Standard alliance network position and digital innovation: Empirical evidence from the ICT industry in China

This study focuses on the relationship between standard alliance network position and digital innovation, and discusses the individual and joint moderating effects of network diversity and media attention. An empirical analysis is conducted by using data of all enterprises in the Chinese ICT industry standard alliance network from 2015 to 2021. We have discovered several important conclusions through our study. Firstly, standard alliance network position significantly promotes enterprises’ digital innovation. Secondly, network diversity positively moderates the impact of standard alliance network position on digital innovation. Thirdly, media attention has an inverted U-shaped effect on the relationship between network position and digital innovation. The analysis of the three-way interaction effect suggests that the different configurations of standard alliance network position, network diversity and media attention will have a different impact on digital innovation. Thus, to promote digital innovation, enterprises should actively establish extensive connections with network members and strive to occupy a central position. At the same time, enterprises need to pay attention to the partnership with diverse subjects and media, and rationally allocate internal resources to enhance digital innovation and reduce potential risks and reputational pressure.