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How Knowledge Management Capability Drives Sustainable Business Model Innovation: A Combination of Symmetric and Asymmetric Approaches

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  • Shuting Chen

    (School of Economics and Management, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China)

  • Liping Huang

    (School of Humanities and Public Administration, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China)

  • Aojie Zhou

    (School of Business, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China)

Abstract

In a business environment with rapidly growing digital technologies, knowledge management (KM) capability is an indispensable source for enterprise innovation activities. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of the specific KM capability that leads to sustainable business model innovation (SBMI). This study therefore aimed to investigate the internal relationship between KM capability and SBMI by leveraging dynamic capability theory. A hierarchical regression analysis (HRA) and a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) are used to analyze a sample of 115 Chinese innovative enterprises. The results indicate that organizational structure promotes information technology by improving human capital, and that information technology then stimulates collaboration depth by expanding collaboration breadth, thereby driving SBMI. Specifically, human capital, information technology, collaboration breadth, and collaboration depth play significant chain-mediating roles in the relationship between organizational structure and SBMI. This study contributes to the literature on KM and innovation management, extends the use of low-order and high-order dynamic capabilities in DCT, and assists managers in developing SBMI effectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuting Chen & Liping Huang & Aojie Zhou, 2025. "How Knowledge Management Capability Drives Sustainable Business Model Innovation: A Combination of Symmetric and Asymmetric Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6714-:d:1708373
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