IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v139y2022icp184-193.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental uncertainty, resource orchestration and digital transformation: A fuzzy-set QCA approach

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, Hansong
  • Tian, Zhen

Abstract

Digital transformation is essential if enterprises are to obtain a competitive advantage in the digital economy. However, successful transformation is a problem for both academia and industry. The literature mainly focuses on the net effects of single factors. Instead, we develop a configurational framework and propose that digital transformation does not depend on a single condition, but on interactions between environmental uncertainty and resource orchestration. Based on a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of Chinese enterprises undergoing digital transformation, we identify and explore five conditions that influence digital transformation. We show that both high and not-high levels of digital maturity can be achieved through different configurations of antecedents. There also exists a significant effect of technical uncertainty as well as synergy between environmental uncertainty and resource orchestration, which can jointly promote digital transformation. These findings enrich the literature on digital transformation and provide implications for the transformation of enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Hansong & Tian, Zhen, 2022. "Environmental uncertainty, resource orchestration and digital transformation: A fuzzy-set QCA approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 184-193.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:139:y:2022:i:c:p:184-193
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.09.048
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296321007001
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.09.048?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wenwen An & Charles-Clemens Rüling & Xin Zheng & Jianqi Zhang, 2019. "Configurations of effectuation, causation, and bricolage: implications for firm growth paths," Post-Print hal-02380848, HAL.
    2. Kamini Gupta & Donal Crilly & Thomas Greckhamer, 2020. "Stakeholder engagement strategies, national institutions, and firm performance: A configurational perspective," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(10), pages 1869-1900, October.
    3. De Crescenzo, Veronica & Ribeiro-Soriano, Domingo Enrique & Covin, Jeffrey G., 2020. "Exploring the viability of equity crowdfunding as a fundraising instrument: A configurational analysis of contingency factors that lead to crowdfunding success and failure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 348-356.
    4. Du, Yunzhou & Kim, Phillip H., 2021. "One size does not fit all: Strategy configurations, complex environments, and new venture performance in emerging economies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 272-285.
    5. Nambisan, Satish & Wright, Mike & Feldman, Maryann, 2019. "The digital transformation of innovation and entrepreneurship: Progress, challenges and key themes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(8), pages 1-1.
    6. J. Justin Tan & Robert J. Litsschert, 1994. "Environment‐strategy relationship and its performance implications: An empirical study of the chinese electronics industry," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, January.
    7. René Belderbos & Tony W. Tong & Shubin Wu, 2019. "Multinational investment and the value of growth options: Alignment of incremental strategy to environmental uncertainty," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 127-152, January.
    8. Shahper Vodanovich & David Sundaram & Michael Myers, 2010. "Research Commentary ---Digital Natives and Ubiquitous Information Systems," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 711-723, December.
    9. Huarng, Kun-Huang & Roig-Tierno, Norat, 2016. "Qualitative comparative analysis, crisp and fuzzy sets in knowledge and innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(11), pages 5181-5186.
    10. Tekic, Zeljko & Koroteev, Dmitry, 2019. "From disruptively digital to proudly analog: A holistic typology of digital transformation strategies," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 62(6), pages 683-693.
    11. Martínez-Caro, Eva & Cegarra-Navarro, Juan Gabriel & Alfonso-Ruiz, Francisco Javier, 2020. "Digital technologies and firm performance: The role of digital organisational culture," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    12. Ferreira, João J.M. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Ferreira, Fernando A.F., 2019. "To be or not to be digital, that is the question: Firm innovation and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 583-590.
    13. Matt, C. & Hess, Thomas & Benlian, Alexander, 2015. "Digital Transformation Strategies," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 75002, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    14. Christian Matt & Thomas Hess & Alexander Benlian, 2015. "Digital Transformation Strategies," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 57(5), pages 339-343, October.
    15. Ming-Jer Chen & Danny Miller, 2015. "Reconceptualizing competitive dynamics: A multidimensional framework," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(5), pages 758-775, May.
    16. Cenamor, Javier & Parida, Vinit & Wincent, Joakim, 2019. "How entrepreneurial SMEs compete through digital platforms: The roles of digital platform capability, network capability and ambidexterity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 196-206.
    17. Sascha Kraus & Domingo Ribeiro-Soriano & Miriam Schüssler, 2018. "Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) in entrepreneurship and innovation research – the rise of a method," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 15-33, March.
    18. Fiona Sussan & Zoltan J. Acs, 2017. "The digital entrepreneurial ecosystem," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 55-73, June.
    19. Matt, C. & Hess, Thomas & Benlian, Alexander, 2015. "Digital Transformation Strategies," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 75202, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    20. Jackson, Nicole C. & Dunn-Jensen, Linda M., 2021. "Leadership succession planning for today’s digital transformation economy: Key factors to build for competency and innovation," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 273-284.
    21. Matarazzo, Michela & Penco, Lara & Profumo, Giorgia & Quaglia, Roberto, 2021. "Digital transformation and customer value creation in Made in Italy SMEs: A dynamic capabilities perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 642-656.
    22. Guinan, Patricia J. & Parise, Salvatore & Langowitz, Nan, 2019. "Creating an innovative digital project team: Levers to enable digital transformation," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 62(6), pages 717-727.
    23. Wayne S. DeSarbo & C. Anthony Di Benedetto & Michael Song & Indrajit Sinha, 2005. "Revisiting the Miles and Snow strategic framework: uncovering interrelationships between strategic types, capabilities, environmental uncertainty, and firm performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(1), pages 47-74, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Guanqiao Zhang & Tao Wang & Yuhan Wang & Shuai Zhang & Wenhao Lin & Zixin Dou & Haitao Du, 2023. "Study on the Influencing Factors of Digital Transformation of Construction Enterprises from the Perspective of Dual Effects—A Hybrid Approach Based on PLS-SEM and fsQCA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Chen, Xiaoying & Cui, Miao, 2022. "Understanding platform transformation from internal to external: A resource orchestration perspective," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    3. Titov Sergei & Trachuk Arkady & Linder Natalya & RD Pathak & Danny Samson & Zafar Husain & S Sushil, 2023. "Digital transformation enablers in high-tech and low-tech companies: A comparative analysis," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 48(4), pages 801-843, November.
    4. Xiao Han & Yang Zheng, 2022. "Driving Elements of Enterprise Digital Transformation Based on the Perspective of Dynamic Evolution," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.
    5. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    6. Cayetano Medina Molina & Domingo Ribeiro Soriano & Cristina Blanco González-Tejero, 2023. "Multi-level corporate entrepreneurship in SMEs: an intra-metropolitan analysis," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 2185-2213, October.
    7. Zhu, Xiumei & Li, Yue, 2023. "The use of data-driven insight in ambidextrous digital transformation: How do resource orchestration, organizational strategic decision-making, and organizational agility matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    8. Enrique, Daisy Valle & Lerman, Laura Visintainer & Sousa, Paulo Renato de & Benitez, Guilherme Brittes & Bigares Charrua Santos, Fernando M. & Frank, Alejandro G., 2022. "Being digital and flexible to navigate the storm: How digital transformation enhances supply chain flexibility in turbulent environments," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 250(C).
    9. Debao Dai & Shengnan Han & Min Zhao & Jiaping Xie, 2023. "The Impact Mechanism of Digital Transformation on the Risk-Taking Level of Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, January.
    10. Yi Gao & Yinkai Tang, 2023. "A Study on the Mechanism of Digital Technology’s Impact on the Green Transformation of Enterprises: Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-22, August.
    11. Jianhua Zhu & Julien S. Baker & Zhiting Song & Xiao-Guang Yue & Wenqi Li, 2023. "Government regulatory policies for digital transformation in small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises: an evolutionary game analysis," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
    12. Bhandari, Krishna Raj & Zámborský, Peter & Ranta, Mikko & Salo, Jari, 2023. "Digitalization, internationalization, and firm performance: A resource-orchestration perspective on new OLI advantages," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    13. Songsong Cheng & Qunpeng Fan & Minghao Huang, 2023. "Strategic Orientation, Dynamic Capabilities, and Digital Transformation of Commercial Banks: A Fuzzy-Set QCA Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, January.
    14. Chenqian Xu & Zhu Yao & Zhengde Xiong, 2023. "The Impact of Work-Related Use of Information and Communication Technologies After Hours on Time Theft," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(1), pages 185-198, September.
    15. Liu, Zixu & Zhou, Jianghua & Li, Jizhen, 2023. "How do family firms respond strategically to the digital transformation trend: Disclosing symbolic cues or making substantive changes?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PA).
    16. Levent Gun & Salih Zeki Imamoglu & Hulya Turkcan & Huseyin Ince, 2024. "Effect of Digital Transformation on Firm Performance in the Uncertain Environment: Transformational Leadership and Employee Self-Efficacy as Antecedents of Digital Transformation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-17, January.
    17. Hua Feng & Fengyan Wang & Guomin Song & Lanlan Liu, 2022. "Digital Transformation on Enterprise Green Innovation: Effect and Transmission Mechanism," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-31, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zahoor, Nadia & Zopiatis, Anastasios & Adomako, Samuel & Lamprinakos, Grigorios, 2023. "The micro-foundations of digitally transforming SMEs: How digital literacy and technology interact with managerial attributes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    2. Siachou, Evangelia & Vrontis, Demetris & Trichina, Eleni, 2021. "Can traditional organizations be digitally transformed by themselves? The moderating role of absorptive capacity and strategic interdependence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 408-421.
    3. Tortora, Debora & Chierici, Roberto & Farina Briamonte, Massimiliano & Tiscini, Riccardo, 2021. "‘I digitize so I exist’. Searching for critical capabilities affecting firms’ digital innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 193-204.
    4. Chen, Zhongfei & Xiao, Yu & Jiang, Kangqi, 2023. "The impact of tax reform on firms' digitalization in China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    5. Jiang, Kangqi & Du, Xinyi & Chen, Zhongfei, 2022. "Firms' digitalization and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    6. Shuhao Liang & Tingting Li, 2022. "Can Digital Transformation Promote Innovation Performance in Manufacturing Enterprises? The Mediating Role of R&D Capability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-20, September.
    7. Zahra, Shaker A. & Liu, Wan & Si, Steven, 2023. "How digital technology promotes entrepreneurship in ecosystems," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    8. Singh, Shiwangi & Sharma, Meenakshi & Dhir, Sanjay, 2021. "Modeling the effects of digital transformation in Indian manufacturing industry," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    9. Kozarkiewicz Alina, 2020. "General and Specific: The Impact of Digital Transformation on Project Processes and Management Methods," Foundations of Management, Sciendo, vol. 12(1), pages 237-248, January.
    10. Chun-Liang Chen & Yao-Chin Lin & Wei-Hung Chen & Cheng-Fu Chao & Henry Pandia, 2021. "Role of Government to Enhance Digital Transformation in Small Service Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-24, January.
    11. Jinkai Liang & Ke Du & Dandan Chen, 2023. "The Effect of Digitalization on Ambidextrous Innovation in Manufacturing Enterprises: A Perspective of Empowering and Enabling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-23, August.
    12. Li, Min & Liu, Na & Kou, Aiju & Chen, Wenchuan, 2023. "Customer concentration and digital transformation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    13. Yunhui Zhao & Xinyue Wu & Jian Zhang, 2022. "Analysis of the Paths Affecting Corporate Green Innovation in Resource-Based Cities: A Fuzzy-Set QCA Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    14. Ardito, Lorenzo & Raby, Simon & Albino, Vito & Bertoldi, Bernardo, 2021. "The duality of digital and environmental orientations in the context of SMEs: Implications for innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 44-56.
    15. Scuotto, V & Nicotra, M. & Del Giudice, M. & Krueger, N. & Gregori, G.L., 2021. "A microfoundational perspective on SMEs’ growth in the digital transformation era," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 382-392.
    16. Caputo, Francesco & Cillo, Valentina & Fiano, Fabio & Pironti, Marco & Romano, Marco, 2023. "Building T-shaped professionals for mastering digital transformation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    17. Hadjielias, Elias & (Lola) Dada, Olufunmilola & Discua Cruz, Allan & Zekas, Stavros & Christofi, Michael & Sakka, Georgia, 2021. "How do digital innovation teams function? Understanding the team cognition-process nexus within the context of digital transformation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 373-386.
    18. Piepponen, Amanda & Ritala, Paavo & Keränen, Joona & Maijanen, Päivi, 2022. "Digital transformation of the value proposition: A single case study in the media industry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 311-325.
    19. Li, Ganglei & Shao, Yunfei, 2023. "How do top management team characteristics affect digital orientation? Exploring the internal driving forces of firm digitalization," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    20. Peter M. Bican & Alexander Brem, 2020. "Digital Business Model, Digital Transformation, Digital Entrepreneurship: Is There A Sustainable “Digital”?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-15, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:139:y:2022:i:c:p:184-193. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.