Business model ambidexterity and technological innovation performance: evidence from China

ABSTRACT

By applying an ambidexterity perspective to the business model context, this study examines the effects of efficiency and novelty – two conflicting business model design themes – on technological innovation performance and the relationship between these themes as it relates to enhancing technological innovation performance. From an analysis of data on 173 Chinese manufacturing firms, it is found that both efficiency and novelty themes are positively related to technological innovation performance; the combined dimension (CD) of business model ambidexterity (the interaction between efficiency and novelty themes) is positively related to technological innovation performance; and the balance dimension (BD) of business model ambidexterity (the balance between efficiency and novelty themes) positively moderates the relationship between CD and technological innovation performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Business model
• design themes
• ambidexterity
• technological innovation performance

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the anonymous reviewers and the Editor-in-Chief for their helpful comments and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Baoliang Hu is an Associate Professor of Innovation Management at School of Management, Hangzhou Dianzi University, China. He received his PhD in Management from Zhejiang University, China. He was a Visiting Scholar at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2012. His research work has been published in European Management Journal. His current research interests mainly focus on business models and technological innovation.

Wenqing Chen is a Lecturer of Performance Management at School of Economics and Management, Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power, China. Her current research interests mainly focus on technological innovation performance.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Philosophy and Social Science Foundation of China [grant number 14NDJC025YB]; the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 71202156]; the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number LY15G020020]; the Hangzhou Civic Philosophy and Social Science Foundation of China [grant number Z15JC057]; and the Zhejiang Provincial Research Centre of Information Technology & Economic and Social Development.