Enterprise Innovation Management
Chen Xusheng,Ji Yihan
Digital technology can provide technical support for cutting-edge products or services, reshaping core information technology. By reducing manual labor in production processes and optimizing the allocation of traditional production factors, it empowers various production and operational activities, shaping efficient value creation models and accelerating comprehensive enterprise innovation, thereby improving performance. However, the inherent characteristics of digital technology edit-ability, scalability, openness, and interconnection—make its innovation process complex, rendering traditional innovation paradigms unsuitable.
Scenario-driven innovation is an emerging innovation paradigm that integrates multiple innovation elements such as strategy, organization, and market, bringing together various innovation entities. It features strategic, comprehensive, and open characteristics, providing an innovative ecological carrier for breakthroughs in key technologies and the transformation of achievements. In the context of the digital economy, scenario-driven innovation has become the new dominant innovation paradigm, making it significant to explore the multi-factor-driven digital technology innovation of enterprises.
In terms of digital technology innovation, some scholars have analyzed the net benefits of single driving factors, failing to reflect the characteristics of multi-factor interactive driving, thus limiting the formation of a comprehensive digital technology innovation paradigm for enterprises. Additionally, due to limited research on scenario concept definition, governance models, and mechanisms of action, scenario-driven digital technology innovation remains in a black box state. Enterprises lack clear innovation path references, leading to numerous challenges and bottlenecks in implementing digital technology innovation. Furthermore, at different stages of digital technology development, it is still necessary to explore how to integrate various innovation resources, form organizational and management transformations, and achieve technological innovation breakthroughs.
As a high-tech digital innovation company that integrates research and development, production, sales, and service, Huawei has possessed a variety of digital technologies and a rich array of digital products, and it is remarkable in the field of digital technology innovation. Thus, Huawei is selected for a longitudinal single-case analysis focused on scenarios. The study combines the data coding approach to conduct an exploratory analysis of Huawei's data, yielding a scenario analysis mainline of "product development—market expansion—technological breakthrough—industrial ecosystem. "(1)The development of digital technology innovation at various stages is achieved through the alternation of different scenario dimensions within a triple helix mechanism. Scenarios are systems formed by the interplay of three dimensions: stakeholders, technological level, and application environment. (2)Through stage-specific scenario transitions such as product development, market expansion , technological breakthrough and industrial ecosystem, the company completed the evolution of digital technology innovation from low-end imitation to coordinated value realization. (3)Due to differences in scenario elements, the paths of digital technology innovation are diverse, including the whole industry path, breakthrough innovation path, and strategic emerging industry path.
The research contributions encompass three aspects. Firstly, it extensively explores the developmental trajectory of digital technology innovation, progressing from initial technological imitation to framework formation, and ultimately achieving ecosystem linkage, offering a new perspective on understanding the patterns of digital technology innovation. Secondly, by redefining the concept of scenarios to include considerations of stakeholders, technological level, and application environment, the study enriches the content of scenario theory, making it more comprehensive and profound. Lastly, it proposes a scenario-driven triple helix innovation mechanism, where the synergy among environment, demand subjects, technology, continuously drives the advancement of digital technology innovation, providing robust theoretical support and practical guidance for future related research.
The study provides insights for enterprises:(1)When formulating digital technology innovation strategies, enterprises should comprehensively consider the needs of stakeholders such as customers and suppliers, promote collaboration among multiple parties, and ensure that the strategy is comprehensive and sustainable. (2)Establishing a flexible digital technology innovation support system is essential, including efficient financial management, platform-based organization, and process control, to address challenges in various scenarios and enhance innovation efficiency and responsiveness. (3)By setting industry standards, establishing industry alliances, and integrating resources across sectors, enterprises can build complex interactive industrial ecosystems. This facilitates continuous innovation and flexible development within the enterprises.