More relational or more digital? The synchronous and ambivalent influences of firm capabilities on value co-creation

Wei Yang (), Fenglei Han (), Yin Zhou () and Yu Gao ()
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Wei Yang: Chang’an University
Fenglei Han: Chang’an University
Yin Zhou: Chang’an University
Yu Gao: Xi’an Jiaotong University

The Journal of Technology Transfer, 2025, vol. 50, issue 2, No 4, 446-468

Abstract: Abstract In the current volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environment and digital era, value co-creation is an important strategy for competitive advantage of manufactures. Moreover, firms' relational capability (RC) and digital capability (DC) are vital driving forces of value co-creation. However, the complex relationships between relational capabilities and digital capabilities are not yet clear. Based on service-dominant logic (S-D logic), our study constructs a research framework and hypothesis of the antecedents and consequences of value co-creation. Besides, drawing on socio-technical congruence theory, we develop four matched typologies (high RC/high DC, low RC/low DC, low RC/high DC, and high RC/low DC), and investigate the effects of (in)congruence between RC and DC on value co-creation. The research model is tested with 340 survey data from Chinese manufactures using polynomial regression analyses and response surface modelling. Results show that RC and DC are positively related to value co-creation, and value co-creation positively affects firm innovation performance. In addition, empirical results suggest that RC/DC congruence has a linear positive effect, while RC/DC incongruence has an inverted U-shaped effect on value co-creation. Lastly, we also find that high RC/low DC leads to more value co-creation than high DC/low RC. These findings provide insights of firms' capabilities on value co-creation under S-D logic and contribute to practices of innovation management within strategic partnerships.

Keywords: Relational capability; Digital capability; (In)congruence; Value co-creation; Innovation performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s10961-024-10105-6

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