IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/techno/v152y2026ics0166497226000179.html

Board networks and firm's digital transformation: Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Fang, Mingyue
  • Li, Ruizhi
  • Wang, Yizhao

Abstract

Digital transformation has become a strategic imperative for contemporary firms, yet the social drivers that facilitate this process remain underexplored. Drawing on social network theory, this study argues that board networks—by providing access to diverse information and critical external resources—serve as a key enabler of firm-level digital transformation. We test this proposition using panel data from China's A-share listed firms between 2008 and 2020. The results show that firms embedded in structurally advantageous board networks exhibit significantly higher levels of digital transformation. We further identify three mechanisms through which board networks promote digital transformation: (1) enhancing firms' capacity for strategic risk-taking, (2) strengthening internal control systems, and (3) facilitating supply chain diversification. Heterogeneity analyses suggest that the effect is stronger among larger firms, firms in less competitive industries, and those with IT-experienced board members. These findings offer new insights into the strategic role of social capital in shaping digital transformation and have practical implications for corporate governance and innovation policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Fang, Mingyue & Li, Ruizhi & Wang, Yizhao, 2026. "Board networks and firm's digital transformation: Evidence from China," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:techno:v:152:y:2026:i:c:s0166497226000179
    DOI: 10.1016/j.technovation.2026.103482
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0166497226000179
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.technovation.2026.103482?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Larcker, David F. & So, Eric C. & Wang, Charles C.Y., 2013. "Boardroom centrality and firm performance," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 225-250.
    2. Tuugi Chuluun & Andrew Prevost & John Puthenpurackal, 2014. "Board Ties and the Cost of Corporate Debt," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 43(3), pages 533-568, September.
    3. Akbar Zaheer & Geoffrey G. Bell, 2005. "Benefiting from network position: firm capabilities, structural holes, and performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(9), pages 809-825, September.
    4. Hollis Ashbaugh‐Skaife & Daniel W. Collins & William R. Kinney Jr & Ryan Lafond, 2009. "The Effect of SOX Internal Control Deficiencies on Firm Risk and Cost of Equity," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 47(1), pages 1-43, March.
    5. Dmitry Arkhangelsky & Susan Athey & David A. Hirshberg & Guido W. Imbens & Stefan Wager, 2021. "Synthetic Difference-in-Differences," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 111(12), pages 4088-4118, December.
    6. Chuluun, Tuugi & Prevost, Andrew & Upadhyay, Arun, 2017. "Firm network structure and innovation," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 193-214.
    7. Fogel, Kathy & Jandik, Tomas & McCumber, William R., 2018. "CFO social capital and private debt," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 28-52.
    8. Hess, Thomas & Matt, Christian & Benlian, Alexander & Wiesböck, Florian, 2016. "Options for Formulating a Digital Transformation Strategy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 81032, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    9. 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).
    10. Lauren Cohen & Andrea Frazzini & Christopher Malloy, 2008. "The Small World of Investing: Board Connections and Mutual Fund Returns," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 116(5), pages 951-979, October.
    11. Zhang, Xindong & Zou, Meifeng & Liu, Weimin & Zhang, Yuefei, 2020. "Does a firm’s supplier concentration affect its cash holding?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 527-535.
    12. Akbas, Ferhat & Meschke, Felix & Wintoki, M. Babajide, 2016. "Director networks and informed traders," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 1-23.
    13. Verhoef, Peter C. & Broekhuizen, Thijs & Bart, Yakov & Bhattacharya, Abhi & Qi Dong, John & Fabian, Nicolai & Haenlein, Michael, 2021. "Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 889-901.
    14. Heitor Almeida & Murillo Campello, 2007. "Financial Constraints, Asset Tangibility, and Corporate Investment," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 20(5), pages 1429-1460, 2007 12.
    15. Feng, Mei & Li, Chan & McVay, Sarah, 2009. "Internal control and management guidance," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2-3), pages 190-209, December.
    16. Boubakri, Narjess & Cosset, Jean-Claude & Saffar, Walid, 2013. "The role of state and foreign owners in corporate risk-taking: Evidence from privatization," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(3), pages 641-658.
    17. Ye Cai & Dan S. Dhaliwal & Yongtae Kim & Carrie Pan, 2014. "Board interlocks and the diffusion of disclosure policy," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 1086-1119, September.
    18. Mathias, Blake D. & Williams, David W. & Smith, Adam R., 2015. "Entrepreneurial inception: The role of imprinting in entrepreneurial action," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 11-28.
    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. Xu, Shulin & Chen, Shuoqi & Jiao, Wenniu & Chen, Mengjie, 2025. "State-owned enterprises shareholders and innovation of private enterprises: Evidence from China," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    21. 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.
    22. Cesare Fracassi, 2017. "Corporate Finance Policies and Social Networks," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 63(8), pages 2420-2438, August.
    23. El-Khatib, Rwan & Fogel, Kathy & Jandik, Tomas, 2015. "CEO network centrality and merger performance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 116(2), pages 349-382.
    24. Campello, Murillo & Gao, Janet, 2017. "Customer concentration and loan contract terms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(1), pages 108-136.
    25. Robert E. Verrecchia & Joseph Weber, 2006. "Redacted Disclosure," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(4), pages 791-814, September.
    26. Fang, Mingyue & Nie, Huihua & Shen, Xinyi, 2023. "Can enterprise digitization improve ESG performance?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    27. Thomas Dalziel & Richard J. Gentry & Michael Bowerman, 2011. "An Integrated Agency–Resource Dependence View of the Influence of Directors' Human and Relational Capital on Firms' R&D Spending," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48, pages 1217-1242, September.
    28. Jing He, 2022. "Executive Network Centrality and Corporate Reporting," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(2), pages 1512-1536, February.
    29. Hess, Thomas & Matt, Christian & Benlian, Alexander & Wiesböck, Florian, 2016. "Options for Formulating a Digital Transformation Strategy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 82423, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Anderson, Christopher W. & Babajide Wintoki, M. & Xi, Yaoyi, 2024. "CFO social capital, liquidity management, and the market value of cash✰," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Yang, Hefan & Liu, Xilu & Meng, Yao & Feng, Baoyi & Chen, Zhijun, 2024. "Digital transformation and the allocation of decision-making rights within business groups – Empirical evidence from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Li, Min & Liu, Na & Kou, Aiju & Chen, Wenchuan, 2023. "Customer concentration and digital transformation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Fan, Yongzhen, 2025. "The innovation effect of digital business model transformation orientation: Evidence from corporate cross-boundary innovation," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    7. Wang, Sai & Wen, Wen & Niu, Yuhao & Li, Xin, 2024. "Digital transformation and corporate labor investment efficiency," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    8. Changling Sun & Ziang Lin & Marek Vochozka & Zuzana Vincúrová, 2022. "Digital transformation and corporate cash holdings in China’s A-share listed companies," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(4), pages 1081-1116, December.
    9. Amin, Abu & Chourou, Lamia & Kamal, Syed & Malik, Mahfuja & Zhao, Yang, 2020. "It’s who you know that counts: Board connectedness and CSR performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    10. De Cesari, Amedeo & Marinelli, Nicoletta & Sonika, Rohit, 2024. "The timing of stock repurchases: Do well-connected CEOs help or harm?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    11. Jiatong Yu & Taesoo Moon, 2021. "Impact of Digital Strategic Orientation on Organizational Performance through Digital Competence," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-15, August.
    12. Blanka, Christine & Krumay, Barbara & Rueckel, David, 2022. "The interplay of digital transformation and employee competency: A design science approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    13. Xin Zhang & Yaoyu Xu & Liang Ma, 2022. "Research on Successful Factors and Influencing Mechanism of the Digital Transformation in SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    14. Chen Hao & Xuegang Feng & Dandan Wu & Xiaodong Guo, 2024. "Board interlocks and corporate risk-taking: An empirical analysis of listed companies from tourism and related industries in China," Tourism Economics, , vol. 30(1), pages 174-211, February.
    15. Guo, Bin & Zhang, Jiale & Tan, Ziyan, 2024. "Firm digitalization as strategic response: An integrated model based on the awareness-motivation-capability (AMC) framework," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    16. Chang, Yu-Wei & Chen, Jiahe, 2025. "An empirical investigation of critical success factors in implementing digital transformation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    17. Wang, Yu & Huang, Cui & Ye, Xuanting & Zhang, Jian, 2025. "Linkage and coordination: Industrial digital transformation from the perspective of innovation ecosystem," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    18. Mishra, Deepa Bhatt & Haider, Imran & Gunasekaran, Angappa & Sakib, Md. Nazmus & Malik, Nishtha & Rana, Nripendra P., 2023. "“Better together”: Right blend of business strategy and digital transformation strategies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    19. Evangelos Katsamakas, 2022. "Digital Transformation and Sustainable Business Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-5, May.
    20. Elia, Gianluca & Solazzo, Gianluca & Lerro, Antonio & Pigni, Federico & Tucci, Christopher L., 2024. "The digital transformation canvas: A conceptual framework for leading the digital transformation process," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 67(4), pages 381-398.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:techno:v:152:y:2026:i:c:s0166497226000179. 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.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01664972 .

    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.