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The impact of digitalization on corporate resilience

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  • Tang, Chaoli
  • Dong, Shuyun
  • Zhou, Rui

Abstract

In today's volatile digital environment, many enterprises must enhance their resilience to cope with external uncertainties. Resource orchestration theory posits that improving corporate resilience depends on the rational utilization and effective combination of resources and capabilities. However, most enterprises currently struggle to effectively orchestrate their resources and capabilities to enhance resilience. At the same time, with the continuous advancement and acceleration of digital technologies, digital resources and digital capabilities have emerged as critical variables in strengthening corporate resilience. To address this challenge, we have developed a research framework to elucidate how enterprises can orchestrate both traditional resources and capabilities (innovation capability, portfolio technological resource, and relational resource) and digital resources and capabilities (data resource and digital platform capability) to enhance their resilience. We applied NCA and fsQCA to analyze survey data from 163 Chinese manufacturing enterprises. Our results indicate that no single antecedent condition is a necessary factor for achieving high corporate resilience. We also identified four distinct pathways through which enterprises can enhance their resilience, which we classify as digitally-oriented, capability-oriented, traditionally-oriented, and hybrid-oriented modes. This study provide actionable insights for enterprises seeking to strengthen their resilience and contribute to theoretical development.

Suggested Citation

  • Tang, Chaoli & Dong, Shuyun & Zhou, Rui, 2025. "The impact of digitalization on corporate resilience," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:97:y:2025:i:c:s1059056024008268
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2024.103834
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