The Effect of Digitalization on Ambidextrous Innovation in Manufacturing Enterprises: A Perspective of Empowering and Enabling

Abstract

Digital transformation has become an inevitable choice for manufacturing enterprises to sustain innovation in the digital world. This study selected a sample of Chinese provinces and A-share companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets from 2011 to 2021 to examine the relationship between regional digitalization, enterprise digitalization, and enterprise ambidextrous innovation. We found that (1) regional digitalization can promote exploitative and exploratory innovation of manufacturing enterprises. Digitalization plays an empowering effect in the promotion process. The regional digital talent reserve significantly impacts ambidextrous innovation in manufacturing enterprises more than network infrastructure construction, digital technology development, and digital technology application; (2) Enterprise digitalization can promote exploitative and exploratory innovation of manufacturing enterprises. Digitalization plays an enabling impact in this promotion process; (3) Regional digitalization can promote the level of manufacturing enterprise digitalization. In promoting enterprise ambidextrous innovation, digitalization can realize the transformation from regional digitalization empowering to enterprise digitalization enabling. The regional digital talent reserve significantly impacts manufacturing enterprise digitalization more than network infrastructure construction, digital technology development, and digital technology application; (4) The impact of regional and enterprise digitalization on exploratory innovation in large-scale manufacturing enterprises is more significant, and large-scale enterprises are better able to transform from digitalization empowering to enabling. The conclusions of this study have specific theoretical and practical significance for revealing the relationship between digitalization and enterprise ambidextrous innovation and then promoting regional digitalization development, manufacturing enterprise digital transformation, and innovation development.