Research on Digital Transformation and Organizational Innovation of Manufacturing Firms Based on Knowledge Field

Zhang Xiufan () and Fan Decheng
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Zhang Xiufan: Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
Fan Decheng: Harbin Engineering University

Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 2024, vol. 15, issue 4, No 17, 15860-15903

Abstract: Abstract The digital transformation of manufacturing firms can enhance the activity of the knowledge field and inject new evolutionary momentum into organizational innovation. Its key meaning for firm management is to inject new evolutionary momentum into organizational innovation. In the era of digital information, it is very important to accurately and efficiently explore how the all-round digital transformation of manufacturing firms can stimulate organizational innovation. In this study, we focus on how to promote information exchange, trust relationship establishment, and team cohesion formation among manufacturing firms in the process of digital transformation of firms, so as to improve the activity of knowledge field and form a mechanism that can promote organizational system innovation, organizational strategy innovation, and organizational structure innovation. Based on the previous research work on digital transformation, knowledge field, and organizational innovation, we combine the latest progress of grounded theory and multi-case analysis. Through the multi-case study of eight manufacturing firms in China, the grounded theory method is used to summarize the dimensions and main characteristics of digital transformation, knowledge field activity, and organizational innovation, and to establish a multi-dimensional theoretical framework for digital transformation to promote organizational innovation by enhancing knowledge field activity. The research finds that (1) the digital transformation of manufacturing firms helps to link internal and external factors of the organization, forming the dynamic support and institutional path of organizational innovation; (2) digital technology and platform construction help multi-agent interaction, promote trust among organization members, and achieve collaborative strategic innovation; and (3) digital scene interaction and other means promote the formation of organizational team cohesion and promote organizational structure innovation. Therefore, our method integrates the theory of modern organization, aiming at expounding the core issues of system, strategy, and governance structure in the organizational innovation of manufacturing firms, and providing practical reference for firm digital information governance and organizational innovation. The research results are helpful to understand the mechanism of digital transformation on organizational innovation of manufacturing firms, accelerate China’s digital-driven development, deepen the reform of science and technology system and mechanism, improve organizational innovation ability, and guide manufacturing firms to further realize organizational innovation under the background of digital transformation.

Keywords: Manufacturing firm; Digital technology; Digital platform; Knowledge field activity; Organizational innovation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s13132-023-01703-0

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