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Managerial Digital Literacy and Responsible Innovation in Chinese Manufacturing Firms: Ambidexterity and Regulatory Focus in the New Quality Productive Forces Era

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoyu Qu
  • Hongfei Tang
  • Adnan Khan
  • Syed Hussain Murtaza

Abstract

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has reshaped innovation processes, raising questions about how managerial digital literacy (MDL) influences responsible innovation (RI). Yet, the mechanisms and boundary conditions of this relationship remain insufficiently understood, particularly given potential mismatches between individual and organizational‐level constructs. Drawing on dynamic capability theory (DCT) and regulatory focus theory (RFT), this study examines how ambidextrous capability, comprising exploitative capabilities, mediates the effect of MDL on RI, and how organizational regulatory focus moderates these pathways. Survey data were collected from 262 manufacturing firms in China, with senior managers serving as key informants for organizational constructs. Hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression and PROCESS macro bootstrapping in SPSS. Results indicate that MDL enhances RI indirectly through ambidextrous capability. A promotion‐focused climate strengthens the role of exploratory capability, whereas the moderating role of prevention focus is less evident. These findings clarify the enabling role of MDL in shaping RI, while highlighting the contextual limitations of efficiency‐driven orientations. The study contributes by unpacking pathways that link MDL and RI within the policy context of China's “New Quality Productive Forces” era. Practically, it provides guidance for firms to foster RI by investing in MDL, balancing exploration and exploitation, and aligning regulatory orientations with long‐term goals. Limitations related to the cross‐sectional design, self‐reported survey data, and the single‐country, single‐industry setting are acknowledged, suggesting directions for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyu Qu & Hongfei Tang & Adnan Khan & Syed Hussain Murtaza, 2026. "Managerial Digital Literacy and Responsible Innovation in Chinese Manufacturing Firms: Ambidexterity and Regulatory Focus in the New Quality Productive Forces Era," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(3), pages 3843-3856, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:35:y:2026:i:3:p:3843-3856
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.70386
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