How do digitalization capabilities enable open innovation in manufacturing enterprises? A multiple case study based on resource integration perspective

Abstract

Enabling open innovation through digitalization capabilities is an important way for manufacturing enterprises to gain a competitive advantage in the digital economy. However, existing research on digital transformation and innovation development in manufacturing enterprises is based on conceptual and review studies, leading to a lack of exploring the mechanisms of digitalization capabilities enabling open innovation. In this research, we conducted a multiple case analysis with interviews and document data from four different types of manufacturing companies with open innovation enabled by digitalization capabilities, providing two key contributions to extant literature. First, resource integration is the bridge that connects digitalization capabilities with open innovation. Enterprises further empower open innovation by promoting the identification and acquisition of digital resources, resource matching and utilization through digitalization capabilities. Second, the process of digitalization capabilities enabling open innovation is closely linked to internal and external situational factors, with the environmental dynamics and the digital awareness of managers playing a catalytic role. The findings clarify the inner mechanism of digitalization capabilities to drive open innovation from the perspective of resource integration and provide theoretical reference for digital transformation and open innovation practice of manufacturing enterprises.