product and process innovation. Analyzing survey data from 276 manufacturing firms located in the first national-level pilot cities for digital transformation in China, structural equation modeling results reveal that: (1) digitalization within manufacturing firms can significantly promote both product and process innovation; (2) dynamic capabilities play a mediating role in linking manufacturing digitalization with technological innovation. Specifically, dynamic capabilities partially mediate the relationship between manufacturing digitalization and process innovation, and serve as a full mediator in its impact on product innovation. These findings provide theoretical insights and practical implications, helping manufacturing firms better recognize the strategic value of digitalization and dynamic capabilities in enhancing technological innovation through digital transformation.

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链接制造业数字化与技术创新：动态能力的中介作用

随着数字经济的发展和工业4.0计划的推进，行业专业人士和学术研究人员越来越关注制造业数字化驱动技术创新的机制。本文以资源基础观和动态能力理论为基础，构建了制造业数字化和动态能力对技术创新的影响理论框架，并提出了研究假设，重点关注产品和工艺创新。通过对中国首批国家级数字化转型试点城市276家制造业企业的调查数据分析，结构方程建模结果表明：(1)制造业企业内部数字化对产品创新和工艺创新都有显著的促进作用；(2)动态能力在制造业数字化与技术创新之间起中介作用。具体而言，动态能力在制造数字化与工艺创新之间起到部分中介作用，在其对产品创新的影响中起到完全中介作用。这些研究结果提供了理论见解和实践意义，有助于制造业企业更好地认识数字化的战略价值和通过数字化转型促进技术创新的动态能力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Technology in Society Multiple-

CiteScore

17.90

自引率

14.10%

发文量

316

审稿时长

60 days

期刊介绍： Technology in Society is a global journal dedicated to fostering discourse at the crossroads of technological change and the social, economic, business, and philosophical transformation of our world. The journal aims to provide scholarly contributions that empower decision-makers to thoughtfully and intentionally navigate the decisions shaping this dynamic landscape. A common thread across these fields is the role of technology in society, influencing economic, political, and cultural dynamics. Scholarly work in Technology in Society delves into the social forces shaping technological decisions and the societal choices regarding technology use. This encompasses scholarly and theoretical approaches (history and philosophy of science and technology, technology forecasting, economic growth, and policy, ethics), applied approaches (business innovation, technology management, legal and engineering), and developmental perspectives (technology transfer, technology assessment, and economic development). Detailed information about the journal's aims and scope on specific topics can be found in Technology in Society Briefings, accessible via our Special Issues and Article Collections.