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Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 22264

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Chun-Liang Chen

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Guest Editor
Graduate school of creative industry design, National Taiwan University of Arts, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Interests: innovation strategies; E-business; service innovation; international business management
Prof. Dr. Chih Kai Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cultural and Creative Industries Management, National Taipei University of Education, Taipei, Taiwan
Interests: entertainment and culture economy; strategic marketing and management; consumer behavior
Dr. Yao Chin Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Information Management Department, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Interests: digital transformation; business incubation and innovation; intelligent systems; service system application

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the face of rapid digitalization and increasingly fierce competition, both profit and non-profit organizations are transforming their business strategies through innovation. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, digital transformation and digital upgrading accelerated, thereby reshaping business models. Digital global operations have, thus, become an important issue of organizational innovation, development, and management. Critical questions focus on the means of promoting the transformation and upgrading of various industries while enhancing the creation of added value to strengthen firm competitiveness. Both innovation and value creation increase the resilience of firms in the face of disruptive changes.

The objectives of organizational innovation are diverse, focusing not only on products and services but also on new-business venturing, strategy innovation, business model innovation, the development and application of new technologies, new management practices, process innovation, service innovation, and service ecosystem innovation. To innovate successfully, organizations must not only rely on their own knowledge and competences but also increasingly on their inter-disciplinary talent and collaboration with external institutions to become industry leaders.

These topics have been the focus of much research. For example, Chen (2020) addressed the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies to current business models and corporate strategies for participation in the global value chain, as well as the enhancement of digitized service experiences. Müller et al. (2018) showed that enterprises need to implement strategies tailored to their specific organizational structure. Chen (2020) proposed applying the concept of value constellations to the analysis of value co-creation in the service industry. Chen and Lin (2021) suggested that cluster innovation models could strengthen competence of SMEs. Chen (2021) elaborated on the design-driven innovation necessary for development in creative sectors. Lin et al. (2020) addressed the importance of growth among enterprises participating in collaborative innovation. Chiu and Chen (2018) highlighted how the total customer experience makes fashion brands a cultural consumption experience, in which service and experience innovation are equally important. Field et al. (2021) emphasized the importance of scholarships and practices related to the design of sustainable service ecosystems.

In the fields of organization, strategy, science and technology management, international business, and marketing, the academic community has paid increasing attention to the strategic thinking necessary for success in complex changing environments. The theme of this Special Issue is "Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy". Scholars from related fields are invited to explore research issues related to digital services and corporate strategy innovation. Manuscripts with innovative perspectives, advanced viewpoints for the trends, cross-disciplinary integration, and diverse research methods are especially welcome. Papers on the analysis and testing of digital technology affecting international marketing are also welcome.

In summary, this Special Issue aims to serve as a state-of-the-art survey of the major challenges facing digitalization and innovative business strategy, followed by a detailed study on each research line, including, but not limited to, the following topics:

  • Digital services;
  • Sustainable services (e.g., enabling sustainable services via data and technology, cultivating sustainable ecosystems, and driving sustainable customer-perceived services);
  • Innovative business strategies;
  • Value co-creation;
  • Service ecosystem innovation;
  • Digital platform service ecosystems;
  • E-commerce and cross-border e-commerce;
  • Innovation;
  • Digital transformation, digital innovation, and innovation patterns in SMEs.

References:

Chen, C.-L., Lin, Y.-C., Chen, W.-H., Chao, C.-F., Pandia, H. (2021). Role of government to enhance digital transformation in small service business, Sustainability, 13, 1028.

Chen, Chun-Liang (2020). Cross-disciplinary innovations by Taiwanese manufacturing SMEs in the context of Industry 4.0, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 31(6), 1145-1168.

Chen, Chun-Liang (2020). Value-constellation innovation by firms participating in government-funded technology development, Journal of Global Information Technology Management, 23(4), 248-272.

Chen, Chun-Liang (2021). Cultural product innovation strategies adopted by the performing arts industry, Review of Managerial Science, 15(5), 1139-1171.

Chiu, Yung-Teen and Chen, Chih-Kai (2018). Fashion luxury industry is not business as usual: An anti-business model, Journal of Statistics and Management Systems, 21(5), 767-774.

Field, J. M.,  Fotheringham, D.,  Subramony,M.,  Gustafsson, A., Ostrom, A. L.,  Lemon, K. N...., McColl-Kennedy, J.R. (2021). Service research priorities: Designing sustainable service ecosystems, Journal of Service Research, 24 (4), 462-479.

Lin, Y.-C., Chen, C.-L., Chao, C.-F., Chen, W.-H., Pandia, H. (2020). The study of evaluation index of growth evaluation of science and technological innovation micro-enterprises, Sustainability, 12, 6233.

Müller, J.M. and Voigt, K.I. (2018), Sustainable industrial value creation in SMEs: a comparison between Industry 4.0 and made in China 2025, International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology, 5(5), 658-670.

Prof. Dr. Chun-Liang Chen
Prof. Dr. Chih Kai Chen
Dr. Yao Chin Lin
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • innovative business strategy
  • value co-creation
  • digital service
  • e-commerce and cross-border e-commerce
  • digital platform service ecosystem
  • SMEs’ digital transformation
  • innovation
  • service innovation
  • sustainable service
  • service ecosystem innovation

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 4745 KiB  
Article
Form Uncertainty to Sustainable Decision-Making: A Novel MIDAS–AM–DeepAR-Based Prediction Model for E-Commerce Industry Development
by Feifei Huang, Mingxia Lin and Shoukat Iqbal Khattak
Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 6029; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146029 - 15 Jul 2024
Viewed by 639
Abstract
Global efforts to build sustainable e-commerce ecosystems through various prediction tools have suffered due to uncertainty in politics, the economy, and the environment. This paper proposes a new integrative prediction model to track the sustainable development of e-commerce. Using US e-commerce data, this [...] Read more.
Global efforts to build sustainable e-commerce ecosystems through various prediction tools have suffered due to uncertainty in politics, the economy, and the environment. This paper proposes a new integrative prediction model to track the sustainable development of e-commerce. Using US e-commerce data, this study explores the prediction accuracy of the mixed data sampling (MIDAS) model in combination with the attention mechanism (AM) approach, analyzing the performance differences between the model’s before and after improvements. More so, the paper evaluates the performance of the new prediction approach against other competing models using the prediction accuracy metric, the probability interval test, and the Diebold and Mariann (DM) test methods. The results indicate that the introduction of the MIDAS and the AM approaches allows the prediction model to fully utilize the effective information of the mixed-frequency data while simultaneously capturing the differences in the importance of the variables in terms of their time series and the non-linear relationship of the learning variables, thereby positively influencing the economic prediction of the e-commerce industry. Second, the proposed prediction model combines the ability of long-term and short-term high-precision prediction and performs multi-step probability prediction on the development of the e-commerce industry. It can better track abnormal changes in macroeconomic indicators and fit their fluctuation trends. Third, based on the results of the three evaluation indicators, the MIDAS–AM–Deep autoregressive recurrent neural network (DeepAR) model achieves optimal prediction accuracy, allowing it to provide more timely, accurate, and comprehensive predictions for e-commerce management decisions when macroeconomic conditions are undergoing significant transformations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
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21 pages, 290 KiB  
Article
The Impact of a Company’s Management Strategy on Its Profitability, Stability, and Growth: A Focus on the Information Security Industry
by Hyun Kang and Hyung Jong Na
Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 5166; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125166 - 18 Jun 2024
Viewed by 673
Abstract
This study concentrated on a business report that typically reveals a company’s non-financial information, aiming to uncover its strategic direction. Using text-mining techniques, the research extracted and analyzed the report’s overview sections, identifying key strategic themes categorized into the financial, customer, learning and [...] Read more.
This study concentrated on a business report that typically reveals a company’s non-financial information, aiming to uncover its strategic direction. Using text-mining techniques, the research extracted and analyzed the report’s overview sections, identifying key strategic themes categorized into the financial, customer, learning and growth, and internal process perspectives. The empirical analysis applied a two-stage model to assess how shifts in company strategies affect profitability, stability, and growth. This research provided insights into the management strategies and financial metrics within the information security sector, examining how strategic priorities shape financial health. The findings were as follows. Firstly, companies emphasizing financial strategies in their reports tended to exhibit higher profitability. Secondly, those focusing on customer-oriented strategies also reported greater profitability. Thirdly, companies prioritizing internal processes demonstrated increased organizational stability. Fourthly, an emphasis on learning and growth strategies was associated with lower stability but higher growth potential. This paper contributes to the field by offering a method to quantitatively analyze qualitative textual data, providing a more precise approach to understanding management strategies through direct content analysis of business reports. It also highlights the specific financial and strategic characteristics of information security firms, a relatively under-researched area, thereby offering valuable guidance for these companies in terms of strategic planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
21 pages, 1304 KiB  
Article
From Friends to Feedback: Effect of Social Influence on Mobile Shopping in the Post-COVID Era
by Xiaoping Tang, Muhammad Shehzad Hanif, Nabeel Haider, Amina Rizwan and Aitzaz Khurshid
Sustainability 2024, 16(12), 5134; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16125134 - 17 Jun 2024
Viewed by 696
Abstract
Although mobile shopping is a new norm after the pandemic, its proliferation is still not very mature in developing nations. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, this research employs the SEM technique to examine the effect [...] Read more.
Although mobile shopping is a new norm after the pandemic, its proliferation is still not very mature in developing nations. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, this research employs the SEM technique to examine the effect of mobile shopping frequency and repurchase intent among 198 young mobile shopping consumers in Pakistan. Our findings suggest that purchase frequency is a key variable in consumer behavior and plays a significant role in building mobile shopping repurchase intentions. Findings further suggest that effort expectancy, unlike the performance expectancy, also strongly affects the relationship between purchase frequency and repurchase intention as an intervening mechanism, while a strong interaction effect from the social influence is also noted. This research offers insightful implications for researchers and marketers in the realm of e-commerce and mobile shopping domains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
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20 pages, 547 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Regional Competitiveness of China’s Cross-Border E-Commerce
by Lifan Yang, Jiatian Dong and Weixin Yang
Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031007 - 24 Jan 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3051
Abstract
Cross-border e-commerce is a pivotal component of the digital economy, serving as a crucial gauge for regional competitiveness in digital transformation and international trade. This study employs the Groundings-Enterprises-Markets (GEM) model, factor analysis, and the entropy weight method to evaluate the regional competitiveness [...] Read more.
Cross-border e-commerce is a pivotal component of the digital economy, serving as a crucial gauge for regional competitiveness in digital transformation and international trade. This study employs the Groundings-Enterprises-Markets (GEM) model, factor analysis, and the entropy weight method to evaluate the regional competitiveness of cross-border e-commerce in China. Analyzing data from 2018 to 2021 across 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, the research assesses competitiveness through basic, enterprise, and market factors. Findings reveal annual improvement in China’s overall cross-border e-commerce competitiveness, yet notable regional disparities persist, with the east outpacing the west. Guangdong Province emerges as a key player and leader when the regions are classified into three tiers. Key factors influencing competitiveness include the digital economy development index, the number of cross-border e-commerce pilot zones, R&D expenditures, cross-border enterprise competitiveness, and core enterprise scale. The study concludes with policy recommendations, emphasizing digital reform, logistics efficiency enhancement, and the promotion of digital technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
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18 pages, 1162 KiB  
Article
Governance and Corporate Management System Supported by Innovation, Technology, and Digital Transformation as a Driver of Change
by Alexander Guerrero-Avendaño, Wilson Nieto Bernal and Carmenza Luna Amaya
Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 13150; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151713150 - 1 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2903
Abstract
Governance and Corporate Management Systems have become key tools for the comprehensive management of organizations, which, when implemented, guarantee corporate success, which can materialize in obtaining corporate goals, strategic objectives, KPIs, and KRP. This paper is the product of research exercises where a [...] Read more.
Governance and Corporate Management Systems have become key tools for the comprehensive management of organizations, which, when implemented, guarantee corporate success, which can materialize in obtaining corporate goals, strategic objectives, KPIs, and KRP. This paper is the product of research exercises where a Governance and Corporate Management System is exposed, supported by three main pillars: Technology Management, Innovation Management, and Digital Transformation, which we will call GCMS+ from now on. The work developed is based on a quasi-experimental longitudinal research methodology, in which three key phases are addressed; the first phase corresponds to the systematic review of the literature, which allows the identification of the key components of the proposed GCMS+ system. The second phase of the methodology focused on the modelling of the GCMS+ system, which visually and descriptively describes the structural components, flows, and control mechanisms. The third phase of the methodology focuses on the validation of the GCMS+ system proposed from the discussed literature and contrasting the position of the authors, which is identified through a conceptual discussion. In this case, it seeks to validate the structural elements of GCMS+, the constraints, adoption of good practices, integration of standards, adoption of principles, integration of drivers, strategic taxonomy, organizational structures, governance and management approach, as well as methodologies, roles, initiatives, metrics, and indicators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
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39 pages, 2199 KiB  
Article
The Evolution of Corporate Innovation in the O2O Model—Case Studies in the Chinese Jewelry Retail Sector
by Minghong Shi, Chao Zhang and Chun-Liang Chen
Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 13017; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151713017 - 29 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2506
Abstract
The latest craze of new retailing has required the traditional jewelry industry to cope with it head-on. The aims of this article are to discover how the jewelry retail companies can innovate and evolve in the current wave of new retailing and understand [...] Read more.
The latest craze of new retailing has required the traditional jewelry industry to cope with it head-on. The aims of this article are to discover how the jewelry retail companies can innovate and evolve in the current wave of new retailing and understand how they use relevant technologies in their omni-channel operations. The selected methodology is a qualitative explanatory multi-case study. Four types of enterprises of the jewelry retail sector were selected. We find that there are four corporate innovation types in the jewelry retail sector, including: price-driven, service-driven, technology-driven, and demand-driven models. Case enterprises have established their own innovation approaches with regard to the adoption of omni-channel technology. This study advocated that different types of enterprise have different channel resources and assets, so they should set up customized omni-channel strategies in accordance with the advantages of their resources and the needs of target customers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
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18 pages, 346 KiB  
Article
Determinants of Demand in Digital Platform-Mediated Service Work in Turkey: An Empirical Study
by Ensar Balkaya, İkram Yusuf Yarbaşı and Muhammed İkbal Tepeler
Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10521; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310521 - 4 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1467
Abstract
Despite claims that digital platform-mediated jobs may have negative consequences for the labor market, empirical evidence supports the existence of positive effects, especially for low-paid and low-skilled service jobs. Comparative studies on the characteristics, working conditions, and earnings of workers who perform these [...] Read more.
Despite claims that digital platform-mediated jobs may have negative consequences for the labor market, empirical evidence supports the existence of positive effects, especially for low-paid and low-skilled service jobs. Comparative studies on the characteristics, working conditions, and earnings of workers who perform these jobs on digital platforms are becoming widespread. However, there needs to be more literature regarding the demand side of digital platform-mediated service jobs. This study aims to determine the factors affecting the demand for digital platform-mediated services using a dataset obtained from a comprehensive survey conducted by Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) throughout Turkey. The study uses the probit econometric model with a qualitative dependent variable. The results show that the income level of the individuals, the characteristics of the region where they live, and the familiarity of individuals with digital platforms significantly affect the demand for digital platform-mediated services. The findings demonstrate that specifically middle-income individuals, compared to individuals in other income groups, individuals residing in areas with high population density, compared to individuals in other regions, and individuals with Internet familiarity, compared to other individuals, exhibit a higher demand for digital platform-mediated services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
37 pages, 6216 KiB  
Article
A State-of-the-Art Review of Sharing Economy Business Models and a Forecast of Future Research Directions for Sustainable Development: A Bibliometric Analysis Approach
by Carson Duan
Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4568; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054568 - 3 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3393
Abstract
The area of sharing economy business models (SEBMs) is expanding worldwide. To date, a few qualitative literature reviews concentrating on specific business models have been undertaken, while several have focused on the general concept of the sharing economy. Meanwhile, there is a lack [...] Read more.
The area of sharing economy business models (SEBMs) is expanding worldwide. To date, a few qualitative literature reviews concentrating on specific business models have been undertaken, while several have focused on the general concept of the sharing economy. Meanwhile, there is a lack of quantitative reviews in this area. Therefore, a retrospective review of the evolution of the SEBM area and prospective forecasts based on quantified data are urgently needed. In order to fill the gaps and critically evaluate the extant literature on the SEBM area and its scientometrics-related topics, this paper combines the Scopus and Web of Science databases to establish a dataset for a thorough bibliometric analysis. With 951 studies from 552 sources identified, this research provides comprehensive and nuanced information covering the most influential authors and their contributions to the subject, impactful articles with their citation details, ranked sources with their h_, g_ and m-index as well as collaboration maps for authors, affiliations and countries. Graphical representation of knowledge mapping depicts the evolution of publications over time and the emerging trends of current interests and potential directions for future research for sustainable development. This study revealed that Sustainability is the most relevant and second most impactful journal in SEBM research. More importantly, this research deployed keyword dynamic and thematic evolution to detect the current and future trending topics, providing seven future research directions: (1) drivers-, location- and competition-related topics; (2) SEBMs in emerging economies; (3) country-, region- and culture-oriented SEBMs; (4) the link between e-commerce and social media frameworks and SEBMs; (5) sustainability and SEBMs; (6) new technologies and SEBMs and (7) COVID-19 effects on SEBMs. Overall, the results of this study theoretically enrich the sharing economy business model literature and have substantial implications for policymakers and practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
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19 pages, 549 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Digital Transformation on Manufacturing-Enterprise Innovation: Empirical Evidence from China
by Xingguang Guo and Xi Chen
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3124; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043124 - 8 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5452
Abstract
The industrial sector is now undergoing digital revolution and upgrade, and it is of strategic significance to study how enterprise digitalization affects enterprise innovation. This paper develops a theoretical model of how digital transformation affects innovation in manufacturing enterprises, based on the resource-based [...] Read more.
The industrial sector is now undergoing digital revolution and upgrade, and it is of strategic significance to study how enterprise digitalization affects enterprise innovation. This paper develops a theoretical model of how digital transformation affects innovation in manufacturing enterprises, based on the resource-based view, network-embeddedness theory, and resource-complementarity theory. It then tests the mechanism and boundary conditions of the model, using data from a World Bank survey of Chinese enterprises. The study reveals how the degree of e-commerce embeddedness might partially mediate the effect of digital transformation on the innovation of manufacturing companies. Managerial human capital positively moderates the effect of digital transformation on manufacturing enterprises’ independent-R&D investment and product-innovation output. Employee human capital significantly and positively moderates the effect of digital transformation on manufacturing enterprises’ product-innovation output, while negatively moderating the effect of digital transformation on manufacturing enterprises’ cooperative-R&D investment. The conclusions can expand the relevant theoretical research on digital transformation and enterprise innovation, and also provide practical enlightenment for the digital transformation and upgrading of manufacturing enterprises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digitalization and Innovative Business Strategy)
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