Configuration research on innovation performance of digital enterprises: Based on an open innovation and knowledge perspective

Abstract

This paper takes 36 unicorn enterprises in China as a sample case. Based on the perspective of open innovation and knowledge, combined with the background of the transformation and development of China’s digital economy, the antecedent conditions such as the three dimensions of knowledge integration ability, the two dimensions of open innovation and knowledge sharing are integrated by using configuration thinking and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method. The multiple concurrent factors and causal complex mechanisms affecting innovation performance are discussed. The results show that: 1) The different dimensions of knowledge integration capability, open innovation, and knowledge sharing have six configurations to achieve high-level firm performance; 2) Different knowledge integration capabilities can all promote innovation performance; 3) knowledge sharing improves the management and utilization of knowledge, which is an important guarantee for improving innovation performance. The conclusion expands the innovation perspective of the matching of knowledge and open innovation, helps to understand the mechanism of innovation performance, and provides theoretical reference and beneficial enlightenment for enterprises to effectively improve innovation performance.