In the era of digital economy, digital innovation is an important way for enterprises to gain sustainable competitive advantage. However, the existing literature still lacks research on the concept connotation, classification, and theoretical construction of digital innovation. In view of the limitations of the research in the field of digital innovation, this study is committed to deepening and clarifying the essence and connotation of digital innovation, expanding the classification system of digital innovation, and further systematically constructing a comprehensive theoretical framework to grasp the whole process of digital innovation from germination to achievement.
Firstly, this study redefines the connotation of digital innovation by literature analysis and puts forward the key role of digital innovation ability in digital innovation. This study holds that digital innovation refers to the process that organizations with digital resources build their own digital innovation capabilities by means of digital technology, and then produce digital innovation results. The connotation of digital innovation under this definition includes four core points, namely, digital resources, digital technology, digital innovation ability and digital innovation output.
Secondly, the study redefines the types of digital innovation. In addition to the traditional digital product innovation, digital service innovation, digital process innovation, digital organization innovation and digital business model innovation, it puts forward a new type of digital innovation-digital technology innovation. This kind of innovation includes not only new digital products and services, but also new digital technologies and solutions, with an emphasis on the innovation iteration of digital technology itself.
Thirdly, on the basis of defining the connotation and types of digital innovation, a brand-new theoretical research framework of digital innovation is constructed. Through a comprehensive literature review and analysis, the framework is developed to encompass three dimensions. The first is the vertical realization mechanism of digital innovation. In accordance with the results of six types of digital innovation output, this study discusses a series of processes for how to realize digital innovation output by relying on digital resources, using digital technology and building digital innovation ability. Next, the horizontal driving mechanism of digital innovation reveals the cause and effect of digital innovation and its boundary conditions: from the motivation and demand of digital innovation, to the implementation and execution of digital innovation, and then to the result and influence of digital innovation. Finally, the influence of digital innovation environment on the process of realizing and driving digital innovation, including market environment, policy environment, and technical environment are explored.
Lastly, grounded in the above theoretical framework, the study puts forward four future research trends and directions of digital innovation. This involves delving into the capabilities for digital innovation, tracing the dynamic evolution and iterative processes of digital technology innovation, examining the underlying mechanisms that drive digital innovation, and enhancing theoretical studies on digital innovation within the unique context of China to offer theoretical insights that can inform and guide the practical implementation of digital innovation.
The research conclusion and theoretical contribution of this paper include three aspects: (1) In definies the connotation of digital innovation and puts forward the key role of digital innovation ability in the process of digital innovation. This not only enriches the understanding and knowledge of the connotation of digital innovation in the existing research, but also highlights the powerful supporting role of digital innovation ability in the process of digital innovation. (2) The types of digital innovation are re-divided, and a new type of digital innovation is put forward. On the basis of existing research, the essence and connotation of digital innovation are further explored. Considering the programmability of digital technology, it can realize its own updating and iterative upgrading in the process of digital innovation, and then a new digital technology is derived. It is proposed that digital technology innovation should also be one of the types of digital innovation, which has certain innovation. (3) The theoretical research framework of digital innovation is constructed. This not only expands and perfects the theoretical research of digital innovation in China, but also has certain guiding value for the practice of digital innovation in enterprises.